You can make a YouTube Short in the YouTube mobile app or upload a prepared video through the app or YouTube Studio. For a standard channel, a square or vertical video uploaded on or after October 15, 2024, can be classified as a Short if it is no longer than three minutes. Before publishing, check the crop, audio, title, privacy setting and audience designation.
Choose how to make your Short
| Path | Best for | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube mobile app | Recording in the moment or editing a clip on your phone | Record one or more segments in the app, or select an existing video and trim and edit it. |
| YouTube Studio on a computer | Uploading a finished square or vertical video and completing its details on desktop | Upload a prepared file, then enter its details before publishing. |
You do not need special equipment to begin: YouTube Help says you can record, edit and upload from a phone. A stand, light or microphone is optional, depending on the footage and sound you want.
Check that your video fits Shorts
- Shape: use a square or vertical video. Review the crop and trim preview so the important action, text and faces remain visible. YouTube advises avoiding black bars on vertical videos.
- Length: for standard channels, square or vertical uploads made on or after October 15, 2024, can be categorized as Shorts when they are up to three minutes long. This classification rule does not mean older uploads are retroactively reclassified.
- Resolution: YouTube’s creation guide gives a maximum upload resolution of 1080p for Shorts.
YouTube’s desktop upload guidance specifies “Up to 3 minutes” and a “square or vertical aspect ratio.” The exact rules and app screens can change, so check the current upload flow if your file is near a limit.
How to make a Short in the YouTube app
- Sign in to the YouTube app and tap Create → Short.
- Record by holding or tapping the capture control; tap it again to stop. You can change the duration and record multiple segments.
- Preview the result. Use the available editing tools to add sounds, text-to-speech or effects, and undo or redo the last segment if needed.
- Tap Next. Add a title of up to 100 characters and review the video settings, including privacy.
- Choose the correct audience designation: Yes, it’s made for kids or No, it’s not made for kids.
- Tap Upload Short to publish, or Save draft to return to it later.
How to upload and publish an existing video
From the YouTube mobile app
- Start the upload flow and select an existing square or vertical video. The Android flow allows you to trim it; footage longer than three minutes must be trimmed to three minutes or less for this Shorts workflow.
- Edit as needed with text, filters, music or audio, then review the crop and trim.
- Add a title and video settings, select the appropriate audience designation, and upload.
You can also use the YouTube Studio app as a separate upload route.
#1 Best Overall
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From a computer in YouTube Studio
- Sign in to YouTube Studio and choose Create → Upload videos.
- Select a square or vertical video up to three minutes long.
- Complete the video details in the draft and check the audience and privacy settings before publishing. You can select up to 15 short videos at once in the desktop flow.
Check privacy and audience before publishing
YouTube offers public, private and unlisted privacy settings. Do not assume the default is right for your plans: YouTube says the default is private for creators aged 13–17 and public for creators aged 18 or older. Explicitly check the setting each time, especially when uploading a draft or several videos together.
The audience question is separate from privacy. Select whether the video is made for kids based on its intended audience; do not choose an option just to influence reach or comments.
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Use music and other copyrighted material carefully
If you created the Short elsewhere, YouTube warns that copyright-protected material must be approved for use. Unauthorized use can lead to a Content ID claim; a valid copyright takedown can remove the Short and result in a copyright strike.
For standard channels, songs in the Shorts Audio Library may be available for up to 90 seconds in a three-minute Short, but some tracks are limited to 60 or 30 seconds. YouTube’s royalty-free Audio Library is another official option. Check the track’s current permitted duration in the creation flow before publishing.
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YouTube’s English regional Help page says that starting September 24, 2026, new Shorts longer than one minute but shorter than three minutes with an active Content ID claim will no longer be automatically blocked and may remain playable. That is not a guarantee that claimed music is safe to use or that any particular Short will remain available; rights and claim outcomes depend on the circumstances.
After you publish: discovery and views
YouTube says viewers may find Shorts in the Shorts Feed, search results, the homepage, a channel homepage, subscriptions and notifications. Since March 31, 2025, a Shorts view counts whenever a Short starts to play or replay, without a minimum watch-time requirement. YouTube Analytics also retains Engaged views, which indicate viewers who chose to continue watching. Treat the two measures differently: a raw view is not by itself evidence of sustained attention.
Rank #4
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Or let it run in the cloud
StreamNeo is for keeping uploaded videos looping as a 24/7 YouTube live stream, not for creating or publishing Shorts. To use it, upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, then go live. StreamNeo loops the video from the cloud, so no computer, OBS or home internet connection has to stay on. It offers automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream, and any quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot. The first day is free with no card. The monthly price is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo or start your free day.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
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