How to Add Hashtags on YouTube Shorts

Adding the right hashtags to your YouTube Shorts can be the difference between getting 100 views and 100,000. They aren’t just decorative keywords, they are powerful signals that tell the YouTube algorithm exactly who needs to see your content. This guide breaks down precisely how and where to add hashtags, the right strategy for choosing them, and the common mistakes that hold creators back.

Why Hashtags Are Your Secret Weapon on YouTube Shorts

Before getting into the how-to, it’s worth understanding why hashtags still pack a punch. On a platform as immense as YouTube, hashtags act like a digital filing system. They serve two main purposes: categorization and discovery.

• Categorization: When you add #morningroutine to your Short, you’re telling YouTube, "Hey, this video belongs in the 'morning routine' category." The algorithm then uses this tag to understand your video’s context, topic, and theme.
• Discovery: Viewers can click on a hashtag to see more content with that same tag, creating another path for them to find your videos. More importantly, the algorithm uses these signals to recommend your Short to people who have previously watched videos with similar hashtags. This is how you break out of your immediate subscriber base and reach new, interested audiences.

For Shorts, this is even more significant than on long-form content. The Shorts feed is an endless, fast-paced stream of content. You have milliseconds to get the algorithm’s attention. Clear, relevant hashtags give it the immediate data it needs to put your video in front of the right viewers, right away.

How to Add Hashtags to Your Shorts: The Step-by-Step Guide

You have two primary locations where you can place your hashtags: the title and the description. Smart creators use both. Here’s how to do it whether you’re uploading from your phone or desktop.

Method 1: In the YouTube Short’s Title

Placing hashtags in your title gives them maximum visibility. They appear directly below your video in the Shorts feed and are one of the first things the algorithm scans. Because of this prime positioning, you should only put your most important and relevant hashtags here. A good rule of thumb is to use 1 to 3 hashtags in the title.

Uploading from the Mobile App:

1. Record or select your Short, and go to the "Add details" screen.
2. In the "Caption your Short" field, write your title.
3. After your title, add your primary hashtags. For example: "The perfect 10-Min WFH Lunch 🥙 #wfhlife #quickrecipes #shorts"
4. Finish filling out the details and tap "Upload Short."

Uploading from Desktop:

1. Go to YouTube Studio and click "UPLOAD VIDEOS."
2. Once your video is processed, you'll be on the "Details" screen.
3. In the "Title" box, write an engaging title followed by your main hashtags. Example: Minimalist Desk Setup Tour | #desktour #minimalist #workfromhome
4. Move on to the description.

Method 2: In the YouTube Short’s Description

The description box is where you can use a broader set of hashtags to give YouTube even more context about your content. While these don’t appear directly in the Shorts feed, they are still indexed by the algorithm and help with discovery in search and recommended videos.

Uploading from the Mobile App:

You cannot edit the description on the initial upload screen for a Short on mobile. You need to upload it first and then edit it.

1. Upload your Short with the title and title hashtags.
2. Go to your channel, tap "Library," then "Your videos."
3. Find the Short you just uploaded, tap the three dots icon, and select "Edit."
4. Tap "Add description" and enter your list of additional hashtags here.

Uploading from Desktop:

1. After perfecting your video title, scroll down to the "Description" box.
2. Add a sentence or two briefly describing your Short.
3. Below that, add your secondary block of hashtags. For example:
   #ProductivityHacks
   #WFHSetup
   #TechGadgets
   #DeskInspo
   #CleanAesthetic
4. Complete the upload process.

The 3-Layer Hashtag Strategy for Smarter Reach

Simply adding random hashtags won’t get you far. You need a strategy. The most effective approach is to combine three different types of hashtags to balance broad reach with targeted visibility.

Layer 1: Broad, High-Traffic Hashtags

These are the universal tags that almost everyone uses. They are essential for signaling to YouTube that your content is, in fact, a Short formatted for the feed. Think of them as the cost of entry.

• Examples: #shorts, #youtubeshorts, #shortsvideo

How to Use Them: Include at least one of these on every Short you post. It's common practice to put #shorts at the end of your title. Relying only on these tags is a mistake because an immense amount of content is attached to them, making it hard to stand out. But failing to include one misses a clear signal to the algorithm.

