Last updated: 14 September 2026 · By Alan Spicer, YouTube Certified Expert
Waking up to a banned YouTube channel is gutting, especially if it is your livelihood. Take a breath, because you have more options than the panic suggests. This guide walks you through exactly what happened, why, how to appeal, YouTube’s new Second Chances pilot for a fresh channel, and how to make sure it never happens again. Work through it in order.
⚡ Do this first
Read the exact email or notice from YouTube and note the word it uses: strike, suspended, or terminated. If you are locked out or see logins you do not recognise, you were likely hacked, not banned, and that is a different, faster fix. The word decides everything that follows.
The short version
Terminated? Appeal within one year to restore your original channel. If that fails, the Second Chances pilot may let you request a new channel a year after termination. Hacked? Secure your Google account and use account recovery. Copyright or severe-violation bans are the hardest to reverse.
Why listen to me
I’m Alan Spicer, a YouTube Certified Expert with six Silver Play Buttons and 500+ creators coached. I have helped people through strikes, suspensions and terminations, so this is the calm, accurate playbook, not false hope or a sales pitch.
On this page
⚡ QUICK ANSWER
Can you get a banned YouTube channel back?
Sometimes. If your channel was terminated, appeal within one year and a successful appeal restores your original channel, content and subscribers included. If the appeal fails, the Second Chances pilot may let you request a fresh channel one year after termination. Copyright, child-safety, extremism and fraud terminations are not reversible.
First, what happened to your channel?
⚡ QUICK ANSWER
What is the difference between banned, suspended and terminated?
A strike is a temporary upload block. A Partner Program suspension stops your earnings but leaves your videos up. A termination removes the whole channel. Being hacked is a security problem, not an enforcement action. Read YouTube’s email: the word it uses tells you which situation you are in.
Before you do anything, work out which of these you are facing. People call them all “banned,” but each has a different fix.
| What you see | What it is | How serious |
|---|---|---|
| Upload/live blocked for a week or two | A Community Guidelines strike | Temporary, clears in 90 days |
| Ads or earnings switched off, videos still up | Partner Program suspension (different from a ban) | Money only, not a ban |
| Whole channel gone, cannot access it | Channel termination | Serious, appeal within a year |
| Locked out, strange logins, spam uploads | Hacked or hijacked account | Security issue, act fast |
| Removed from a channel you shared | Brand Account access change | Access issue, not a ban |
If your videos are still visible and only your earnings stopped, that is a monetisation issue, not a ban, and will you lose YouTube monetisation explains it. Everything below is for an actual termination or hack.
Why was my channel banned?
⚡ QUICK ANSWER
Why was my YouTube channel terminated?
The usual causes are three Community Guidelines strikes in 90 days, three copyright strikes in 90 days, or a single severe violation such as child-safety, violent-extremism or large-scale spam content, which triggers immediate termination. A hijacked account or removal from a Brand Account can also look like a termination.
YouTube terminates channels for a few specific reasons, set out in its Community Guidelines. Knowing which one applies shapes your entire appeal.
| Reason | What triggers it |
|---|---|
| Three Community Guidelines strikes | Three strikes inside a 90-day window. Each strike comes from a policy-violating video, and the first violation is usually a warning (strike basics). |
| Three copyright strikes | Three copyright strikes in 90 days, on a separate track from Community Guidelines. This also deletes the affected videos (stay copyright-safe). |
| A single severe violation | Child-safety content, violent extremism, coordinated large-scale spam or similar can terminate a channel immediately, with no prior strikes. |
| Spam, scams or deceptive practices | Mass, repetitive, misleading or manipulative behaviour that breaks the policies. |
| A hacked account | A hijacked Google account gets filled with spam or scams, which can trigger an automatic termination (see the hacked section). |
What to do right now
In your first hour, do these in order and nothing else. Panic-uploading appeals or new channels makes things worse.
- Read the notice. Find the exact policy YouTube named. That is what your appeal must address.
- Confirm it is you. Check you can sign in with the owning account. If you cannot, or see logins you do not recognise, treat it as a hack, not a ban.
- Screenshot everything. The notice, the email, the date. You have one year to appeal a termination, but sooner is better.
- Do not create a sneaky new channel. Opening another account to dodge a termination breaks policy and can block your legitimate options later.
- Draft a calm, factual appeal. Then submit it once, using the steps below.
How to appeal a YouTube channel termination
You get one appeal per termination, and up to a year to file it. Make it count.
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1Sign in with the account that owns the channel
Use the exact Google account that owned the terminated channel. An appeal filed from the wrong account is closed without review, so confirm you are signed in as the owner first.
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2Open YouTube Studio and find the termination notice
Go to YouTube Studio on desktop and open the notifications panel. Locate the email or notice that names the termination and the policy behind it. If you are locked out, follow the appeal link in the email YouTube sent you.
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3Click Begin Review or Submit appeal
Open the termination notice and select Begin Review or Submit appeal. You get one appeal per termination, so do not rush a weak one. Read the cited policy carefully before you write.
