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You can make a YouTube Short in the YouTube app or upload a video you have already recorded and edited. For standard channels, a square or vertical video up to three minutes can qualify as a Short. You do not need special equipment: a phone is enough to record, edit, and publish.
Choose how you want to make your Short
| Route | Best when | Where you finish |
|---|---|---|
| Record in the YouTube app | You want to capture and edit a clip on your phone. | YouTube app |
| Upload a prepared video | You have already recorded and assembled the clip, or want to use a desktop workflow. | YouTube app or YouTube Studio |
YouTube documents both routes but does not say either gets better reach. Choose based on where you prefer to record and edit.
Make a Short in the YouTube app
- Open the YouTube app, sign in, and tap Create, then Short.
- Record by holding the capture button, or tap it to start and tap again to stop. Adjust the recording duration if needed.
- Use the editor’s available music, filters, or effects if they suit the video. If you need to change the preceding clip, remove it or restore it using the editor controls.
- Choose the audience setting, add the video’s details, and select whether to upload it or save it as a draft.
YouTube says its app supports recording, editing, and uploading without special equipment. A tripod, external microphone, or separate lighting setup is optional, not a requirement.
Upload a video you already made
From a phone
- In the YouTube app, tap Create and choose the upload option.
- Select a square or vertical video, then add its details and audience setting before publishing or saving a draft.
From a computer
- Sign in to YouTube Studio.
- Select Create → Upload videos, then choose the video file.
- Complete the video’s details, visibility, and audience setting, then publish or save it. You can select multiple videos to upload, but complete the details for each draft.
Check the format and length
For standard channels, YouTube categorizes square or vertical videos uploaded on or after October 15, 2024, and no longer than three minutes as Shorts. This rule does not retroactively turn videos uploaded before that date into Shorts. YouTube’s upload guidance gives a maximum upload resolution of 1080p; it does not require one exact pixel dimension or a single aspect ratio beyond square or vertical.
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Official Artist Channels have a separate effective date: under YouTube’s guidance, the three-minute classification applies to qualifying uploads made on or after December 8, 2025. See YouTube’s current explanation of three-minute Shorts for claim-related details that can change.
Set visibility and audience before publishing
- Visibility: Choose public, private, or unlisted. A private or unlisted test upload lets you check the video before sharing it publicly.
- Audience: Set whether the video is made for kids. This is a required audience choice, not a prediction about who might watch.
- Default privacy: YouTube says the default differs by age: for creators aged 13–17 it is private, while for creators 18 or older it is public. Check the selected setting rather than assuming the default.
Use music and footage you have rights to
If you upload a video made elsewhere, make sure you are allowed to use any copyrighted music, images, or footage in it. YouTube says a valid, complete copyright takedown notice can remove a Short and may lead to a copyright strike. Its rules for Shorts longer than one minute with an active Content ID claim are date-sensitive; check the live three-minute Shorts guidance before relying on a claim exception.
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Templates and repeatable editing workflows can save time, but they do not by themselves make a channel eligible for monetization. YouTube’s policy clarification dated July 15, 2025 calls repetitive or mass-produced material “inauthentic content”; monetization depends on the channel and content meeting YouTube’s policies.
Understand Shorts views and monetization
Since March 31, 2025, YouTube’s public Shorts view count includes starts and replays without a minimum watch time. YouTube retained Engaged views as a separate Analytics metric. Engaged views are used for YouTube Partner Program eligibility and Shorts ad revenue sharing, so a public view total is not the same measure.
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Shorts revenue is conditional, not a guaranteed payment per view. Eligible monetizing partners must accept the Shorts Monetization Module. YouTube describes pooling Shorts Feed ad revenue, calculating a Creator Pool using eligible engaged views and music usage, allocating it by each creator’s share of eligible engaged views in each country, then applying a 45% creator share to the allocated amount. That 45% is not a per-view rate or earnings estimate. Some views are ineligible, including examples such as non-original uploads, fake views, and content that does not meet advertiser-friendly guidelines. Read YouTube’s Shorts monetization policies for current eligibility details.
Common problems and fixes
- Your upload is not recognized as a Short: Check that it is square or vertical, no longer than three minutes, and—if it is an older upload—made on or after the applicable channel date.
- You cannot find the video after uploading: Check whether it was saved as a draft or published as private or unlisted rather than public.
- A music or footage claim appears: Confirm you have permission to use the material, or replace it with material you are authorized to publish. For Shorts over one minute, consult YouTube’s current claim guidance.
- Your view count differs from Engaged views: They measure different things. The public count includes starts and replays; Engaged views remains the Analytics metric used for YPP eligibility and Shorts ad revenue sharing.
- You expect repeatable videos to guarantee monetization: They do not. Review YouTube’s channel monetization policies and make sure each video offers original creative value.
Or let it run in the cloud
Making and uploading Shorts does not require a live stream. If you separately want a YouTube channel to keep playing uploaded videos as a 24/7 live stream, StreamNeo is a different tool for that job: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It streams the uploaded videos, not a camera feed. Nothing has to stay on at home; any quality up to 4K 60fps streams as uploaded at one price per slot, and it automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. Start your free day with StreamNeo.
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