(Fandom Guide - simple ver)

Update Aug 2025 | Suggestions welcome!

These guidelines summarise how YouTube counts views, based on official information and fandom experience. Following these rules ensures your streaming contributes effectively to your favourite artist’s view count. (You can also check out ZHGLOBAL’s detailed streaming guide!)

1. Repeat Views

• A single account/device can only contribute about 4–5 valid views per 24 hours to the same video.
• Additional repeated plays beyond this limit will not increase the view count.

2. Watch Time Requirement

• A view only counts if you watch at least 30 seconds of the video.

• However, YouTube’s recommendation algorithm also considers watch ratio (for example, only watching 30 seconds of a 20-minute video may signal low interest), which can affect how often the video is promoted and ranked later.

• For short videos, watching the majority of the content counts.
• Best practice: watch the entire Video to ensure it is counted.

3. Invalid Plays

• Muted playback or very low volume may not count. Keep volume at 50% or higher.
• Fast-forwarding or skipping ads may invalidate the view.
• Background play (minimising app, screen off) usually does not count.
• Auto-looping the same video on repeat often stops counting after the first few times.

4. Device & Network Tracking

• YouTube identifies viewers not only by account but also by device ID, cookies, and IP address.