YouTube is changing the way it counts public views across the platform from August 24, 2026. According to an official YouTube announcement, a video view will be counted as soon as the video starts playing, from the very first frame.

The new system will apply to videos across YouTube. The change means a viewer will no longer need to watch a video for a specific minimum amount of time for that play to be counted as a public view.

As a result, creators and viewers may see higher public view counts after the new system is introduced.

YouTube said it had previously updated view counting for Shorts. With the latest change, the platform is now aligning the way public views are counted across its other video formats as well.

The new system is scheduled to begin globally on August 24. This change specifically concerns the public view count displayed on YouTube. It should therefore be distinguished from other YouTube metrics used for analytics, advertising or creator earnings.

For creators, the immediate visible impact could be an increase in the number displayed as public views because plays will be counted from the start of playback rather than after a viewing threshold.

The announcement is part of YouTube’s effort to use a more consistent approach to measuring public views across the platform.