How to Link YouTube Shorts to a Full Video

Ever had a YouTube Short become popular, garnering thousands of views, but barely impacting your long-form content? You're not alone. The gap between the massive potential audience of the Shorts feed and your dedicated, monetizable, long-form videos can seem nonexistent. This guide will show you exactly how to use YouTube's Related Video feature to build that bridge, step-by-step, turning those short-form viewers into engaged subscribers of your main channel content.

Why Linking Your Shorts to Full Videos is a Game-Changer

Before we get into the "how," let's quickly cover the "why." Connecting Shorts to your longer videos isn't just a neat trick, it's a core strategy for sustainable channel growth. The Shorts algorithm is designed for discovery - it pushes your 60-second clips to a massive, broad audience that likely hasn't seen your content before. While that's amazing for exposure, it doesn't automatically translate to loyal viewership.

By directly linking a Short to a full-length video, you create a direct path for viewers who want more. This accomplishes a few powerful things:

• It funnels discovery traffic to monetized content. Shorts views are great, but views on your longer videos are what typically drive AdSense revenue, sponsorships, and product sales.
• It provides immediate value and context. A viewer who enjoys your quick tip in a Short can instantly click to watch the full 20-minute tutorial, cementing you as an authority in their mind.
• It boosts watch time on your main channel. Getting fresh eyes on your longer content tells the YouTube algorithm that your entire library is valuable, not just your short clips.
• It builds a stronger community. Short-form is for grabbing attention, long-form is for building relationships. This link is the handshake that invites a new viewer to stick around and get to know you.

Convinced? Awesome. Let's get that link set up.

Meet the "Related Video" Feature

The magic behind this strategy is a simple yet powerful setting within YouTube Studio called a "Related Video." When you add a related video link to your Short, a clickable link with the title of your long-form video appears directly above your channel name on the Short's screen. It's subtle enough not to be distracting but prominent enough for interested viewers to tap.

This is YouTube's official, built-in method for this process. Unlike putting links in comments (which can get lost) or in the description (which most Shorts viewers never check), the Related Video link is visible directly on the viewing screen, making it incredibly effective.

How to Link YouTube Shorts to a Full Video (Desktop Method)

For many creators, managing content happens on a computer. The YouTube Studio desktop interface gives you full control and makes this process a breeze. Here’s how to do it step by step.

Step 1: Open YouTube Studio

First things first, log into your YouTube account and navigate to YouTube Studio. You can do this by clicking your profile picture in the top-right corner and selecting "YouTube Studio" from the dropdown menu.

Step 2: Go to Your Content Library

Once you're in the Studio dashboard, look for the navigation menu on the left side of the screen. Click on "Content." This will take you to a list of all the videos you've ever uploaded to your channel.

Step 3: Select the Short You Want to Edit

Find the YouTube Short you want to connect to a full video. If you have a lot of content, you can use the filter bar to specifically show Shorts. Click on the thumbnail or the title of the Short to open its details page, where you can edit its title, description, and other settings.

Pro Tip: You can do this for both newly uploaded Shorts and older ones that are gaining traction again. Go back and optimize your best-performing Shorts from the past!

Step 4: Find and Add the Related Video

On the "Video details" page, look at the options on the right-hand side of the screen. You should see a box labeled "Related video." Click inside this box.

A pop-up will appear, allowing you to search through your own uploaded videos. You can scroll through the list or use the search bar to find the specific long-form video you want to link. Click on the video you want to select it.

Step 5: Save Your Changes

Once you’ve selected the related video, its title will appear in the box. Now, the most important step: click the blue "SAVE" button in the top-right corner of the screen. Without this, your changes won't take effect.

That's it! Your Short is now officially linked. Go check it out on your phone to see how the clickable link appears.

How to Link YouTube Shorts to a Full Video (Mobile Method)

Creating on the go? You can also add a related video link directly from your phone using the YouTube app. The process is just as simple.

Step 1: Open the YouTube App and Go to Your Content

Open the YouTube app and make sure you're signed into your creator account. Tap on the "You" tab in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Then, select "Your videos."

Step 2: Choose the Short to Edit

You'll see a list of your content. You can tap "Shorts" at the top to filter it. Find the Short you want to link and tap the three-dot menu icon to the right of its title.

Step 3: Tap "Edit"

From the menu that pops up, select "Edit." This will take you to an editing screen similar to the one you see when you first upload a video.

Step 4: Select the Related Video

On the "Edit" screen, you'll see an option labeled "Related video." It will say "None" if you haven't linked one yet. Tap on it.

This will open a list of all your long-form videos. Scroll and find the one you want to link, then simply tap on it to select it.

Step 5: Save Your Work

After selecting your video, you'll be brought back to the "Edit" screen. You'll see the title of your chosen video next to "Related video." Tap the blue "SAVE" button at the top right to finalize the change.

Your Short is now linked and a powerful marketing tool for your longer content, all handled right from your phone.

Best Practices for Turning Viewers into Subscribers

Just adding the link is only half the battle. To truly maximize your results, you need a smart strategy. Here are some actionable tips to get the most clicks on that link.

1. Ensure Strong Contextual Relevance

Don't just link to a random video. The connection between your Short and your full video should be obvious and compelling. Think of the Short as an appetizer and the long video as the main course.

• The Teaser Clip: Cut a 30-second, high-impact highlight from a longer video. This could be the most exciting moment, a shocking reveal, or the punchline of a great story. At the end, you direct them to watch the full thing.
• The Quick Tip: Share a single, powerful tip in a Short. The linked video can be a "Top 10 Tips" compilation or a deep dive that expands on that one concept.
• The "Part 1": Tell the beginning of a fascinating story or project in a Short, then explicitly state that the full result is in the linked video. This creates a natural cliffhanger.

2. Use a Crystal Clear Call to Action (CTA)

Never assume people will see the link and know what to do. You have to guide them. A strong call to action, both verbal and visual, is necessary.

Verbal CTA: End your Short by literally saying what you want them to do. For example:"If you want to see the full list of mistakes, tap the video title right down here.""To watch me build this entire project from start to finish, click the link below to see the full video."

Visual CTA: Add a text overlay or a sticker that points towards the link at the bottom of the screen. Simple text that says "Full Tutorial Linked Below 👇" can drastically increase your click-through rate.

3. Optimize the Destination

When a viewer clicks your link, you have to deliver on your promise immediately. Make sure the linked long-form video has:

• A strong intro hook that grabs them in the first 5-10 seconds.
• Excellent audio and video quality.
• A clear value proposition that matches what the Short advertised.

If they click through to a confusing or low-quality video, they'll bounce immediately and you'll lose their trust.

4. Pin a Redundant Comment

While the Related Video link is the primary method, it doesn't hurt to cover all your bases. Leave a comment on your own Short with a direct link to the full video and pin it to the top. This gives highly engaged viewers who browse the comments a second, easy access point.

Final Thoughts

Connecting your YouTube Shorts to your long-form videos is more than just a feature - it’s a foundational strategy for growth. By using the "Related Video" option and pairing it with a clear call to action, you can build a powerful system that turns the endless stream of short-form discovery into a dedicated community that invests in your main content.

Nailing this strategy consistently requires a bird's-eye view of your content plan. When we're mapping out our video calendar, we find it incredibly helpful to visualize which Shorts will promote which pillar videos ahead of time. Seeing it all laid out in a tool like Postbase allows us to plan campaigns cohesively, ensuring that a Short scheduled for Thursday is perfectly primed to drive traffic to the big Friday video launch. It transforms scheduling from a simple to-do list into a strategic part of our growth engine.