How to Record YouTube Shorts

YouTube Shorts are one of the most powerful tools for growing a channel right now, and getting started is easier than you think. This guide will walk you through exactly how to record your first Short using the YouTube app, edit it with text and music, and implement simple strategies to make your content stand out. We'll also cover how to create Shorts using your own pre-recorded videos for a more polished look.

First Things First: What Are the YouTube Shorts Rules?

Before you hit record, it helps to know the basic framework you're working within. There are only two main rules for a video to be classified as a Short:

• It must be vertical. The ideal aspect ratio is 9:16, just like Instagram Reels or TikTok videos.
• It must be 60 seconds or less. You can make them as short as a few seconds, but they cannot exceed the one-minute mark. Your sweet spot for engagement will often be between 15-30 seconds.

That's it. As long as your video meets those two criteria, YouTube's algorithm will recognize it as a Short and serve it to viewers in the Shorts feed, which is a fantastic discovery engine for new channels.

How to Record a YouTube Short Inside the App: A Step-by-Step Guide

The simplest way to create a Short is by using the tools built directly into the YouTube mobile app. This method is perfect for capturing spontaneous moments, jumping on trends quickly, or creating simple, direct-to-camera content.

Step 1: Open the Shorts Camera

Open the YouTube app on your phone. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see a large plus (+) icon in the center of the menu. Tap it. A menu will pop up with several options. Select "Create a Short."

This will open up the Shorts camera interface, which will look familiar if you've ever used Instagram Stories or TikTok.

Step 2: Set Your Recording Length

By default, the camera is set to record for a maximum of 15 seconds. If you look at the top of the record button, you'll see a small circle with "15" in it. Tap this number to switch the maximum recording time to 60 seconds. You can always record for less than the maximum time, but this sets your upper limit for the session.

Step 3: Explore the Creation Tools

On the right side of the screen, you'll find a toolbar with several helpful icons. Let's break down what each one does:

• Flip: Tapping the two arrows icon switches between your front-facing and rear-facing cameras.
• Speed: This lets you record in slow motion (0.3x, 0.5x) or fast motion (1x, 2x, 3x). This is great for adding comedic effect or visual interest to your clips.
• Timer: A lifesaver for solo creators. When you tap the timer icon, you can set a 3, 10, or 20-second countdown before recording begins. This gives you time to get in position without having to hold your phone. You can also drag a slider to choose exactly when the recording will stop, which is helpful for creating perfectly timed clips for transitions.
• Filters: Tap this to browse through a library of color-grading filters to change the mood and look of your video.
• Effects: This opens up a gallery of AR effects and backgrounds, similar to what you'd find on other platforms. You can find everything from fun face filters to popular aesthetic overlays here.
• Green Screen: This neat feature lets you use any image or video from your phone's gallery as a background for your video. It's perfect for a breaking-news "reporter" style or reacting to a screenshot.
• Align: This tool only appears after you've recorded your first clip. It creates a transparent overlay of the last frame of your previous clip, allowing you to line up your next shot perfectly. It’s the secret to creating those buttery-smooth transition videos where you change outfits or locations seamlessly.

Step 4: Record Your Clips

To start recording, simply press and hold the red record button. To stop, lift your finger. You can do this multiple times to record different scenes or angles. A progress bar at the top of the screen shows how much time you've used out of your 15 or 60-second limit.

If you used the Timer feature, you'll press the red button just once to start the countdown, and it will record automatically for the duration you set.

Step 5: Review and Edit Your Recording

Once you've recorded all your clips, tap the white checkmark on the bottom right of the screen to move to the editing phase. Here, you can add some final touches to make your Short pop.

• Sound & Music: Tap the "Sound" icon at the bottom. This opens YouTube's audio library, where you can search for trending songs, viral audio clips, and sound effects. Tapping a sound will let you preview it, and hitting the blue arrow adds it to your video. You can use the "Adjust" feature to pick exactly which part of the song you want to use.
• Text: The "Text" tool lets you add text overlays. You can change fonts, colors, add a background fill, and adjust the alignment. Once the text is on the screen, you can pinch and drag to resize and position it. Pro tip: Tap "Timeline" at the bottom to control exactly when your text appears and disappears in the video. This is great for adding emphasis or creating lyric videos.
• Timeline: This feature gives you more granular control. You can see all of your individual clips and trim their start and end points or reorder them if needed. This is also where you time out a text overlay or adjust audio.
• Voiceover: If you want to narrate your video, tap the "Voiceover" button. You can drag the playhead to where you want the narration to begin, then press the red button to record your audio over the original sound. A slider lets you adjust the volume of the original audio versus your voiceover.

