How to Edit YouTube Shorts

Editing a YouTube Short can be the difference between a video that gets a handful of views and one that goes viral. But you don't need a Hollywood budget or complex software to make it happen. This guide will walk you through exactly how to edit your Shorts, covering everything from the quick-and-dirty tools right inside the YouTube app to the more advanced techniques that top creators use to make their content pop.

Good Editing Turns Viewers Into Subscribers

In the world of short-form video, attention is everything. A Short isn't just a trimmed-down version of a long-form video, it's a completely different format with its own rules. The goal is to hook a viewer within the first three seconds and keep them engaged for the entire duration, maybe even encouraging a re-watch. That’s where editing comes in.

Here’s what skillful editing helps you achieve:

• Control the Pace: Slow moments kill engagement. Good editing means using quick cuts, zooms, and dynamic text to keep the energy high and match the rhythm of your audio.
• Hold Attention: On-screen captions, graphics, and sound effects give viewers more to latch onto. This is especially important for the huge number of people who watch videos with the sound off.
• Tell a Clear Story: Even a 30-second video needs a beginning, middle, and end. Editing helps you structure your narrative, removing fluff and focusing on the core message.
• Establish Your Brand: Consistent fonts, colors, and editing styles create a recognizable look that helps viewers know it’s *your* content before they even see your name.

So, let's get into the two main ways you can tackle this: directly in the YouTube app or with third-party software.

Method 1: Editing Directly in the YouTube App

The YouTube app's built-in editor is perfect for beginners, quick edits, or anyone who wants seamless access to YouTube's massive library of trending sounds and music. It’s surprisingly powerful for being so convenient.

Step-by-Step Guide to the YouTube App Editor

1. Getting Started: Record or Upload

First, open the YouTube app and tap the plus (+) icon at the bottom of the screen, then select "Create a Short." You have two options:

• Record a new video: Use the red record button. You can record one continuous clip or multiple segments by pressing the button to start and stop. This is great for "in the moment" content.
• Upload from your camera roll: Tap the square icon in the bottom-left corner to access your phone's gallery and select a pre-recorded video. Remember, Shorts must be 60 seconds or less and in a vertical format.

2. Adding Music or a Soundtrack

This is arguably the most important step for discoverability. Tap "Add sound" at the top of the screen before or after recording. Here, you can browse YouTube's audio library, which includes chart-topping songs and viral sound snippets. Tapping on a sound lets you preview it, and selecting "Use" adds it to your video. Getting in on a trend early often starts with using the right audio.

3. Trimming and Arranging Clips

Once you have your clips and audio, tap the checkmark to move to the main editing screen. From here, tap "Timeline". This is where you can fine-tune your video.

• To trim a clip: Select the video layer in the timeline and drag the white handles at the beginning or end of the clip to shorten it.
• To reorder clips: If you recorded multiple segments, you can press and hold a clip in the timeline and drag it to a new position. This simple feature is awesome for structuring a short story or tutorial.

4. Adding and Timing On-Screen Text

Captions are a must. Tap the "Text" icon on the editing screen to add text overlays. You can change the font, color, and background to match your style. But the real power is in the timing. After adding text, go back to the "Timeline" view. You'll see a new layer for your text. You can drag its start and end points to make it appear and disappear at specific moments, perfect for emphasizing key points or creating dialogue-style captions.

Even better, YouTube now has an auto-captioning feature. Tap the "Captions" button and let the app transcribe your voiceover. It saves a massive amount of time, and you can edit any words it gets wrong.

5. Using Filters and Effects

The editor also has some lightweight visual tools:

• Filters: Tap the "Filters" icon to apply a color treatment to your video, just like on Instagram. It’s a quick way to give your footage a consistent mood.
• Green Screen: This effect lets you replace your background with a photo or video from your camera roll. It's a fun way to place yourself in a different setting or react to on-screen content.

Pros and Cons of the In-App Editor

Pros:

• Super fast and intuitive.
• Direct access to YouTube's trending audio library in a legally safe way.
• No extra apps to download.

