Does the YouTube Subscribe URL Trick Still Work?
We can't promise it does, so test it first. Adding ?sub_confirmation=1 to the end of your channel URL has been reported to open a pop-up asking the visitor to confirm a subscription, but we haven't confirmed it works for every visitor today.
To test it, open the link in a browser signed in to a YouTube account that doesn't subscribe to you. If the prompt appears, it works for that viewer. Signed-out visitors and existing subscribers generally won't see it.
Keep it away from your prize. YouTube's Fake Engagement Policy bans content that exists only to reward engagement, which is why we removed the Subscribe to a YouTube Channel Action.
Safer ways to use it:
- Put the link in your video descriptions and end screens, where nothing rides on it.
- In a giveaway, add Visit a YouTube Channel. It sends entrants to your channel and leaves subscribing up to them.
See Next Article
Can I Use Gleam to Manage YouTube Giveaways?
Yes. Send entrants to your channel, collect video entries and draw winners in Gleam. YouTube's rules mean you can't reward subscribing, watching or commenting.