# How to schedule a YouTube video

To schedule a YouTube video, upload it in **YouTube Studio**, fill in its details, and on the **Visibility** step choose
**Schedule**. Set the **date, time and time zone**, then select **Schedule**. The video stays **private** until that
time, then goes public by itself. It's free, and you can do the same from the YouTube app on your phone.

Checked on November 3, 2026, against YouTube's [Schedule video publish time](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1270709?hl=en) help.

## Schedule a video in YouTube Studio (computer)

1. Sign in to [YouTube Studio](https://studio.youtube.com).
2. Select **Create**, then **Upload videos**, and choose your file.
3. Add the title, description, thumbnail and audience (made for kids or not), then the remaining steps.
4. On **Visibility**, select the **Schedule** card.
5. Set the date, time and time zone you want it published.
6. Select **Schedule**.

Then open **Content** and check the video shows the scheduled time. A private upload with no saved schedule never goes public.

## Schedule a video from your phone

In the YouTube app, the labels move between versions, so look for these:

1. Tap **Create** (+), then **Upload a video**, and pick the file.
2. Add the title and other details, then tap **Visibility**.
3. On **Set visibility**, tap **Schedule**, and pick the date and time.
4. Go back and tap **Upload**.

A square or vertical video up to 3 minutes uploads as a Short. For Shorts, see
[how to schedule YouTube Shorts](/docs/guides/how-to-schedule-youtube-shorts).

## Change or cancel a scheduled video

1. In YouTube Studio, open **Content** and select the video.
2. Open **Visibility**. Keep it **Private**.
3. Select **Edit draft** and choose a new time under **Schedule**, or set it to **Public** to release it now.
4. Select **Publish**.

## Three things that catch people out

- **The date under the video is Pacific time.** If you schedule for early morning in a zone ahead of California, the
  watch page can show the day before.
- **A Community Guidelines strike freezes publishing.** A video scheduled during the penalty stays private. Reschedule
  it after the freeze ends.
- **Private before release means private.** Comments are off and the video is out of search and your channel page
  until it goes public ([YouTube's visibility settings](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/157177?hl=en)).

## Schedule YouTube videos with Flaghand

Flaghand is for people who let an AI agent prepare uploads. The agent drafts the video's details. You approve the
exact video, words and time with a passkey, and Flaghand uploads it. These are the steps in Flaghand's desk today:

1. **Settings → YouTube → Connect**, and pick your channel on Google's sign-in page.
2. **New post → YouTube**, then **Choose a video**: one MP4 or MOV.
3. Add the **Title** (100 characters), **Description** (5,000 bytes) and thumbnail, and pick the channel under
   **Posting as**. Set **Altered or synthetic content** and **Paid promotion** if they apply. **Made for kids** is asked
   when you approve.
4. Under **Publishing**, choose **Public**, **Unlisted** or **Private**, and set **Goes public at**.
5. Under **Who times it**, choose **YouTube publishes it** (it uploads as private now and YouTube makes it public at
   your time) or **Flaghand uploads it then** (it uploads at your time, public from then).
6. Select **Upload to YouTube** and approve with your passkey.

If you cancel a video YouTube is holding for later, Flaghand takes it off YouTube's schedule, and it stays on your
channel, private. A Short can go to TikTok in the same approval.

Before you upload, try the free [YouTube title checker](/youtube-title-checker) and
[thumbnail preview](/youtube-thumbnail-preview), and pick a time with
[the best time to post on YouTube](/best-time-to-post-on-youtube). No sign-up needed.

[Start free](/schedule): 7 days to draft, no card to start.

## Questions

### Can you schedule a YouTube video for free?

Yes. Scheduling is built into YouTube Studio and the YouTube app, at no cost.

### How do I schedule a YouTube video on my phone?

In the YouTube app, tap **Create**, then **Upload a video**. Add the details, tap **Visibility**, choose **Schedule**,
pick the date and time, and upload.

### What happens to a scheduled YouTube video before it goes live?

It's private. Only you and people you shared it with privately can see it. At the scheduled time, it turns public.

### How do I change the time of a scheduled YouTube video?

In YouTube Studio, open **Content**, select the video, open **Visibility**, keep it **Private**, select **Edit draft**
and set a new time under **Schedule**. Then select **Publish**.

### Why didn't my scheduled YouTube video go public?

Check for a Community Guidelines strike: a scheduled video stays private during the penalty and needs rescheduling.
Also check in **Content** that a schedule was saved, not only a private upload.

[All guides](/docs/guides.md)