YouTube UTM parameters for descriptions and video ads
For links in descriptions and pinned comments, use utm_source=youtube and utm_medium=video. youtube is on GA4's video source list, so the click lands in Organic Video on the source alone, and the medium agrees. For YouTube ads bought through Google Ads, let auto-tagging do the classifying.
The interactive UTM builder loads with this page, pre-filled for YouTube, and runs entirely in your browser.
GA4's Organic Video rule matches a video-site source or a medium containing video; youtube and video meet both conditions, so they point at the same channel.
Where to put it
Paste the tagged URL into the video description or a pinned comment. YouTube passes the query string through unchanged.
Use the same tagged URL on end-screen links, with a different utm_content so you can tell them apart.
Name the video or series in utm_campaign so a channel's links don't blur into one row.
For YouTube ads, link Google Ads to GA4 with auto-tagging on. If you tag manually, use a paid medium such as cpc so GA4 files the click as Paid Video.
Macros filled in at click time
Macro
Resolves to
{campaignid}
Campaign ID
{adgroupid}
Ad group ID
{creative}
Ad (creative) ID
{device}
m (mobile), t (tablet), c (desktop or laptop)
{loc_physical_ms}
Google geo criteria ID of the click, not a city name
YouTube sends people to your site through two doors, and GA4 files them in different channels. Links you post yourself, in a description, a pinned comment or an end screen, are plain URLs. There's no macro layer behind them, so the query string you paste is exactly what the viewer's click carries. Clicks on YouTube ads come through Google Ads, where YouTube is an ad network type, and they follow Google Ads rules.
For your own links, the source does most of the work. GA4's Organic Video rule is an either-or: a source on Google's video-site list, or a medium containing "video". youtube is on that list, so utm_source=youtube alone already lands in Organic Video. The medium is there for your medium reports, and it matters more than it looks. Tag a YouTube link utm_medium=social and it also meets GA4's Organic Social rule, which accepts social as a medium, and which channel wins isn't spelled out on Google's help page. Use video and the question never comes up.
Macros don't resolve in a description.{campaignid} is a Google Ads ValueTrack macro. Paste it into a description and every viewer's click carries the literal text {campaignid}, because nothing on the organic side fills it in. The macro table on this page applies to ads only.
For ads, let the link between accounts do it. With Google Ads linked to GA4 and auto-tagging on, GA4 recognises YouTube ad clicks by source platform (Google Ads) and ad network type (YouTube) and files them under Paid Video with no UTMs at all. If you add UTMs to the ads as well, gclid still outranks them in GA4, and GA4 has no override. Your UTMs only count there with auto-tagging off, and then utm_source=youtube with a paid medium such as cpc reaches Paid Video under the manual rule.
Name the video in utm_campaign. A channel's description links all say youtube and video. Only utm_campaign tells them apart, so name the video or the series there. For reading those clicks once they arrive, see how to track link clicks on YouTube.
Questions
How do I set up UTM parameters for YouTube links?
Build a URL with utm_source=youtube, utm_medium=video and a utm_campaign naming the video, then paste it into the description, a pinned comment or an end screen. YouTube passes the query string through unchanged.
Do I need UTM parameters on YouTube ads?
Not for GA4, if Google Ads is linked with auto-tagging on: GA4 identifies YouTube ad clicks by ad network type and files them under Paid Video. Manual UTMs still help tools outside GA4, but GA4 always uses gclid over them while auto-tagging is on. There's no override.
Should YouTube links use utm_medium=social or video?
video. youtube is on GA4's video source list, so Organic Video is where the click belongs. A social medium would also meet GA4's Organic Social rule, which puts two channel rules in play for the same click.