YouTube Shorts is a way for anyone to turn an idea into a chance to connect with new audiences anywhere in the world. All you need is a smartphone and the Shorts camera built right into the YouTube app to create Shorts of up to 60 seconds long. The latest Shorts creation tools make it fast, fun and easy to be a creator on YouTube.
Note: You can customise your channel's layout, branding and basic info for your audience to explore.
Create a Short
✨NEW✨ Add LINKS🔗 in your SHORTS🩳
Creating a Short with YouTube's short-form video creation tools allows you to record one or more clips that add up to 60 seconds. While recording with the Shorts camera, use the progress bar at the top of your screen to see how many segments you've recorded and the length of each.
To create a Short video on YouTube:
- Sign in to the YouTube app
.
- Tap Create
and select Short.
- Or tap Remix
from the Shorts
tab below your screen.
- Or tap Remix
- To record a clip, hold Capture
. You can also tap it to start and stop recording.
While on the record screen, you can:- Undo and redo changes: Tap Undo
to remove the previous video clip that you recorded or tap Redo
to add it back.
- Start again: Tap Close
Delete.
- Save as draft and exit camera: Tap Close
- Set Shorts duration: You'll see the duration on the upper-right side of the screen. Tap 15s to switch to 60s, and vice versa.
- Add sound: Tap Add sound
.
- Camera options on the right menu: Just like recording from your phone camera, there are various options here to help you in recording. Here, you can switch from the front to the back camera, set a timer, use a green screen or add effects.
- Undo and redo changes: Tap Undo
- Tap Done
In this window, you can:- Add sound: Tap Add sound
- Modify video from the right menu: You have the option to add text, filters, voicevers and a Q&A, or trim video clips on the Short that you're creating here.
- Go back to the record screen: At any point after tapping Done
, you can tap Back
to return to the record screen. You'll be prompted to choose between Discard edits
.
- Timeline: Use the Timeline
to edit text timing as shown in your Short.
- Add sound: Tap Add sound
- Tap NEXT to add details to your video for publishing.
- Title: Add a title (max 100 characters).
- Visibility: Tap to set the video's privacy setting to public, private or unlisted.
Note: The default video privacy setting for creators aged 13–17 is private. If you're 18 or older, your default video privacy setting is set to public. Everyone can change this setting to make their video public, private or unlisted. - Location: Run a search to specify where the video was taken.
- Audience: Tap Select audience
- Other options: At the bottom of the screen, you can add Related videos (verification required), allow video and/or audio remixing, add a promotion label and turn comments on or off.
- Tap Upload Short to publish your Short.
.
and select Short.
tab below your screen.
. You can also tap it to start and stop recording.
to remove the previous video clip that you recorded or tap Redo 
to add it back.
.
to return to the record screen. You'll be prompted to choose between Discard edits Save your Short as a draft
You can save your Short as a draft before you upload to come back and edit later.
There's no limit to the number of drafts that you can keep at one time. Note that drafts are saved to your device and not to your YouTube channel. If you delete the YouTube app or replace your device, you'll lose your drafts.
To find your drafts in the YouTube app:
- Tap Create
- Create your Short
- In the lower-right corner, tap Drafts.
- From here, you can select a draft to edit or delete it from your device.
Select a thumbnail
How to CHOOSE your Shorts ✨Thumbnail✨
You can choose a frame from your Short to be used as the thumbnail before and after you upload your Shorts.
Here's how to select a thumbnail for your Short:
- Tap Create
- Record your Short and enter video details.
- Navigate to the final upload screen
on the thumbnail of your video.
- Select a frame to use as your thumbnail.
- Tip: You can add text and apply filters to your thumbnail. Once you've made an edit, you cannot go back to previous edits to make any changes.
- Tap Done.
on the thumbnail of your video.Enhance your Shorts while recording
Top advice for growing on Shorts: hear from top UK creators 🔥
Add music or other audioAccompany your Shorts with a song or other audio clip. The music and sounds found in our library are free of charge to use, but only for personal, non-commercial use, unless you have the appropriate licences.
To find our Audio Library when you're ready to record, tap Add sound
Tap Speed 
Tap Timer 
Tap Filters to pick from a selection of creative and contrasting filters that let you change the vibe of your Short. You can add different filters to each segment as you record. You can also apply a filter in the editing screen later.
Tap Effects to choose from a selection of compelling effects to help enhance your Short. Explore new concepts, change your appearance or use an AI effect for a surprising transformation.
How to GREEN SCREEN yourself into any photo or video from your camera roll
While in the record screen, tap Green screen to use a photo or video from your device's gallery as a background in your Short.
Hit the perfect transition with the Shorts Align tool
Tap Align to line up your next clip using a transparent overlay of the last frame that you captured.
to choose the perfect starting point or to trim video segments that are part of your Short.Import segments
How to quickly make Shorts with videos and photos from your camera roll
While in the record screen, tap the gallery button in the lower left-hand corner to import clips into your Short or select a longer video to trim to 60 seconds or less.
Navigating the import experience is easy:
- For videos over 60 seconds, use the slider to quickly jump to the desired moment in your video.
- Tap and drag the handles on the video filmstrip to choose where the video starts and ends.
- Tap the duration (15 seconds or 60 seconds) in the upper right-hand corner to change the length of your Short.
Add stickers, sound and text after you've recorded
Add soundTo add a song or other soundbite after you've recorded, tap Sound
Use Volume to adjust audio levels across music, your original video's audio and voiceover.
Tap Text to put text on your video after you've recorded. Place multiple messages over your video and change the colour, style and alignment on the screen.
You can also use Timeline for even more control.
Q&A sticker
To add a Q&A sticker after you've recorded, tap Sticker 
'Add yours' sticker
To add a 'Add yours' sticker after you've recorded, tap Sticker 
Poll sticker
To add a poll sticker after you've recorded, tap Sticker 
Record voiceover
Use the voiceover feature to narrate what happens in your video.
Here's how to get started:
- Tap Voiceover
at the bottom of the editing screen to open the voiceover editor.
- Move the playhead left or right to the spot where you want to start your voiceover.
- Hold the red record button or tap it to start recording and then again to stop.
- Tap Undo
Tap Timeline to edit when text is shown in your Short.
Drag the start and stop points of a text clip to control when text shows in your Short and when it disappears. Use this feature to trigger different messages at different times in your video.
To reorder text clips, tap and hold them. Move clips from top to bottom to control the front to back order in which your text is shown.
Add filters
Add comments
Text-to-Speech
- This feature is currently only available on certain devices.
- The text that you generate is sent to a server and a model generates the voice, which is then applied to the video.
You can use text-to-speech to help narrate your Shorts.
- While in the recording screen, tap Text
.
- Add your text.
- In the top corner, tap Add voice
.
- Note: You can edit the voiceover options by tapping the text.
.
.
Automatically crop videos
Note:
- This feature is currently only available on certain devices.
- You can automatically crop long-form videos from the vertical feed only.
Tap Auto 
You can also choose to manually pinch, zoom and crop your own videos. Choosing the manual layout will not automatically follow the subject in the video frame.