Virtual items policy for viewers

What are Jewels?

Jewels are virtual items that you can purchase and use to redeem gifts and hype from the YouTube website and from the YouTube mobile app.

Buy Jewels

Jewels are available to purchase at youtube.com and in the YouTube mobile apps on Android, iPhone, and iPad. In order to send a virtual item on a livestream, you will be prompted to purchase the necessary amount of Jewels to send your item on eligible videos. To buy Jewels, you must be at least 18 years old and in one of the available locations.

Purchase & amount limits for Jewels

You can buy Jewels as many times as you wish on a live stream, subject to the limits shared below. However, if your account is deleted or terminated, then any Jewels available in your account will be invalid and you will not be able to transfer them to a new account.

As set out in our Terms of Service, we may occasionally modify or change aspects of the Jewels program, including bundle sizes, prices, available gifts, and the number of Jewels needed to send a specific gift or needed to hype.

Refunds for Jewels

Jewels are non-refundable, except in countries where consumers are legally entitled to a refund in certain circumstances (e.g., where they have a right of withdrawal). In the event we change or discontinue how the Jewels program works in a way that materially impacts the use of your available Jewels, please contact our support team. You can also reach out to support if you’re having trouble with Jewels or gifts or have questions about a payment.

You can view YouTube's refund policies for more info. If you purchased Jewels via Web or on mobile through Android, contact YouTube’s support team for help. If you signed up via Apple, you’ll need to contact Apple support.

Jewels availability & additional policies

Jewels program requirements

You‘re responsible for understanding and fully complying with all applicable laws as required by YouTube’s Terms of Service, including whether or not you can purchase Jewels. You must have an active Google account to purchase, receive, or use Jewels. The Jewels program is intended as a nominal way for you to show appreciation for creator content and enhance the community experience on the YouTube platform. It is not intended, and is prohibited from being used, as a means to send a payment or monetary value to creators, and we may immediately terminate your use of the program if we determine, in our sole discretion, that you are attempting to use the program in such a manner.

We may share a portion of our revenue with eligible creators in accordance with our agreements with them, which are commercial arrangements solely between Google and those eligible creators.

Promotional Jewels and usage

You may receive bonus Jewels through special promotions. Bonus Jewels are subject to the Virtual Items Policy, YouTube Paid Terms of Service, and any additional terms of the promotion.

Gifts powered by Jewels

Gifts are virtual items you can send to express yourself, show your appreciation, and connect with your favorite creators. When you send a gift, they appear as overlays on top of the live stream, allowing you to interact directly with your favorite creators' content and create fun moments together.

When you send a gift, your username and profile photo may be publicly displayed in the live stream, including in the live chat and in the pinned space of the live stream.

Using Jewels to send Gifts

1. On a computer, go to youtube.com, then open a horizontal live stream.
2. Click the dollar sign within the live chat.
3. Select Gift .
   • Note that the Gift icon will only appear if the creator has enabled gifts on their live screen.
4. Browse gifts, and select the gift that you wish to send.
   • If you have sufficient Jewels, the gift you select is then displayed on the creator’s live stream.
   • If you do not have sufficient Jewels when attempting to purchase a gift, you will be prompted to purchase a bundle of Jewels.
     • The default Jewels bundle is the cheapest bundle that would add enough Jewels for the viewer to send that gift.
       • Example: If you try to redeem a gift that costs 1000 Jewels and you only have 500 Jewels, the default bundle will be “700 for $9.99”.
     • After selecting the bundle of Jewels, proceed to checkout. Once checkout is complete, select the gift you want to send on the creator’s live stream.

You can review your purchase history and amount of unused Jewels here.

Eligible live streams

Gifts are available on vertical and horizontal live streams from eligible creators’ that have enabled gifts on their channel. If you see the gifts icon during a vertical or horizontal live stream, this stream is eligible for gifts.

Jewels and gifts availability