What Is a YouTube Short?
A YouTube Short is a vertical video up to 3 minutes long, displayed in a dedicated Shorts feed. Shorts are distributed through a separate algorithm from regular YouTube videos — they appear in the Shorts shelf on the homepage, in the Shorts tab, and in the dedicated Shorts feed.
Unlike regular YouTube videos, Shorts prioritize completion rate and replays over watch time in minutes. This makes them a distinct content format with different production and optimization strategies.
Method 1: Film Directly in the YouTube App
The simplest way to create a Short is using YouTube's built-in camera.
On mobile (iOS or Android):
- Open the YouTube app
- Tap the + (Create) button at the bottom center
- Tap Create a Short
- The camera opens in vertical (9:16) mode
- Press and hold the record button to film (up to 3 minutes total)
- Release to pause — you can record multiple clips in sequence
- Use the toolbar on the left to add:
- Music — from YouTube's licensed audio library
- Text — captions or titles
- Filters — color adjustments
- Timer/countdown — for hands-free recording
- Speed — slow motion or fast forward
- Tap the checkmark when done
- Add a title (max 100 characters — this is your Short's title and caption)
- Set audience (Yes, it's made for kids / No)
- Tap Upload Short
Method 2: Upload a Pre-Edited Vertical Video
If you edit your videos in CapCut, DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, or any other editor:
- Export your video as 1080 × 1920 px (9:16 ratio), MP4
- Open YouTube app → + → Upload a video
- Select your video from your phone's gallery
- Add a title, description, and tags
- If the video is under 3 minutes and in 9:16 format, YouTube will automatically classify it as a Short
- Tap Upload
Method 3: Upload YouTube Shorts from Desktop
- Go to youtube.com and sign in
- Click the camera + icon (Create) at the top right
- Click Upload video
- Drag and drop or select your vertical video file
- Fill in title, description, tags
- YouTube detects vertical aspect ratio and marks it as a Short
- Click Next through the settings and Publish
Note: You cannot film Shorts from the desktop — only upload pre-made files. Use mobile for in-app filming.
YouTube Shorts Format Requirements
| Spec | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 (vertical) |
| Recommended resolution | 1080 × 1920 px |
| Maximum length | 3 minutes |
| File format | MP4 (recommended), MOV, AVI |
| Maximum file size | 256 GB or 12 hours (whichever is less) |
How to Make Your YouTube Shorts Perform Better
1. Nail the first 2 seconds The Shorts feed auto-plays videos. If your opening doesn't grab attention immediately, viewers swipe up. Start with action, a surprising statement, or a visual hook — not a slow intro.
2. Add captions Many people watch Shorts without sound. YouTube has auto-captions, but they're not always accurate. Adding your own captions (via the text tool or burned into the video) keeps viewers engaged even on mute.
3. Use a strong title Your Short's title appears below the video and in search results. Include your main keyword naturally. Keep it under 60 characters for full display in search.
4. Add music from YouTube's library Using YouTube's licensed audio library avoids copyright issues and can give your Short a boost — trending sounds sometimes get additional distribution.
5. Post consistently YouTube's algorithm rewards channels that upload regularly. Aim for at least 3–5 Shorts per week for meaningful growth.
Can You Repurpose TikTok and Instagram Reels as YouTube Shorts?
Yes — with one important step: remove the watermark first.
YouTube doesn't officially penalize watermarked content, but the watermark looks unprofessional and can reduce engagement. Tools like SnapTik (for TikTok) or the built-in save feature in CapCut can export watermark-free versions.
One video can be posted to TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, Facebook Reels, and Pinterest — all in the same day. PostLink lets you schedule to all these platforms at once from a single upload, without opening five separate apps.
Summary
To make a YouTube Short:
- Mobile: YouTube app → + → Create a Short → film or upload → add title → Upload
- Desktop: youtube.com → Create → Upload video → select vertical video → Publish
- Format: 9:16 vertical, 1080 × 1920 px, under 3 minutes
Hook viewers in the first 2 seconds, add captions, post consistently, and repurpose your existing vertical content from other platforms.
