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Make a YouTube Short by recording in the YouTube app or uploading a square or vertical video that is up to three minutes long. Then preview it, add a title and audience and privacy settings, and upload. You can also create a Short from an eligible public video you already uploaded.
Choose how to make your Short
| Route | Best for | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Record in the YouTube Shorts camera | Filming and making basic edits in the YouTube mobile app | Whether the in-app tools cover the edits you want |
| Upload a pre-recorded video | Using footage you already have or editing on a phone or computer | Square or vertical framing, a duration of up to three minutes, and audio rights |
| Edit an existing upload into a Short | Taking a brief excerpt from your own eligible public video | The source must be public, and the excerpt can be up to 60 seconds |
The steps below reflect YouTube Help guidance reviewed October 3, 2026. Exact labels can vary by device or app version.
Record a Short in the YouTube app
- Open the Shorts camera. Sign in to the YouTube app, tap Create, then Short.
- Record your clips. Hold or tap Capture to start recording and use it again to stop. You can record multiple segments and adjust the duration in the camera.
- Review and edit. Preview your clips and use available tools such as music, filters, effects, undo and redo. You can save a draft if you are not ready to publish.
- Add creative touches. Tap Done to preview the Short and, where available, add sounds, text-to-speech or other effects.
- Set the video details. Tap Next, enter a title (up to 100 characters), choose privacy, and indicate whether the video is made for kids. Check privacy rather than assuming the default: creators aged 13–17 default to private, while creators 18 or older default to public.
- Publish or save. Tap Upload Short to publish, or save it as a draft.
YouTube describes the Shorts camera as a smartphone workflow. The official mobile guidance reviewed lists a maximum upload resolution of 1080p; do not assume a higher-resolution Shorts upload is supported on that basis. YouTube Help: Get started creating YouTube Shorts
Upload a video you already made
From a phone
- Open the YouTube app and start the upload flow for a video saved on your phone.
- Select a square or vertical video that is up to three minutes long.
- Trim or edit it in the app if needed, then add the video details and upload.
YouTube’s Android help page describes this mobile upload route and says audio selected from its library is limited to 15-second clips in that context. Audio limits can differ by workflow and track, so check the allowance displayed for the sound you select. YouTube Help: Upload YouTube Shorts – Android
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From a computer
- Open YouTube Studio and select Create → Upload videos.
- Choose a square or vertical video file up to three minutes long.
- Complete the video details, including visibility and audience settings, then publish or schedule as appropriate.
YouTube says creators aged 13–17 default to private privacy, while those 18 or older default to public. Confirm the intended visibility before finishing the upload. YouTube Help: Upload YouTube Shorts – Computer
Use music and video you have rights to use
Do not assume that a song or clip is usable just because it is online. YouTube says copyrighted material in an uploaded video must be approved for your use. Otherwise, it can receive a Content ID claim; a valid copyright takedown can remove the video and may result in a copyright strike.
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- Use eligible Shorts audio tools. YouTube’s Shorts Audio Library offers eligible music through its tools. The permitted duration depends on the track and workflow; some tracks may cover up to 90 seconds of a three-minute Short. Check the duration shown in the app for the selected audio.
- Consider YouTube Audio Library royalty-free music. YouTube says this music will not receive a Content ID claim.
- Keep track of permissions. If you add music or footage in another editor, make sure your licence or permission covers using it in a YouTube upload.
The 15-second mobile-library limit described on YouTube’s Android upload page should not be generalized to every Shorts creation route or audio track. YouTube Help: Music eligibility for YouTube Shorts
Turn an existing video into a Short
- Open the watch page of an eligible public video that you uploaded.
- Tap Remix, then Edit into a Short.
- Select up to 60 seconds, add creative touches and upload. The Short links back to the source video.
This option is not available for private or unlisted videos or videos with third-party copyright claims. If Edit into a Short is missing, YouTube says Shorts sampling may need to be enabled in YouTube Studio. YouTube Help: Create YouTube Shorts from your videos – Android
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Check views and eligibility metrics correctly
Since March 31, 2025, YouTube counts a Shorts view when a Short starts or replays, without a minimum watch-time requirement. The earlier metric is now called Engaged views. YouTube says Engaged Shorts views continue to be used for YouTube Partner Program eligibility and Shorts ad revenue sharing, so do not treat the two metrics as interchangeable. YouTube Help: Shorts view-count change
Troubleshoot common creation and upload problems
- The video does not fit the Shorts upload guidance: Check that it is square or vertical and no longer than three minutes. Reframe or trim it in an editor, then upload again.
- The music option is shorter than expected: Track and workflow limits vary. Check the duration shown for that audio in the app, or choose another eligible track or properly licensed audio.
- A copyright claim appears: Review the claim and the rights for the material used. Replace or remove material you are not cleared to use; a valid takedown can remove the video and may result in a strike.
- You cannot edit a video into a Short: Confirm that the source is your public upload, is not private or unlisted, and has no third-party copyright claim. If eligible but the option is absent, check whether Shorts sampling is enabled in Studio.
- The upload went public when you expected private: Recheck the privacy setting before publishing. YouTube’s default differs by creator age, and the setting can be changed.
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