How to Get Embed Code from YouTube Shorts

Trying to embed a YouTube Short on your website and can't find the Embed button? You're not alone. Unlike regular YouTube videos, the Shorts player hides this option, but getting the code you need is surprisingly simple. This guide will walk you through the exact steps to create an embed code for any YouTube Short and customize it to fit perfectly on your blog or website.

Why Embed YouTube Shorts? (Hint: It’s Great for Engagement)

Before jumping into the how-to, let's explore why this is a smart move for your brand. Short-form video is a powerhouse for grabbing attention. When you embed a YouTube Short directly into your content, you bring that dynamic energy to your own platform.

Here’s what you gain:

• Increased Visitor Engagement: Videos, especially snappy Shorts, can dramatically increase the time visitors spend on your page. This signals to search engines that your content is valuable, which can positively impact your SEO.
• A Richer User Experience: Instead of just writing about a topic, you can show it. Embedding a Short can break up long blocks of text, making your articles more visually appealing and easier to digest. Think product demos, quick tips, or customer testimonials.
• Cross-Promotion for Your YouTube Channel: Every embed is a new opportunity for discovery. A reader who enjoys your Short is just one click away from visiting your YouTube channel and subscribing, helping you grow your audience on another platform.
• Versatile Content Possibilities: You can embed your own Shorts to reinforce your content or embed Shorts from other creators to provide examples, cite sources, or add a different perspective to your posts.

The Problem: The Missing Embed Button on YouTube Shorts

If you've ever embedded a standard YouTube video, you know the drill: click "Share," then "Embed," and copy the code that YouTube provides. It’s straightforward. However, when you click the "Share" button on a YouTube Short, you’ll notice the "Embed" option is nowhere to be found. This leaves many creators and marketers scratching their heads, assuming it's not possible.

This is a strange design choice by YouTube, but it’s not a roadblock. The functionality to embed Shorts absolutely exists, you just have to create the code manually. Luckily, it only takes a few seconds once you know the trick.

The Simple Workaround: How to Get the Embed Code for Any YouTube Short

Ready for the big secret? It all comes down to a tiny change in the video’s URL. Follow these simple steps to get any YouTube Short embedded on your website or blog post.

Step 1: Get the URL of Your YouTube Short

First, navigate to the YouTube Short you want to embed. You can do this on your desktop or mobile device. Click the Share button and then select Copy link. You’ll get a URL that looks something like this:

https://youtube.com/shorts/YOUR_VIDEO_ID

For this example, let's say our `YOUR_VIDEO_ID` is `AbcDeF1gHiJ`. The copied URL would be `https://youtube.com/shorts/AbcDeF1gHiJ`.

Step 2: Modify the URL for Embedding

This is the most important step. YouTube’s embed player doesn't use the `/shorts/` URL structure. Instead, it uses the standard `/embed/` structure that works for all videos on the platform. You just need to swap out that one word.

• Original URL: https://youtube.com/shorts/AbcDeF1gHiJ
• Modified URL: https://youtube.com/embed/AbcDeF1gHiJ

That’s it! This new URL is the source link you'll use in your embed code.

Step 3: Build the HTML Embed Code

Now that you have the correct link, you'll place it inside a standard HTML `

<,iframe
width="315"
height="560"
src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AbcDeF1gHiJ"
title="YouTube video player"
frameborder="0"
allow="accelerometer, autoplay, clipboard-write, encrypted-media, gyroscope, picture-in-picture, web-share"
allowfullscreen>,<,/iframe>,

Notice the `width` and `height` attributes. We've set them to `315` and `560` respectively to maintain the vertical 9:16 aspect ratio of a typical Short.

Step 4: Add the Code to Your Website

The final step is to paste this code into your website’s HTML. How you do this depends on your platform:

• For WordPress: In the block editor (Gutenberg), add a new "Custom HTML" block and paste your iframe code inside. If you're using the Classic Editor, switch to the "Text" tab and paste it where you want the video to appear.
• For Squarespace: Add a "Code Block" to your page and paste the iframe code into it.
• For Shopify: On a product page, blog post, or page, click the "Show HTML" button (`<,, >,,`) in the content editor and paste in the code.
• For Wix or other builders: Look for an option to add custom HTML, an HTML embed, or a code widget.

Once you save and publish your changes, your YouTube Short will appear right on your page, ready to play.

Customizing Your Embedded Short for a Better User Experience

You don't have to stop with the basic embed. You can add extra parameters to the URL to change how the video behaves, giving you more control over the user experience.

Making the Player Responsive

The fixed `width` and `height` in the iframe can cause issues on different screen sizes, like mobile phones. For a fully responsive player that scales correctly, you can wrap the iframe in a container and use a little CSS. This is a pro-move that serious web developers use.

First, wrap your iframe in a div with a class:

<,div class="youtube-short-container">,
<,iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AbcDeF1gHiJ" ... >,<,/iframe>,
<,/div>,

Then, add the following CSS to your website’s stylesheet:

.youtube-short-container {
position: relative,
width: 100%,
max-width: 315px, /* Optional: Sets a max-width for the player */
margin: 0 auto, /* Optional: Centers the player */
overflow: hidden,
padding-top: 177.77%, /* This creates the 9:16 aspect ratio */
}

.youtube-short-container iframe {
position: absolute,
top: 0,
left: 0,
width: 100%,
height: 100%,
border: 0,
}

Adding Autoplay, Loops, and Other Controls

You can further customize the playback by adding parameters to the end of your `src` URL. To add a parameter, start with a `?` after the video ID, and separate multiple parameters with an `&`.

• Loop the video: To make the short automatically restart when it's finished, you need two parameters: `loop=1` and `playlist=VIDEO_ID`. YouTube requires the `playlist` parameter to be set to the same video ID for looping to work.
• Autoplay the video: Add `autoplay=1`. Be aware that most modern browsers will only autoplay videos if they are muted. To comply, also add `mute=1`.
• Hide player controls: If you don't want the play/pause button, progress bar, or volume controls to show, add `controls=0`.

Here’s an example URL that will autoplay (muted), loop continuously, and hide the player controls:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/AbcDeF1gHiJ?autoplay=1&,mute=1&,loop=1&,playlist=AbcDeF1gHiJ&,controls=0

You can mix and match these parameters to create the exact experience you want for your website visitors.

Final Thoughts

Though YouTube doesn’t provide a one-click embed option for Shorts, the workaround is quick and easy. By simply changing `/shorts/` to `/embed/` in the video URL and wrapping it in an `iframe` tag, you can add engaging, vertical video content from YouTube directly to your website. This small effort can significantly improve visitor engagement and help grow your channel.

Consistently creating content like YouTube Shorts, Reels, and TikToks is a challenge in itself, long before you even think about embedding them. We built Postbase because we knew there had to be a less chaotic way to manage a multimodal content strategy. Our platform is designed for a video-first world, allowing you to schedule all your short-form video content from one visual calendar. You can plan your content, get a clear view of your publishing schedule, and trust that your posts will go live reliably, every time.