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YouTube Shorts are short-form videos you can record in the YouTube app or upload from your phone or computer. For a standard YouTube channel, a new video qualifies as a Short if it’s square or vertical and up to three minutes long.
Here’s how to format and upload a Short, what to check before adding music, and which views count toward monetization.
What Are the YouTube Shorts Requirements?
Use a square aspect ratio such as 1:1 or a vertical aspect ratio such as 9:16. Vertical video fills more of a phone screen, so it’s a good default when you’re recording specifically for Shorts. If you’re cropping a wider recording, check that faces, captions, and anything you demonstrate still fit in the frame.
The three-minute rule applies to eligible videos uploaded on or after October 15, 2024, for standard channels. YouTube uses a December 8, 2025 cutoff for Official Artist Channels and channels linked to a music content owner. Eligible older uploads can remain long-form.
How to Create and Upload a YouTube Short
Record or Upload in the YouTube App
In the YouTube app, tap Create and choose Short. Record a clip or select a video from your phone. Review the framing, add captions where useful, and check the title and visibility settings before uploading. See YouTube’s guide to creating Shorts.
Upload From a Computer
In YouTube Studio, select Create, then Upload videos. Choose a square or vertical file up to three minutes long and complete the video details before publishing. See YouTube’s desktop upload instructions.
Give the Short a title that tells viewers what they’ll get. For example, “How to Add Captions to a YouTube Short” sets a clearer expectation than “Quick Editing Tip.” For more on titles and discovery, see the YouTube SEO guide.
Music and Copyright for Shorts
If you add a track through the Shorts Audio Library, check the duration shown for that song. Many tracks can be used for up to 90 seconds in a three-minute Short, while some are limited to 60 or 30 seconds. YouTube Studio’s Audio Library also offers royalty-free tracks.
A Short longer than one minute with an active Content ID claim is blocked worldwide until the claim is resolved. If a video is blocked, check the claim in YouTube Studio. You can remove the claimed material or dispute the claim if you believe it’s incorrect.
How YouTube Counts Shorts Views
Since March 31, 2025, a Shorts view counts when the video starts playing or replays, with no minimum watch time. YouTube Analytics also shows engaged views, which indicate how often viewers chose to keep watching.
Use views to see how often a Short started and engaged views to compare how often viewers kept watching across your Shorts. YouTube still uses eligible engaged views for Partner Program qualification and Shorts revenue sharing. Check the Earn tab in YouTube Studio for your progress toward eligibility.
How YouTube Shorts Monetization Works
In eligible countries and regions, the expanded YouTube Partner Program offers earlier access to features such as fan funding. The Shorts route requires 500 subscribers, three valid public uploads in the past 90 days, and 3 million qualifying public Shorts views in the past 90 days. A route based on valid public watch hours is also available.
For Shorts Feed ad revenue sharing, the Shorts route requires 1,000 subscribers and 10 million qualifying public Shorts views in the past 90 days. The alternative route requires 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months. Watch time from the Shorts Feed does not count toward those 4,000 hours.
YouTube reviews your channel after you apply. Once you’re eligible to earn Shorts ad revenue, accept the Shorts Monetization Module in YouTube Studio. Revenue sharing applies to eligible views from the date you accept. See the Shorts monetization policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. For standard channels, YouTube classifies square or vertical videos up to three minutes as Shorts when uploaded on or after October 15, 2024. Official Artist Channels and channels linked to music content owners have a different cutoff.
YouTube classifies eligible uploads by their format and length. A descriptive title is more useful for telling viewers what the video covers.
Yes. Cut a self-contained segment from footage you have permission to use, reframe it as a square or vertical video, and export it at three minutes or less.
Check whether the song is available in YouTube’s Shorts Audio Library and how much of it you can use. The track may only cover part of the video. If a Short longer than one minute receives an active Content ID claim, YouTube blocks it until the claim is resolved.
Watch time from the Shorts Feed does not count toward the 4,000 valid public watch hours. Qualifying public Shorts views count toward the separate Shorts eligibility thresholds.
Summary
Start with a square or vertical video up to three minutes long, and check any music you plan to use before publishing. Once it’s live, use engaged views to see how often viewers kept watching. For ideas on where Shorts fit into a broader publishing plan, see the guide to getting started with video content.
Work With TCB Studio
If you’re working on your video content and want help deciding what to tackle next, a consultation is a good place to start. We can talk through what you want to improve and decide what makes sense for your site.
