Ever scrolled down to click a link on a video only to find it's just plain text? It’s frustrating. You’re ready to buy that specific tripod or read the article the creator mentioned, but the blue hyperlink is gone. This isn't just a random glitch.
YouTube links in description have become a massive headache for creators and viewers alike lately. Google has been tinkering with how these work, mostly to stop scammers from redirecting people to "free gift card" sites or malware. If you've noticed your own links aren't clickable, or if you're wondering why some big channels have weird-looking URLs, it’s because the rules of the game changed under our feet.
Basically, YouTube is trying to protect the platform. But in doing so, they’ve made it way harder for legitimate businesses and hobbyists to share resources.
The Verification Wall is Real
You can't just start a new channel and drop a dozen affiliate links anymore. Well, you can, but nobody will be able to click them.
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YouTube now requires "Advanced Features" access for clickable links in the description. This usually means you need to have a solid channel history—usually a few months of consistent, rule-following uploads—or you have to verify your identity. You can do this by filming a quick video of yourself or uploading a government ID.
It feels intrusive. Honestly, many people hate it. But without that verification, your YouTube links in description are basically dead weight. They show up as unclickable gray text. If a viewer wants to visit the site, they have to manually copy and paste the URL. Spoiler alert: almost nobody does that.
Why the Change Happened
Back in 2023, YouTube saw an explosion in "comment spam" and description-based phishing. Scammers would use automated bots to upload thousands of Shorts or videos with tempting links. These led to "get rich quick" schemes or straight-up identity theft. To combat this, YouTube started stripping link functionality from Shorts descriptions and making it a tiered privilege for long-form content.
Verifying Your Identity to Unlock Links
If you’re a creator, go check your settings right now. Head to the YouTube Studio on a desktop. Look under Settings > Channel > Feature Eligibility. If "Advanced features" isn't enabled, that is exactly why your links aren't working.
Most people choose "Channel History." It’s the easiest. You just keep posting and staying out of trouble. After about two months, YouTube usually flips the switch for you. But if you’re launching a brand and need those links active today, the video verification takes about 24 hours. You just look into your phone camera, follow the prompts to move your head, and you're done.
It’s a small hoop, but it’s a necessary one.
The "Link in Bio" Problem on YouTube
Shorts are a different beast entirely. You might have noticed that links in Shorts descriptions are completely unclickable across the board. This was a scorched-earth policy by YouTube to stop the spam bots.
So, how do you get people to your site from a Short?
- The Related Video Tool: You can link a Short to one of your long-form videos. This creates a small play button link on the Short itself.
- The Profile Link: YouTube added a dedicated "Links" section to your channel banner/profile. This is now the primary way to drive traffic from Shorts. You have to tell people to "check the link on my profile," which feels very 2018 Instagram, but it’s the only reliable way.
Formatting Your Links So They Actually Rank
Don't just dump a raw URL. It looks messy.
There's a persistent myth that using URL shorteners like Bitly or TinyURL will get your video shadowbanned. That isn't strictly true. However, YouTube's spam filters are more suspicious of masked links. If you use a custom domain—like links.yourbrand.com—it looks much more professional and is less likely to trigger a "suspicious link" warning for the viewer.
Also, placement matters. The "fold" in a YouTube description happens after the first couple of lines. If your most important link is at the very bottom, after a wall of "Thanks for watching" text, your click-through rate (CTR) will crater.
Put the "money link" or the primary resource in the first 200 characters.
Why Some Links Trigger Warnings
Have you ever clicked a link and seen a big red screen saying "Deep Link Warning" or "Leaving YouTube"?
This happens when a link uses certain redirects that YouTube can't easily trace. It’s also common with "smart links" used by musicians (like Linktree or ToneDen). To avoid this, try to use direct links whenever possible. If you must use a landing page, ensure it’s a reputable one.
The Affiliate Disclosure Rule
If you are using YouTube links in description to make money, you legally have to disclose it. The FTC in the US and similar bodies elsewhere are getting very strict. A tiny "affiliate link" tag at the bottom of the page isn't enough.
You should ideally have a sentence at the top of the description: "As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases." Or something similar. It doesn’t hurt your SEO. In fact, it builds trust with your audience. People know you’re making a commission; being honest about it keeps you from getting sued or banned.
Strategic Link Mapping
Don't just link to your homepage. Use deep links.
If you're talking about a specific camera lens, link directly to that product page. If you're talking about a software tip, link to the documentation page for that specific feature. The more clicks a user has to make after leaving YouTube, the more likely they are to drop off.
Managing the "Wall of Text"
Long descriptions actually help with SEO. Google’s crawlers read the description to understand what the video is about. But for humans, a 5,000-character description is a nightmare.
Use headers. Use emojis as bullet points. Break things up with lines.
- Chapter Timestamps: These are links too! They help Google show your video in "Key Moments" on the search results page.
- Social Media Links: Keep these in a "Follow Me" section at the bottom.
- Gear Lists: Very popular for tech and lifestyle channels.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One of the biggest blunders is putting links in the comments and "pinning" them without having Advanced Features enabled. If you don't have the right permissions, that pinned comment link will also be unclickable.
Another mistake? Linking to prohibited content.
YouTube’s Community Guidelines apply to your links just as much as your video. If you link to a site that sells illegal goods, hosted pirated software, or features "harmful or dangerous" content, your channel can get a strike. One bad link can sink a channel with a million subscribers. It’s happened to big creators who got hacked or who didn't vet their sponsors properly.
Actionable Steps for Your Channel
To ensure your YouTube links in description are working effectively, follow this checklist:
- Check Eligibility: Go to your Studio settings and verify that "Advanced features" are enabled. If not, start the ID verification today.
- Audit Your Top 10 Videos: Click the links yourself from a mobile device and a desktop. Make sure they aren't broken and don't lead to 404 errors.
- Move Your CTA: Ensure your most important link is in the first two lines of the description so it's visible without clicking "more."
- Update Your Profile Links: Since Shorts links are dead, make sure your channel's main "Link in bio" is updated with your most important offers.
- Use Descriptive Text: Instead of just putting
https://mysite.com/p123, writeDownload the Free PDF Guide Here: https://mysite.com/guide. It tells the user exactly what to expect.
Fixing these small technical hurdles makes the transition from "viewer" to "customer" much smoother. Don't let a verification setting stand between you and your traffic.