How to Post YouTube Shorts on iPad

Uploading a YouTube Short from your iPad should be simple, but it can quickly turn into a frustrating scavenger hunt if the “Create a Short” button isn't where you expect it to be. If you've been tapping around the YouTube app wondering why it feels different than your iPhone, you're not alone. This guide will show you exactly how to post YouTube Shorts on your iPad, including a foolproof workaround that works every single time, along with Pro tips to make your content stand out.

Why Your iPad is a Secret Weapon for YouTube Shorts

Before we get into the "how," let's quickly cover the "why." Your iPad isn’t just a bigger phone, it’s a portable content creation studio. The larger screen makes a huge difference when you’re editing video, letting you see details and make precise cuts that are clumsy on a smaller device. Powerful video editing apps like CapCut, LumaFusion, and even Final Cut Pro feel right at home on an iPad, giving you desktop-grade tools without being chained to a desk.

By streamlining your workflow - filming, editing, and uploading all from one device - you can get high-quality Shorts published faster and more consistently. That consistency is exactly what you need to build momentum and grow your channel.

The YouTube iPad App Quirk: Where’s the Button?

Here’s the main source of confusion for many creators. On the iPhone YouTube app, there’s a prominent “+” icon at the bottom center of the screen. Tapping it brings up a clear menu with an option that says “Create a Short.”

On the iPad, the layout is different. The “+ Create” button is often at the top of the screen near the search bar. Sometimes, tapping it reveals the familiar “Create a Short” option. Other times, for various reasons related to app versions or account types, that specific option just isn’t there. It might only show “Upload a video” and “Go live.”

This inconsistency is frustrating, but don’t worry. There are two primary ways to post a Short from your iPad, and the second method works 100% of the time, regardless of what the "Create" menu shows you.

Method 1: The Official “Create a Short” Flow (If You Have It)

Let's start with the official path. If your app displays the option, this is the most direct way to upload and use YouTube's built-in Shorts editing tools.

• Step 1: Open the YouTube App. Make sure you’re logged into the correct channel you want to post to.
• Step 2: Locate the ‘Create’ Button. Look for the “+” icon inside a circle at the top of your screen, typically next to the search icon. Tap it.
• Step 3: Select “Create a Short”. If this option appears in the dropdown menu, you’re in luck! Tap it to open the Shorts camera.
• Step 4: Record or Upload Your Video.
  • You can record a new clip directly in the app by pressing the red record button. You can record multiple segments by pressing a second time to stop, and a third time to resume.
  • To use a pre-edited video from your iPad’s Photos gallery, tap the small square icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen. Select your vertical video file.
• Step 5: Edit and Enhance. Once your video is loaded, you can trim the clip, add text, apply filters, and most importantly, add music or trending audio from YouTube’s library. These native sound tools are the main advantage of using the official Shorts creation flow.
• Step 6: Add Your Details. After you're done editing, tap "Next." Here, you’ll write your caption (title), set the visibility (Public, Unlisted, or Private), and choose your audience settings.
• Step 7: Upload Your Short. Tap the blue “Upload Short” button, and you’re done! Your video will be processed and published.

Method 2: The Fail-Safe Workaround (Uploading as a Regular Video)

What if you tapped the “Create” button and the “Create a Short” option was missing? No problem. This workaround is your secret weapon, and many pro creators prefer it anyway because it lets them use more advanced editing apps before uploading.

YouTube's algorithm is smart. It knows what a Short is supposed to look like. As long as your video meets the right criteria, YouTube will automatically categorize it as a Short, even if you don't use the Shorts camera.

How to Prepare Your Video File

First, make sure your pre-edited video file checks these three boxes:

1. It must be in a vertical aspect ratio. The standard vertical format is 9:16 (1080 pixels wide by 1920 pixels tall). A square aspect ratio (1:1) can also work, but 9:16 is native to the Shorts viewing experience.
2. It must be 60 seconds or less. Even 61 seconds will disqualify it, so keep your edits tight and aim for 59 seconds for a safe buffer.
3. Include the Hashtag. While YouTube often identifies Shorts automatically, adding #Shorts (with a capital "S") in either your video's title or its description is the best way to guarantee that YouTube's system recognizes it as a Short.

Step-by-Step Upload Instructions

• Step 1: Open the YouTube App. Again, make sure you're on the right channel.
• Step 2: Tap the “+ Create” Button. This time, it doesn't matter what options appear. Tap the icon.
• Step 3: Select “Upload a video”. Choose this option. It will open your iPad’s photo library.
• Step 4: Choose Your Vertical Video. Select the video file you edited that is under 60 seconds and has a 9:16 aspect ratio. Hit "Next."
• Step 5: Add Your Details. This is the most important step.
  • Title: Write a catchy, attention-grabbing title. Critically, include #Shorts at the very end of your title. For example: "The Easiest Way to Peel a Mango #Shorts".
  • Description: You can also put #Shorts here, but putting it in the title is more visible and common. Use the description to add more context or relevant links.
  • Thumbnail: You can select a frame from your video to serve as the thumbnail. Custom thumbnail uploads for Shorts are not consistently available through the mobile workflow, so choosing an engaging frame is the best option here.
  • Add to Playlists: Organize your Shorts into playlists for better discovery.
  • Audience: Set whether the content is made for kids.
• Step 6: Tap “Upload”. Hit the button and let YouTube do the rest. Within minutes, your video will appear on your channel in the Shorts section, complete with the Shorts icon. You did it!

Optimizing Your Shorts for Performance

Getting your Short online is half the battle. Getting it seen is the other. Here’s how to give your content the best chance to fly on the Shorts algorithm.

1. Nail the First 3 Seconds

The Shorts feed is fast-paced. You have seconds, if not milliseconds, to stop someone from swiping away. Start with your video's most interesting moment, a question, or a bold statement. Your opening line or visual is your hook - make it strong.

2. Write Titles That Spark Curiosity

Your Shorts title acts as both a caption and a headline. Treat it that way. Instead of "My Dog Playing," try "You Won't Believe What My Dog Does With This Toy." Keep it short, use emotionally engaging words, and hint at the outcome without giving it all away.

3. Use Trending Audio Wisely

If you use the official Shorts creation flow (Method 1), you can add audio directly from YouTube’s library. Tapping into a trending song or sound format can give your video a massive visibility boost. If you upload a pre-edited video (Method 2), you can't add YouTube's library audio later, so be mindful of using copyright-free sounds in your external editing app or lean into your own voice-over.

4. Keep It Simple and Re-Watchable

The best Shorts are often simple, deliver quick value (a laugh, a tip, a surprising fact), and are over before you know it. This high re-watch rate signals to the algorithm that your content is engaging, which can lead to it being pushed to a wider audience. If a viewer watches your 15-second video twice, that's a 200% average view duration - a fantastic metric for the algorithm.

Final Thoughts

Uploading YouTube Shorts from your iPad is entirely possible and highly effective once you understand the subtle differences in the app. Whether you use the official "Create a Short" flow or the more reliable method of uploading a pre-formatted vertical video, you can now seamlessly integrate your iPad into your content creation process.

At Postbase, we built our tool because we understand the immense effort that goes into creating short-form video for multiple platforms. Juggling YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and TikToks can feel like a full-time job. That's why we designed a platform that was built for the way creators actually work today. We provide one clean, visual calendar to plan all your video content, schedule it reliably across all your accounts, and analyze what's truly working, all without the bloat and confusing interfaces of older tools.