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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11A practical export target for a full-height YouTube Short is 1080 × 1920 pixels in a 9:16 portrait aspect ratio. That exact canvas is not mandatory: YouTube’s eligibility rules accept square or vertical videos, and Shorts uploads can be up to 1080p. A square video can qualify too. Choose the shape that suits your footage, and do not add black bars to force a particular display.
What size is a YouTube Short?
For a tall, full-screen portrait composition, export at 1080 × 1920 pixels (9:16). This is a useful target derived from the portrait shape and YouTube’s stated 1080p maximum, not a platform-mandated pixel size. YouTube does not prescribe one exact width-by-height canvas for Shorts.
If your footage or design is square, 1080 × 1080 is a practical square canvas at 1080 pixels high. YouTube’s eligibility rule accepts square videos, but that exact square resolution is also a practical choice rather than an official required canvas.
What aspect ratio should YouTube Shorts be?
Use 9:16 when you want a tall portrait presentation. Use a square frame when that better fits the source or composition. For Shorts eligibility, YouTube specifies a square or vertical video, subject to duration and upload-date rules; 9:16 is not the only qualifying shape. A 16:9 landscape video does not meet that shape description.
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| Format | Practical canvas | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 | A useful full-height portrait export target; not an exact-pixel requirement. |
| Square | 1080 × 1080 | A practical square export choice; square uploads can qualify as Shorts. |
| Landscape 16:9 | No Shorts canvas recommended | Does not meet YouTube’s square-or-vertical eligibility description. |
Both square and vertical videos must also meet the duration and applicable upload-date rules. The resolution guidance sets a maximum of 1080p, not a single required canvas.
How long can a YouTube Short be?
YouTube’s current rule treats eligible square or vertical videos up to three minutes long as Shorts, with different cutoff dates for standard channels and Official Artist Channels:
- Standard channels: eligible uploads made on or after October 15, 2024.
- Official Artist Channels: eligible uploads made on or after December 8, 2025.
Uploads made before the applicable cutoff retain their former long-form classification. This date distinction can explain why an older square or vertical video is classified differently from a new one.
Should I add black bars or padding?
No. YouTube advises, “For best results, avoid adding padding or black bars directly to your video.” The player adapts to the video’s dimensions and the viewer’s device. On computer browsers, a vertical 9:16 video may have padding around it; that padding is white by default and dark gray in Dark theme. It is player behavior, not a reason to bake borders into the export.
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Can I prevent my video from being turned into a Short?
YouTube’s help guidance recommends a wider aspect ratio such as 16:9 for a video intended to remain long-form. In other words, format can affect classification: square or vertical uploads may qualify as Shorts when they also meet the duration and date rules. Do not assume that making a video square will keep it out of Shorts.
Quick export checklist
- For a tall portrait video, use 9:16 and consider 1080 × 1920 as a practical target.
- For square footage or a square layout, square is also eligible; 1080 × 1080 is a practical canvas, not a requirement.
- Keep the upload at or below YouTube’s 1080p Shorts resolution ceiling.
- Check the video’s duration and the upload-date rule that applies to your channel type.
- Export without embedded black bars or padding; let the player adapt to the device.
- If the video should remain long-form, consider a wider format such as 16:9.
Keep a separate YouTube channel stream running
If you also publish documentaries or other uploaded videos as a continuous YouTube live stream, StreamNeo is a separate cloud service for looping uploaded videos; it does not change Shorts dimensions or turn camera footage into a live broadcast. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, then go live. The cloud keeps the stream running without leaving a computer, OBS, or your home connection on, and it can recover automatically if YouTube drops the stream. Any quality up to 4K 60fps is streamed as uploaded, with one flat price per slot. The first day is free with no card.
Learn more at StreamNeo, or start the free first day.
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