Get started with YouTube Shorts

Shorts is in beta. YouTube’s short-form video creation tools are available in India and are expanding to everyone in the U.S. over the next several weeks.

YouTube Shorts is a way for anyone to connect with a new audience with just a smartphone and the Shorts camera in the YouTube app. YouTube’s Shorts creation tool makes it easy to create videos that are up to 15 seconds long with the option to capture multiple clips.

Note: This feature may not be available with supervised experiences on YouTube. Learn more here.

You can also use various creative features, including:

   Music & sound: Add a song or use other audio to create your own Short. Learn more.

  Text: Add text after recording a Short and use  Timeline to control when it appears and disappears.

  Speed: Choose to accelerate or slow down recording.

  Timer: Set the countdown to record hands-free and choose when to automatically stop recording.

Creators outside of India and the U.S. can still get started creating Shorts. Upload a vertical video up to 60 seconds and include #Shorts in the title or description of your video to help our system recommend your Shorts across YouTube.

Learn more about Shorts

How do I record a Short?

How to Create #Shorts From Your Phone

To create a short video on YouTube:

  1. Sign in to YouTube on mobile.
  2. Tap  Create .
  3. Tap  Create a Short beta.
  4. To record a clip, hold the capture button  or tap it to start recording and then again to stop.
  5. Tap white x over gray backward-pointing pentagon Undo to remove the previous video clip you recorded or tap  Redo to add it back.
  6. Tap NEXT to preview your video and then tap NEXT again to add details to your video.
  7. Add a title (max 100 characters) to your short video.
  8. Tap Select audience to choose whether or not your Short is made for kids. Learn more.
  9. Tap UPLOAD to finish.
Note: Content created using the Shorts camera is limited to 15 seconds. So while anything up to 60 seconds is a Short, we recommend that you focus on 15-second videos that are quickly and easily enjoyed by viewers.
How will viewers find my short videos?

We’re always testing new ways to deliver content to viewers. This is especially true for Shorts. Right now, viewers may find your Shorts:

Include #Shorts in your short video’s title or description to help our system recommend your Shorts across Youtube.

For more info on hashtags on YouTube, go to Use hashtags for video search.

How do I add music to my short videos?

As you record your short video on YouTube, tap  Add music to view a selection of tracks you can add to your short video. These songs are free to use!

What audio can I use in my short videos?
You can choose music or use other audio for your short videos:
  • Tap  Add Music to select from our catalog of tracks in many languages to enhance your Short. Music chosen using this feature is only for personal, non-commercial use, unless you have the appropriate licenses.
  • You can choose to use the sound from other eligible Shorts to create your own short-form masterpiece. Learn more.
If you upload a short video you’ve created elsewhere, make sure that any copyright-protected material you’ve used is approved for your use on YouTube. Using copyright-protected material without getting appropriate rights could lead to you getting a Content ID claim. Also if a copyright owner sends us a valid and complete copyright takedown notice against your short video, it may be removed, and you could get a copyright strike.
Can I monetize my short videos?
Whether Shorts are found on the Shorts shelf or through the short video player, ads won’t be served on them, and they won’t generate YouTube Premium subscription revenue.
Shorts also don’t contribute to YouTube’s Partner Program eligibility, but subscribers gained from watching your Shorts still count toward the eligibility threshold.
As we continue to experiment and improve the Shorts experience, there may be opportunities to monetize Shorts in the future.
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