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YouTube QR codes

A QR or short link that opens a YouTube video, channel, playlist, or Short — viewer lands on the right surface in the YouTube app.

Updated today 2 min read

A scan that drops the viewer on the exact YouTube surface you choose — channel, video, playlist, or Short — inside the YouTube app on mobile. No browser detour, no search step.

Pick the surface, not just the URL. Channel is the default for "subscribe" cards. Switch to Video / Playlist / Short for a specific piece of content.

Pick the right mode

ChannelEnter your channel handle. Builds youtube.com/@yourchannel. Default for "subscribe" cards. VideoPaste the watch URL or just the video ID — we route either. PlaylistPaste the full playlist URL. Scanners get the playlist player. ShortPaste the Short URL. Opens in the Shorts-format player. Paste URLAnything else — community post, live, custom URL.

Setting it up

1
Open the link editor at /app/links/new and pick YouTube from the type tiles.
2
Pick a mode — Channel / Video / Playlist / Short / Paste URL. The fields change to match.
3
Fill the field. For channel, type the handle (no @ needed). For everything else, paste the URL from the YouTube share sheet.
4
Save. Print the QR or share the short link.

Where it earns its print run

  • Product packaging — scan to watch the unboxing or setup video.
  • Course / book inserts — bridge readers into the matching lesson playlist.
  • Equipment + appliance manuals — replace 30 pages of PDF with a 4-min video.
  • Conference handouts — point at the recorded talk afterwards.

Editing the destination later

Edit at any time from the link editor. Drive scans to a launch video during campaign week, then swap back to the channel — the underlying short link stays the same and the QR keeps working.