How to Fix 0 Views on YouTube Shorts

It's one of the most disheartening feelings for a creator: you spend time crafting the perfect YouTube Short, you upload it, and then... nothing. Just a flat zero, staring back at you. If you’re stuck wondering why your content isn't even getting a single view, you’re in the right place. This guide breaks down exactly why this happens and gives you an actionable, step-by-step plan to fix it for good.

Why Your YouTube Shorts Are Stuck at 0 Views

Unlike regular long-form videos, Shorts are processed by a slightly different algorithm. When a Short gets stuck at zero, it’s almost always because it hasn't passed YouTube's initial quality and spam check. Essentially, your video hasn’t even made it to the Shorts shelf to be shown to viewers. Think of it as a bouncer at a club, if your video doesn't meet the dress code, it's not getting inside.

Let's look at the most common reasons your Shorts get stopped at the door.

1. The "Spam Filter"

YouTube's primary goal is to provide a good user experience. To do this, it has an automated system that quickly scans new uploads for signals of low-quality or spammy content. If your Short triggers any of these filters, it will be held in a sort of digital purgatory, never being served to an audience. Common triggers include:

• Re-uploading the Same Video: Deleting a Short and immediately re-uploading it multiple times is a huge red flag for the system.
• Low-Quality Visuals: Extremely blurry, pixelated, or poorly lit video suggests a low-effort post.
• Spammy Text: Using misleading titles, stuffing your description with irrelevant keywords, or plastering your video with excessive text overlays can get you flagged.
• Watermarks from Other Platforms: While YouTube doesn't explicitly penalize for a TikTok or Instagram Reels watermark, it prioritizes original content. A visible watermark is a clear signal that the content isn't native to YouTube, which can work against you.

2. Technical and Formatting Issues

Sometimes, the problem isn’t your content but the container it's in. Shorts have specific technical requirements, and failing to meet them can cause your upload to stall.

• Incorrect Aspect Ratio: Shorts must be in a vertical format. A square (1:1) or horizontal (16:9) video will not be categorized as a Short, even if it's under 60 seconds long. Your video needs to be a vertical 9:16 aspect ratio.
• Length Exceeding 60 Seconds: Even if a video is just one second over the minute mark (e.g., 1:01), it will be processed as a standard video, not a Short.
• Improper Tags: While not a hard rule, including #shorts in either the title or description is a strong signal to YouTube to correctly classify the video. Forgetting this can sometimes slow down the processing.

3. Channel History and Authority

The status of your YouTube channel itself plays a role. If your channel is brand new, YouTube doesn't have much data on you yet. It might be more cautious in promoting your content until you've established a consistent posting history.

• Brand New Channels: It often takes a few uploads before the algorithm "warms up" to a new channel. Your first few Shorts might see low or no views simply because the system is still figuring out who your audience is.
• Previous Violations: If your channel has active community guideline strikes or copyright claims, YouTube may limit the reach of your new uploads, including Shorts.

The Actionable Plan: How to Go from 0 Views to the Shorts Shelf

Now for the good part. Here are the concrete steps you can take to make sure your next Short not only gets views, but has a chance to go viral.

Step 1: Perform a Pre-Upload Systems Check

Before you even think about hitting "Upload," run through this technical checklist. Getting these fundamentals right solves the problem more than half the time.

• Check the Aspect Ratio: Confirm your video is edited and exported in a 9:16 vertical format. The ideal resolution is 1080x1920 pixels.
• Verify the Length: Trim mercilessly. Your Short should be at most 59 seconds long to be safe. Keep it concise, shorter Shorts (around 15-30 seconds) often perform better anyway.
• Export in High Quality: Don't let your editing software compress your video into a blurry mess. Export in 1080p HD to give your content a clean, professional look that clears quality filters.
• Scrub for Watermarks: If you're repurposing content from another platform, use a watermark removal tool or, even better, download the original source file before posting it to other platforms. The best strategy is always to upload the clean, original video file to each platform.

Step 2: Optimize Your Title, Description, and Tags

Metadata gives YouTube context about what your Short is about and who it’s for. Think like a viewer, not a robot stuffing keywords.

