Best Time to Upload YouTube Videos

# When is the Best Time to Upload YouTube Videos? Uploading at the right time gives your video a crucial initial boost. ## General Best Times to Upload - **Weekdays (Thursday, Friday):** 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM. This gives YouTube enough time to index your video before peak viewing hours in the evening. - **Weekends (Saturday, Sunday):** 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM. This positions your video perfectly for weekend afternoon viewers. ## The "2-Hour Indexing" Rule YouTube needs time to process and index your video. The algorithm then starts testing it with a small subset of your audience. Uploading at least **2 hours before** your audience's peak viewing time is a critical strategy. ## How to Find Your Peak Viewing Time 1. **Go to YouTube Studio.** 2. **Click on "Analytics"** in the left sidebar. 3. **Select the "Audience" tab.** 4. Find the "When your viewers are on YouTube" report. This purple chart is your most valuable tool. It shows you the exact days and hours your audience has been active over the last 28 days. **Strategy:** Look for the darkest purple blocks. These are your peak hours. Plan to upload your video **2-3 hours before** these times.