Cons:

• Limited features for advanced effects like keyframing or complex transitions.
• Less precise control over audio levels and clip placement.
• Can be a bit clunky for editing projects with many different clips.

Method 2: Using a Third-Party Editing App for Pro-Level Shorts

When you're ready to create more polished, unique, or visually complex Shorts, it's time to move to an external editing app. These tools offer the precision and features that the native app lacks, giving you complete creative control.

Recommended Editing Tools

You don't need expensive software. Here are some incredible options loved by creators:

• CapCut (Desktop & Mobile, Free): This is the uncontested champion for short-form video. It was originally made for TikTok creators, so it's packed with features like amazing auto-captions, trendy effects, easy-to-use templates, and smooth slow-motion. It's completely free and extremely powerful.
• InShot (Mobile, Freemium): An amazing mobile editor that's simple enough for beginners but has enough depth for experienced creators. The free version is good, and the paid version unlocks even more effects.
• DaVinci Resolve (Desktop, Free): If you want to go full-pro without spending a dime, DaVinci Resolve is professional-grade editing, color grading, and audio software that has an incredibly robust free version. The learning curve is steep, but the results are unmatched.

The Workflow: From Raw Clip to Polished Short

No matter which app you use, the core process looks similar.

1. Set Up Your Project Correctly

Before you import anything, make sure your project is set for YouTube Shorts. That means a 9:16 aspect ratio (1080 pixels wide by 1920 pixels tall). Setting this up first saves you from awkward cropping later.

2. Master the Jump Cut

The jump cut is the most important editing technique in all of short-form video. It involves cutting out small, unnecessary pauses in your speech or action to create a faster, more energetic pace. When you're talking to the camera, trim out every single breath, "um," "ah," and silent moment between sentences. It might feel unnatural at first, but for the viewer, it creates a tight, engaging experience that makes your content feel more dynamic.

3. Layer on Dynamic Captions

Apps like CapCut can auto-generate animated captions that pop onto the screen word-by-word. This style, popularized by creators like Alex Hormozi, is incredibly effective at holding attention. Pro tip: Customize the colors and fonts of these captions to match your brand. Highlight important words with different colors to draw the viewer’s eye.

4. Use Sound Effects Generously (But Strategically)

Visuals are only half the battle. Sound design makes your video feel alive. Add subtle sound effects to support on-screen actions:

• "Whoosh" sounds for quick transitions or text appearing.
• "Pop" or "click" sounds for graphics or stickers.
• A subtle background riser to build tension before a big reveal.

You can find huge libraries of free sound effects online or within many editing apps.

5. Animate with Keyframes

This sounds technical, but it’s actually quite simple. Keyframing lets you animate an object's position, scale, or rotation over time. For example, you can use keyframes to create a slow zoom-in on your face to add emphasis, or to make a sticker slide across the screen. Most mobile editors make this as easy as tapping a diamond-shaped icon to set a start and end point for an animation.

6. Perfect Your Colors and Export

Once your edit is complete, do a quick color correct. Bumping up the saturation and contrast just a little bit can make your footage look much more vibrant and professional. Finally, export your video in high quality (1080p at 30 or 60 frames per second) and you're ready to upload it to YouTube.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re editing on the fly within the YouTube app or crafting a masterpiece in an external editor, the principles of a great Short are the same. Start with a powerful hook, keep the pace brisk, use text and audio to add layers of engagement, and deliver value or entertainment quickly. Mastering these editing techniques will transform your content and help you build a dedicated audience on the platform.

Of course, editing the perfect viral video is just one part of the process. The next step is getting it scheduled and staying consistent across all your platforms. At Postbase, we built our whole platform for the modern reality of social media, where short-form video reigns supreme. We designed our scheduling tools and visual calendar to make managing YouTube Shorts, Reels, and TikToks feel simple and organized. You can upload your edited masterpiece, plan its release alongside all your other content, and get back to what you do best: creating.