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4Explain factually how your content followed the guidelines
Keep it calm, specific and short. State how the flagged content met the Community Guidelines or qualified as fair use, and reference the policy directly. Avoid anger, threats and long essays, which do not help your case.
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5Submit one appeal and wait
Send it once and give YouTube time to review. Submitting repeat appeals or building sneaky new channels can hurt you. If the appeal succeeds, your original channel is reinstated with its content and subscribers.
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6If denied, note your Second Chances option
If the appeal fails, you may be able to request a new channel through the Second Chances pilot one year after termination, unless the termination was for copyright or Creator Responsibility.
Write it like this
Calm, factual, specific. Name the video and the policy, explain plainly why it complied or qualified as fair use, and stop. No anger, no threats, no wall of text. Appeals are judged on how the policies apply now, so if a rule has changed or was misapplied, say so clearly.
Your realistic chances
⚡ QUICK ANSWER
What are my chances of getting my channel back?
Be realistic. YouTube says the majority of appealed terminations are upheld, so most appeals do not succeed. Your best odds come from a clear, honest appeal showing a mistake or misclassification. Copyright and severe-violation terminations are the hardest to reverse.
The honest truth
YouTube states plainly that the majority of appealed terminations are upheld, meaning most creators do not win the appeal. That is not said to crush hope, but to set expectations: a rushed, angry or vague appeal almost never works. A calm one that proves a genuine mistake has a real, if not guaranteed, chance. And even a denial is not always the end, thanks to Second Chances below.
Hacked, not banned?
⚡ QUICK ANSWER
Was my channel banned or hacked?
If you can sign in but see a strike or termination notice, it is an enforcement action. If you are locked out, see unfamiliar logins, or your channel is suddenly full of spam or streams you did not post, it was likely hacked. A hack has a different, faster recovery path than an appeal.
A hijacked channel is a security problem, not a policy ban, and it usually resolves faster. If your channel was hacked, move quickly:
- Change your Google account password immediately and sign out other sessions.
- Run Google’s Security Checkup and review recent login activity.
- Turn on 2-Step Verification so it cannot happen again.
- Use YouTube’s hacked-account recovery process to regain access and undo the damage.
My deeper guides walk through this: what to do when your YouTube account is hacked and can YouTube accounts be hacked. If a hijacker got your channel terminated for spam, secure the account first, then appeal the termination once you are back in control.
YouTube’s Second Chances: requesting a new channel
⚡ QUICK ANSWER
What is YouTube’s Second Chances program?
Second Chances is a pilot that lets some previously terminated creators request a brand-new channel instead of restoring the old one. It is a fresh start, so you do not get your old content or subscribers back, though you can re-upload prior videos that follow the guidelines. You can apply one year after termination.
In October 2025, YouTube announced a shift away from lifetime bans. Its Second Chances pilot lets some terminated creators request a new channel, rolling out in YouTube Studio on desktop over time. It is a genuine fresh start, not a restore: no old videos or subscribers returned automatically, though you can re-upload past videos that meet the guidelines and rebuild from there.
| Second Chances: the key facts | Detail |
|---|---|
| What you get | The option to request a new channel and start again |
| When | One year after your channel was terminated |
| Content and subs | Not restored; re-upload compliant prior videos yourself |
| Not eligible | Copyright terminations, Creator Responsibility violations, or if you deleted your channel or Google account |
| Monetisation | Reapply to the Partner Program once the new channel qualifies (2027 requirements) |
Appeal vs new channel: which is which
| Appeal the termination | Request a new channel | |
|---|---|---|
| What happens | YouTube re-reviews the original decision | You start a fresh channel |
| Get old content and subs back? | Yes, if the appeal succeeds | No, fresh start |
| When you can do it | Within one year of termination | One year after termination |
| Best for | You believe the termination was wrong | Appeal failed and you want to rebuild |
Try the appeal first: it is the only route that can restore everything. Details on both from YouTube’s Second Chances announcement.
Facing a strike or termination?
Book a free discovery call and I’ll help you read the notice, plan the strongest appeal, and protect the channel you rebuild.
How to prevent your channel being banned
⚡ QUICK ANSWER
How do I stop my YouTube channel being banned?
Follow the Community Guidelines and copyright rules, clear strikes and never let three stack up in 90 days, turn on 2-Step Verification to block hijacking, and avoid spammy or deceptive tactics. Most terminations are the end of a pattern, so fixing issues early is the best protection.
Almost every termination is avoidable. Build these habits and you will likely never need the rest of this page.
- Know the rules. Read the Community Guidelines and the advertiser-friendly guidelines, and check anything borderline before you publish.
- Manage strikes fast. If you get a strike, appeal it if it is wrong and never let three land inside 90 days.
- Stay copyright-clean. Use licensed or original music and clips, and learn how much of a song you can use.
- Lock down security. Turn on 2-Step Verification and review account access so you are never hijacked.
- Avoid spammy tactics. No misleading metadata, mass duplicate uploads or engagement tricks. Not sure a tool is safe? See whether your channel is shadowbanned.