Crafting the Perfect Title

A good Shorts title is short, punchy, and attention-grabbing. It should create curiosity without being clickbait. Here's a solid formula:

Engaging Hook + Keywords + #shorts

Examples:

• "This is a simple trick that changed how I cook onions forever #shorts"
• "The craziest vintage car I've ever found #shorts"
• "Trying the VIRAL Cottage Cheese Trend 🧀 #shorts"

Avoid titles that are just a string of keywords, like "CARS VINTAGE CLASSIC SHORTS MUSTANG." It reads like spam to both humans and the algorithm.

Using Hashtags Wisely

Hashtags matter, but less is more. Stick to a few laser-focused tags.

• The Must-Haves: ALWAYS include #shorts and probably #youtubeshorts.
• Topic-Specific Tags: Add 2-3 tags directly related to your video's content or niche. For a video on baking sourdough, you might use #sourdough, #bakingtips, and #breadmaking.
• Where to Put Them: The jury's out on whether they perform better in the title versus the description. A safe bet is to put #shorts in the title and your other 2-3 niche tags in the description. Never pack more than 15 total hashtags (including the Shorts tag), as YouTube may mark this as spam.

Step 3: Master the First 3 Seconds

On the Shorts shelf, viewers swipe with ruthless speed. You don't have time for a gentle intro. Your video needs to deliver an immediate hook.

• Start with the Punchline: Show the "after" result before the "before." Instead of a 10-second intro of you setting up your camera, start with the dramatic reveal, exciting moment, or final result.
• Ask a Question: "Did you know you could do this with just two ingredients?" This makes the viewer pause, wanting to know the answer.
• Use Intriguing Text Overlays: A simple text overlay like "Don't make this common mistake..." can be incredibly effective at stopping the scroll.

Step 4: Leverage Audio and Trends (The Right Way)

Sound is half the experience in short-form video. Using trending audio can give your Short a significant boost because YouTube's algorithm is already pushing that sound to an engaged audience.

How to find and use sounds safely:

• Use the YouTube Shorts Audio Library: When uploading from your phone, tap the "Add sound" button. This guarantees you're using licensed, claim-free music that won't get your video flagged. The library even shows you what's currently trending.
• Add Your Own Clear Voiceover: If the content is purely informational, make sure your voice is clear, crisp, and easy to understand. Poor audio quality can be just as bad as poor video quality.

Step 5: Be Patient and Consistent

This is the hardest advice, but also the most important. The algorithm needs data to learn about your channel.

• Wait at Least 24-48 Hours: Shorts do not always get views instantly. Many creators report that their Shorts sat at 0 views for several hours, sometimes even a full day, before suddenly hitting the Shorts shelf and taking off. Don't panic and delete your video after only an hour.
• Adopt the "Post and Ghost" Mentality: Upload your Short (after running through the checklist) and then move on to creating the next one. Don't sit there reloading the page, driving yourself crazy.
• Commit to a Schedule: Don't just post one Short and give up. Aim to post one Short a day (or at least 3-4 times a week) for a few weeks. This consistency feeds the algorithm valuable information about your niche and helps it find your audience faster. A brand new channel might need 10-15 Shorts before the algorithm really kicks in.

The Last Resort: The "Delete and Re-Upload" Strategy

So, you’ve waited 24 hours. Your Short is still at 0 views. Now what?

If you are confident that you've followed all the best practices above, there may have been a temporary glitch with YouTube during your upload. In this specific scenario, it’s acceptable to make the video private or delete it, and then re-upload it ONCE.

Crucial Caveat: Do not fall into a cycle of deleting and re-uploading the same video over and over. Doing this more than once for a single video is a surefire way to get your entire channel flagged as spam, making the problem worse.

Final Thoughts

Getting stuck at 0 views on YouTube Shorts is almost always a solvable technical problem, not a sign that your content is bad. By following a pre-upload checklist, crafting viewer-friendly metadata, creating engaging hooks, and maintaining a consistent posting schedule, you can break through that frustrating initial barrier and get your Shorts in front of the audience they deserve.

Consistency is often the biggest hurdle for creators juggling multiple platforms. Since we initially designed Postbase for today's media landscape, we put a huge emphasis on flawlessly handling short-form video. You can easily plan your Shorts in our visual calendar, schedule them with confidence on our reliable platform, and manage all your verticals - from TikToks to Reels to Shorts - in one smooth workflow without fighting the tool.