Layer 2: Niche, Content-Specific Hashtags

This layer is where you find your true audience. These tags describe the specific topic, theme, or value of your video. They have less competition and are searched for by people who are genuinely interested in what you have to offer.

• A coffee short: Instead of #coffee (too broad), try #espressoathome, #icelatte, or #coffeemaking.
• A fitness short: Instead of #workout, try #legdayworkout, #homeworkoutideas, or #beginnershiit.
• A gaming short: Instead of #gaming, try #warzoneclips, #fortnitememes, or #minecraftbuilds.

How to Use Them: Dedicate 3-5 hashtags to this category. These are perfect for both your title (the single most relevant one) and your description. This is how you attract high-quality viewers who are more likely to watch, engage, and subscribe.

Layer 3: Branded Hashtags

A branded hashtag is a unique tag specific to your channel, a series you run, or a campaign you’re launching. Its purpose is less about immediate viral reach and more about building community and creating a content library.

• For your channel: #YourBrandName (e.g., #mkbhd)
• For a content series: #TechTuesdaysWith[YourName] or #30SecondStyleTips

How to Use Them: Create a unique, easy-to-remember tag for your brand or a recurring series. Add it to every relevant Short. Over time, when a viewer enjoys one of your videos, they can click your branded hashtag to see all of your other content on that same topic. It acts as an instant, curated playlist for your best work.

How to Find Effective Hashtags (Without Guessing)

The best hashtags aren't pulled out of thin air. A few minutes of research can dramatically improve your results.

1. Check Out Your Competition (or Inspiration)

Find successful Shorts creators in your niche. What hashtags are they using in their titles and descriptions? Don't blindly copy-paste, but observe the patterns. Are they using niche tags you hadn’t thought of? Make a list of relevant ones that you can adapt for your own content.

2. Use the YouTube Search Bar

The YouTube search autocomplete is a goldmine. Start typing a keyword related to your Short (e.g., "social media marketing") and see what suggestions pop up. These are real terms that people are actively searching for. If "social media marketing tips for beginners" is a top result, then #marketingforbeginners might be a great hashtag to use.

3. "Think Like a Viewer"

This is the most straightforward but often overlooked strategy. Put yourself in your target viewer's shoes. If you were looking for the video you just made, what words or phrases would you search for? If you made a Short about organizing your fridge, viewers might search for "fridge organization," "kitchen hacks," or "restock ASMR." Convert these search terms into hashtags.

Common Hashtag Mistakes That Hurt Your Views

Using hashtags incorrectly can be worse than not using them at all. Avoid these common mistakes:

Mistake 1: Hashtag Stuffing

It's tempting to add dozens of hashtags, hoping one will stick. Don't do it. YouTube's official guidance suggests keeping your hashtag count reasonable. While the absolute maximum is around 60, going over 15 can cause YouTube to ignore all of them for that video. Quality over quantity. Aim for 5-10 highly relevant tags rather than 30 vague ones.

Mistake 2: Using Irrelevant Hashtags

Never use a trending hashtag just because it's popular if it has nothing to do with your video. For example, adding #TaylorSwift to your crypto trading Short is misleading. This can get your video flagged for violating YouTube's metadata policies and harms your channel's reputation with the algorithm.

Mistake 3: The Same Block on Every Video

Copying and pasting the exact same list of hashtags onto every single Short is an inefficient habit. Every video is unique, even if it’s on a similar topic. At least a few of your niche hashtags should be tailored specifically to the video's content. This tells the algorithm you’re providing precise data, not just generic filler.

Final Thoughts

Adding hashtags to your YouTube Shorts is a simple but powerful habit. By placing them in your title and description, using a smart mix of broad, niche, and branded tags, and avoiding common pitfalls, you give your content the best possible chance to be discovered by the right audience. It's a small step in the upload process that can deliver huge returns in views and channel growth.

As you build a consistent content plan focused on great creative and smart metadata, managing everything can get challenging. To keep up with our own demanding schedule across YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and TikTok, we rely on Postbase. Its visual content calendar and best-in-class support for short-form video allow us to plan, customize, and schedule all our content from one place, saving us hours every week. It lets us batch our workflow so we can focus on creating instead of just managing.