Avoid recovery scams
Desperation attracts predators
When people are banned, scammers appear promising guaranteed reinstatement. A legitimate service never asks for your password and never guarantees your channel back, because only YouTube can make that call. Do not pay anyone who promises certainty, and never hand over your login. The real appeal is free and you file it yourself in Studio.
People also ask
Can a terminated YouTube channel be recovered?
Yes, in some cases. A successful appeal within one year restores the original channel. If that fails, the Second Chances pilot may allow a new channel after a year. Copyright and severe-violation terminations usually cannot be recovered.
How many strikes until YouTube bans you?
Three Community Guidelines strikes within a 90-day window terminates a channel, and three copyright strikes in 90 days does the same on a separate track. The first violation is usually a one-time warning rather than a strike.
Does an appeal bring my old channel back?
If it succeeds, yes. A successful termination appeal reinstates your original channel with its videos and subscribers intact. A new channel through Second Chances does not, because that is a fresh start.
Can I make a new channel after being banned?
Not straight away, and not by simply opening another account to dodge the ban, which violates policy. The proper route is the Second Chances pilot, available to eligible creators one year after termination.
How long until I can request a new channel?
One year after your channel was terminated, if you qualify for the Second Chances pilot. Use that year to file your one appeal first, since a successful appeal restores everything rather than starting over.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get a banned YouTube channel back?
Sometimes. If your channel was terminated, you can appeal within one year and, if the appeal succeeds, your original channel with its content and subscribers is reinstated. If the appeal fails, YouTube’s new Second Chances pilot may let you request a fresh channel one year after termination. Terminations for copyright, child safety, violent extremism or fraud are not reversible.
Why was my YouTube channel terminated?
The common reasons are three Community Guidelines strikes in 90 days, three copyright strikes in 90 days, or a single severe violation such as child-safety, violent-extremism or large-scale spam content, which brings immediate termination with no strikes. A hijacked account filled with spam, or removal from a Brand Account, can also look like a ban.
What is the difference between suspended and terminated?
Suspended is used loosely for three different things: a short upload block from a strike, a Partner Program suspension that stops your earnings while your videos stay up, and a full channel termination. Read the email YouTube sent you, because the exact word it uses decides which process you follow.
How do I appeal a YouTube channel termination?
Sign in to YouTube Studio with the Google account that owns the channel, open the notification with the termination notice, click Begin Review or Submit appeal, and explain factually how your content followed the Community Guidelines or fair use. You get one appeal per termination and up to a year to file it.
How long do YouTube channel appeals take?
Most appeals get a response within a few business days to a couple of weeks, though cases involving copyright or a full Google Account suspension can run longer. There is no guaranteed timeline. File a strong, factual appeal once, then wait rather than submitting repeatedly.
What are my chances of getting my channel back?
Be realistic. YouTube says the majority of appealed terminations are upheld, meaning most appeals do not succeed. Your best odds come from a clear, honest appeal that shows the decision was a mistake or a misclassification. Copyright and severe-violation terminations are the hardest to reverse.
What is YouTube’s Second Chances program?
Second Chances is a pilot that lets some previously terminated creators request a brand-new channel rather than restore the old one. It is a fresh start: you do not get your old content or subscribers back, though you can re-upload prior videos that follow the guidelines. You can apply one year after termination.
When can I request a new channel after termination?
One year after your channel was terminated, if you are eligible for the Second Chances pilot. During that year you can still appeal the original termination. The new-channel option is not available for copyright terminations, Creator Responsibility violations, or if you deleted your channel or Google account.
Was my channel banned or hacked?
If you can still sign in but see a strike or termination notice, it is an enforcement action. If you are locked out, see unfamiliar logins, or your channel is suddenly full of spam or livestreams you did not post, it was likely hacked. A hack is a security problem with a different, faster recovery path than an appeal.
How do I stop my YouTube channel being banned?
Follow the Community Guidelines and copyright rules, clear any strikes and never let three stack up in 90 days, turn on 2-Step Verification to prevent hijacking, and avoid spammy or deceptive tactics. Most terminations are the end of a pattern, so fixing issues early is your best protection.
The bottom line
First, work out what happened: a strike, a Partner Program suspension, a full termination, or a hack. If it is a termination, file one calm, factual appeal within a year, knowing most appeals are upheld but a clear case still has a real chance. If that fails, Second Chances may let you rebuild a year on. If it is a hack, secure your account and recover it. And once you are back, follow the rules and lock down your security so you never face this again. For the wider picture on staying safely monetised, read will you lose YouTube monetisation in 2027.
Keep reading
Rebuilding after a ban?
Book a free discovery call and we’ll plan your appeal or your fresh start, and build a channel that stays safe this time.
Sources
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p style=”font-size:14px;color:#555;”>YouTube Official Blog: Second chances on YouTube (9 October 2025); YouTube Help: appeal a channel termination; YouTube Community Guidelines; and YouTube Creator Responsibility policies. Second Chances is a pilot and its eligibility may change. Policies and processes are set by YouTube and can change.
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