YouTube will now count a view as soon as a video starts playing

The change comes a year after YouTube applied the same approach to counting views on Shorts videos.

YouTube Changes How It Counts Views, Handing Marketers Two Numbers Instead Of One

YouTube counts views from the first frame starting Aug. 24, 2026, matching TikTok and Instagram. 'Engaged views' keeps the ...
The Next Web

YouTube view counts will rise on 24 August, and creator earnings will not

From 24 August the YouTube view count starts at the first frame, with no minimum watch time. Earnings still run on the strict measure, renamed Engaged views.
MediaNama

YouTube to count a view the moment a video plays, while tightening monetisation rules

YouTube will count views from the first frame across videos, live streams and Shorts from August 24. Engaged views remain in Analytics.