Your YouTube channel Home tab is the front page of the channel. For new visitors, it should explain what the channel is about. For returning subscribers, it should make the next useful video easy to find.
Turn the Home tab on
In YouTube Studio, go to Customization and then Home tab. From there you can enable or disable the Home tab and manage the layout.
Channel trailer for non-subscribers
YouTube lets creators choose a channel trailer for people who have not subscribed. The goal is to introduce the channel quickly and give new visitors a reason to continue watching or subscribe.
Once a viewer has watched the trailer, YouTube may stop showing it to that viewer.
Featured video for returning subscribers
You can choose a separate featured video for returning subscribers. This is useful for highlighting a current series, major release, announcement or evergreen entry point.
Up to 12 custom sections
YouTube currently allows up to 12 custom sections on the Home tab. Sections can feature:
- Videos
- Shorts
- Live streams
- Single or multiple playlists
- Featured channels
- Members-only content where available
- Posts
- Top community clips
- The personalized For You section
Use the For You section carefully
The For You section personalizes content based on what each viewer has watched. Creators can choose which content types are eligible and can limit the section to more recent content.
This is useful when a channel has a large library because the same Home tab does not need to show every visitor the same starting point.
Structure sections by viewer intent
A channel with many uploads should avoid a random wall of recent videos. Build sections around what the viewer wants to do.
- Start Here
- Beginner Guides
- Troubleshooting
- Most Popular
- Latest Videos
- Shorts
- Live Replays
For deeper organization, see our YouTube Playlists guide.
Do not overload the Home tab
Using all 12 sections is not automatically better. If the channel has only a small library, a shorter layout can be easier to scan. Prioritize the strongest content paths instead of filling every available slot.
Home tab audit checklist
- Check what a non-subscriber sees first.
- Check what a returning subscriber sees first.
- Remove duplicate sections.
- Move the most useful playlists higher.
- Make sure Shorts and long-form content are not mixed in confusing ways.
- Review the layout after major content-strategy changes.
Official source
See YouTube’s current channel layout customization guide.
Start the conversation
Corrections, useful experiences and focused questions are welcome. Keep discussion respectful and on topic.