YouTube announces 'Second Chance' program to give banned users a chance to get back on their feet

YouTube has announced a ' Second Chance ' program that will give users who have had their accounts

https://blog.youtube/inside-youtube/second-chances-on-youtube/

YouTube prepares to welcome back banned creators with “second chance” program - Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/10/youtube-explains-how-banned-creators-can-get-a-second-chance/

In 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, YouTube enacted a 'Medical Misinformation Policy' to block content promoting conspiracy theories about COVID-19. In 2021, it announced a 'Vaccine Misinformation Policy' to prohibit the dissemination of misinformation about vaccines.

However, following the repeal of these policies, YouTube announced that it would 'offer creators who are not believed to be violating our current policies the opportunity to return to YouTube and start new channels.'

YouTube will allow creators whose accounts have been suspended for misinformation about COVID-19 and elections to apply for reinstatement - GIGAZINE

On October 9, 2025, local time, the company announced a second chance program that would give users who had previously had their accounts suspended the opportunity to start a new channel.

YouTube explained the reason for launching the Second Chance Program: 'As the epicenter of the creator economy, YouTube offers creators an incredible opportunity not only to build an audience but also to build a business. There are currently over 3 million channels in the YouTube Partner Program , and in the past four years alone, we have paid out over $100 billion to creators, artists, and media outlets. Given the scale of the opportunity, we recognize that YouTube's long-standing approach of 'permanently suspending offending accounts' could be difficult for creators.'

If there is a misunderstanding or mistake in the account suspension, users can appeal. However, appeals are evaluated based on several factors, such as whether the policy in question has been removed from the Community Guidelines, so most decisions are not overturned. Therefore, in order to meet creators' requests for 'more options for returning to YouTube,' YouTube announced that 'we will introduce a pilot program that will offer some eligible creators the opportunity to rebuild their presence on YouTube.'

The Second Chance Program will offer creators who have been banned the option to start a new YouTube channel over the next few months. Eligible creators will see an option to request a new channel when they access YouTube Studio on their browser using their banned YouTube account. If this request is approved, they will be able to create a new YouTube channel.

However, since this will be a new YouTube channel, your previous subscribers and content will not be carried over. However, you will be able to re-upload videos that were uploaded to your previous account as long as they comply with YouTube's Community Guidelines .

Please note that if your account was banned for copyright infringement , it will not be eligible for the Second Chance Program. Also, if you have deleted your YouTube channel or Google account after being banned, you will not be eligible for the Second Chance Program at the time of writing.

The Second Chance Program is only available to accounts that have been suspended for more than one year.