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You can create a YouTube Short in the YouTube app or upload a prepared square or vertical video through the app or YouTube Studio. For standard channels, a square or vertical upload made on or after October 15, 2024 qualifies as a Short if it is three minutes or shorter. Before publishing, review the crop, title, privacy setting, audience designation and audio rights.
What qualifies as a YouTube Short?
For standard YouTube channels, a square or vertical video uploaded on or after October 15, 2024, and no longer than three minutes is categorized as a Short. The rule does not necessarily reclassify older uploads. YouTube’s desktop upload guidance specifies a square or vertical aspect ratio and a maximum length of three minutes.
The YouTube creation guide sets a maximum upload resolution of 1080p for Shorts. Frame for square or vertical viewing, and inspect the crop and trim preview so important details do not fall outside the frame. YouTube advises avoiding black bars on vertical videos; its player adapts to vertical, square and horizontal footage. See YouTube’s Shorts creation guide and vertical-video upload guidance.
Choose how to make and publish your Short
| Path | Best suited to | What you do before publishing |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube mobile app | Recording in the app, or selecting and trimming existing footage on a phone | Preview and edit, set the title, privacy and audience, then upload or save as a draft |
| YouTube Studio on a computer | Uploading a prepared square or vertical video | Upload the file and complete its details in Studio before publishing; up to 15 short videos can be selected at once |
YouTube says special equipment is not required: a phone can record, edit and upload a Short. A stand, light or microphone is optional, not a prerequisite. See YouTube’s upload tips.
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How to make a Short in the YouTube app
- Sign in to the YouTube app, tap Create, then choose Short.
- Record with the capture control: hold or tap to record, then tap again to stop. You can record multiple segments and change the duration.
- Preview the footage and make edits. The creation flow includes sounds, text-to-speech and effects, and lets you undo or redo the previous segment.
- Tap Next. Add a title of up to 100 characters, then choose the privacy setting and the correct audience option: 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.
For the current screen-by-screen instructions, see YouTube’s Shorts creation guide.
How to upload an existing video from your phone
In the YouTube app’s Short creation flow, select an existing square or vertical video instead of recording. Trim footage to three minutes or less, then review and edit it with available text, filters, music or audio tools. Add the title and settings, select the audience, and upload. The YouTube Studio app also provides a separate upload route. Android upload instructions are at YouTube Help.
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How to upload and publish a Short from a computer
- Sign in to YouTube Studio and choose Create → Upload videos.
- Select a square or vertical video up to three minutes long. You can select as many as 15 short videos at once.
- Complete the video details in the draft, including the title, privacy and audience settings, then publish when ready.
Review the selected file’s framing and playback before publishing. YouTube’s upload steps are described in YouTube Studio’s Shorts upload instructions.
Check privacy and audience settings
Do not assume the privacy default is what you want. YouTube says the default is private for creators aged 13–17 and public for creators aged 18 or older. You can choose public, private or unlisted; check the setting in the publishing flow before uploading. Select the audience designation accurately as well. Details are in the mobile creation guide and upload guidance.
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Check music and copyright before publishing
Use copyrighted music or other protected material only when you have the necessary rights or approval. YouTube warns that such material in a video made elsewhere can receive a Content ID claim; a valid copyright takedown can remove a 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, while some tracks are limited to 60 or 30 seconds. YouTube’s royalty-free Audio Library is another official source. Check the track’s current limit in the creation flow before publishing; availability and limits can change. Read YouTube’s three-minute Shorts guidance and upload guidance.
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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. This is not permission to use claimed music, nor a guarantee that a claimed Short will stay available: outcomes depend on rights and claim context. Check the current policy and the result shown for your Short.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happens after you publish?
YouTube says viewers can 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 playing or replays, without a minimum watch-time requirement. YouTube Analytics retains Engaged views for viewers who chose to continue watching, so raw views and sustained attention are not the same measure. See YouTube’s creation guide.
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Common problems and what to check
- The upload is not classified as a Short: Confirm that it is square or vertical, no longer than three minutes, and uploaded on or after October 15, 2024. Older videos do not necessarily change classification retroactively.
- Important content is cut off: Review the trim and crop preview, and frame the video for square or vertical viewing before publishing.
- The Short is not public: Check its privacy setting rather than relying on the age-based default.
- Music is limited or a claim appears: Check the track’s current Shorts Audio Library duration limit and use only audio you have permission to use. A claim does not mean the music is cleared.
- The video exceeds the duration limit: Trim it to three minutes or less in the app or before uploading.
Or let it run in the cloud
For a different use case—keeping an uploaded video or playlist live on YouTube around the clock—StreamNeo is a cloud service, not a way to make or publish Shorts. Upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; videos stream as uploaded at any quality up to 4K 60fps for one flat price per slot, with automatic recovery 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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