Step 6: Finalize and Upload

Happy with your edits? Tap "Next" in the top right corner. This takes you to the final screen where you'll add the details:

• Caption (Title): Write a captivating title for your Short. It should be short, descriptive, and grab attention. Many successful creators also recommend adding #shorts to the title to explicitly tell the algorithm this is a Short.
• Visibility: You can set the video to Public, Unlisted, or Private. Most of the time, you'll want it to be Public. You can also schedule it to go live at a later time.
• Audience: Legally, you must declare whether your content is "Made for Kids." Be honest here to comply with COPPA regulations.

Once everything is filled out, tap the "Upload Short" button. You're done! Your Short is now live (or scheduled) on your channel.

Using Pre-Recorded Videos to Make YouTube Shorts

While the Shorts camera is great for spontaneous content, you might want a more professional look. By recording with your phone's native camera app or a professional camera and editing in a third-party app like CapCut, LumaFusion, or Adobe Premiere, you gain far more control over the finished product.

The process is incredibly simple:

1. Film Vertically: Make sure your source footage is filmed in a 9:16 aspect ratio.
2. Edit Your Video: Use your preferred editing software to cut your video down to 60 seconds or less. Add your own sound design, text, and effects here for a fully custom look.
3. Transfer to Your Phone: Get the final video file onto your mobile device.
4. Upload as a Short: Open the YouTube app, tap the (+) icon, and choose "Create a Short." Instead of the recording screen, tap the small square icon in the bottom-left corner to open your phone's gallery. Select your edited video.
5. Add Final Touches (Optional): Even with a pre-made video, you can still use YouTube's editing tools to add popular music from the library or drop in some last-minute text overlays.
6. Post It: Tap "Next," add your title and details just like before, and hit "Upload Short."

This method is perfect for businesses and creators who want to repurpose high-quality content created for other platforms like Instagram Reels or TikTok.

Tips for Making Your Shorts Go Viral

Knowing how to make a Short is one thing, knowing how to make a good Short is another. Here are a few strategies that separate successful Shorts from the ones that get swiped away.

Hook 'Em Fast

You have about two seconds to convince someone not to scroll away. Start with your most exciting frame, ask an intriguing question, or state a bold claim immediately. Don't waste time with slow intros or branding animations.

Use Trending Audio

Music and viral sound bites are the lifeblood of short-form video. Pay attention to the Shorts feed to see what sounds are trending. Using popular audio can give your video an instant boost from users seeking out that trend.

Create a Satisfying Loop

The best Shorts are designed to be watched on repeat. Meticulously edit the end of your video to seamlessly transition back to the beginning. The longer someone is stuck watching your video in a loop, the better the signal it sends to the YouTube algorithm about your watch time.

Offer Real Value or Pure Entertainment

Every Short should serve one of two purposes: it should teach the viewer something useful (a quick tip, a life hack, a mini-tutorial) or it should be purely entertaining (funny, surprising, visually stunning). There's no room for filler.

Craft Your Title Thoughtfully

Your title is searchable, so include keywords people might be looking for. Frame it as a question ("Can you believe this?") or a statement of value ("The best way to clean your sneakers") to spark curiosity.

Final Thoughts

Creating YouTube Shorts is an incredibly rewarding process that gives creators of all sizes a chance to get discovered. Whether you use the simple in-app tools for quick and trendy content or bring in polished videos from outside editing software, the key is to stay consistent, provide value, and never stop experimenting.

Juggling all this new long-form and short-form video content across different platforms can get overwhelming fast. We've found that having a central calendar to plan everything visually is a game-changer. That's why we built Postbase with a clean, drag-and-drop calendar that lets you see your entire multi-platform content schedule at a glance. It's designed specifically for today's video-first world, so scheduling your Shorts, Reels, and TikToks all at once feels completely natural, not like a feature that was tacked on later.