How to Use YouTube Videos on TikTok

Repurposing your long-form YouTube videos for TikTok is one of the smartest ways to extend your content's reach and get more mileage out of your hard work. This guide will walk you through exactly how to do it effectively, covering everything from the legal basics to step-by-step editing strategies that make your content feel native to TikTok.

Why Repurpose YouTube Videos for TikTok Anyway?

Before jumping into the "how," it's worth understanding the "why." Cross-posting content between platforms isn't just about saving time, it's a powerful growth strategy. Here’s what you gain:

• Reach a New Audience: The demographics and user behaviors on TikTok are distinct from YouTube. A viewer who discovers you on TikTok through a short, punchy clip might never have found your 20-minute YouTube video. Clips act as trailers that introduce your brand and personality to a completely new set of eyes.
• Increase Content Output: Consistently pumping out original content is exhausting. By mining your existing YouTube library for gold, you can fill your content calendar with high-quality posts without starting from scratch. One long video can easily become 5, 10, or even 15 individual TikToks.
• Amplify Key Messages: Did you make a really important point in minute 17 of your deep-dive video? Most people won't see it. Clipping that soundbite and turning it into a 30-second TikTok puts your most powerful message front and center, giving it the attention it deserves.
• Drive Traffic Back to YouTube: A great TikTok can be a powerful teaser. Ending a clip on a cliffhanger or mentioning "check out the full video for more" is a simple, effective way to funnel curious viewers from TikTok back to your YouTube channel, growing your subscribers and watch time there.

First, a Quick Guideline: Can You Legally Use a YouTube Video on TikTok?

This is the most important question, and the answer is nuanced. Taking a video you don't own from YouTube and re-uploading it to TikTok is a clear violation of copyright law and both platforms' Terms of Service. It can get your content taken down and your account penalized. Simple as that.

However, the conversation changes when you are the original creator.

Repurposing Your Own Content

If you created the YouTube video, you own the copyright. You have the right to edit, repackage, and distribute it on any other platform you choose. This is the ideal and safest scenario. This article will focus on repurposing your own YouTube content for TikTok.

Using Other People's Content

Using clips from other creators' YouTube videos is much trickier. While some niches thrive on commentary or reaction-style videos, you're treading in the murky waters of "Fair Use." In the U.S., Fair Use allows for the limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes like criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, or research.

For a TikTok clip to potentially fall under Fair Use, it generally needs to be transformative. This means you must add something new, like significant commentary, critique, or parody. Just re-uploading someone else's funny moment isn't transformative. Because Fair Use is a legal defense and not a guaranteed right, it's often decided in court. The safest bet for most creators is to stick to using their own content or content they have explicit permission to use.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Always consult with a legal professional for guidance on copyright and Fair Use matters.

How to Convert Your YouTube Videos for TikTok The Right Way

Simply downloading a horizontal video and uploading it to TikTok with black bars on the top and bottom won't cut it. The goal is to make the content feel like it was made for TikTok. This requires a transformative editing process. Here’s a step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Scour Your YouTube Videos for "TikTokable" Moments

Don't try to repurpose the whole video. Instead, watch your long-form content with a new lens, looking for micro-moments that can stand on their own. These could be:

• Strong Hooks: The first one to three seconds of a video where you ask a compelling question, state a controversial opinion, or show a surprising visual.
• Quick Tips & Takeaways: A 15- to 30-second segment where you explain a single, actionable piece of advice.
• Punchlines & Funny Bits: Witty remarks, unexpected reactions, or bloopers that are naturally shareable.
• "Aha!" Moments: A clip where you explain a complex idea in a simple, easy-to-understand way.
• Inspiring Quotes or Stories: A short, emotional anecdote or powerful statement that resonates with viewers.
• Before-and-After Shots: If your video has a visual transformation, clipping it makes for a perfect TikTok.

Keep a running list of timestamps from your videos that have potential. This "clip library" will become your content goldmine.

Step 2: Get Your Video Footage

For your own content, getting the source video is easy. Go to your YouTube Studio, find the video you want, click the three-dot menu, and select "Download." This will give you the high-quality MP4 file you originally uploaded, making it perfect for re-editing.

You can also use online YouTube downloader tools to grab the video file, but downloading directly from your Studio guarantees the best quality.

Step 3: Edit for a Vertical World (9:16 Aspect Ratio)

Now it's time to transform your horizontal (16:9) video into a vertical (9:16) masterpiece. You can use mobile editing apps like CapCut, InShot, or Splice, or desktop software like Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve.

Techniques for Reframing:

• Box it Out: The most popular method is to place the horizontal video in the middle of a vertical frame and use the top and bottom space for captivating, bold headlines and captions. This works great for clips where the framing is wide and you can't easily crop in.
• Crop and Pan: If your subject is relatively centered in the original shot, you can crop the video to the 9:16 ratio. For shots where the subject moves, you may need to use keyframes to move the crop along with the action, a technique called "panning and scanning," to keep the important elements in frame. Some modern editors have AI-powered "Auto Reframe" features that can do this for you.
• The Split Screen: For interview or podcast-style videos, a vertical split-screen can keep both speakers visible. You can also stack video clips top to bottom for a dynamic effect.

No matter which method you choose, the key is to make an intentional choice. Avoid just uploading the horizontal video and letting the black bars fill the void.

Step 4: Add Context and Value with Native TikTok Elements

Making your video feel at home on TikTok is about adopting its unique language. This means adding layers that increase engagement and clarity.

• Add On-Screen Captions: A huge number of TikTok users watch with the sound off. Manually add text captions (AKA subtitles) for what's being said. Apps like CapCut have an auto-captioning feature that makes this incredibly fast. Go back and correct any errors and animate the captions to make them more engaging.
• Use Trending Audio (Even Quietly): Browse TikTok’s sound library for a trending song or audio clip. You can add it to your video and then lower its volume to 1-5% so it's barely audible underneath your original audio. The TikTok algorithm often favors videos that use trending sounds, and this is a simple way to reap that benefit without overpowering your content.
• Incorporate On-Screen Text Callouts: Use TikTok's native text tool to add short, punchy headlines, highlight key words, or ask questions on the screen. This helps guide the viewer's attention and summarizes your video's value proposition in seconds.

Step 5: Write a TikTok-Optimized Caption and Hashtags

Throw your YouTube SEO habits out the window. TikTok captions aren't for keyword stuffing, they're for starting a conversation.

• Keep it short and sweet. The caption should add context or ask a question to encourage comments. Something like, "Have you ever tried this? Let me know 👇" is perfect.
• Include a Call-to-Action (CTA). Direct viewers to what you want them to do next. This could be "Follow for Part 2," "Comment your best tip," or "Full video is in my bio!"
• Use a mix of hashtags. Aim for 3-5 relevant hashtags. Combine broad hashtags (like #marketingtips) with niche-specific ones (#smallbusinesssocialmedia) and maybe one trending one if it fits.

An Example Workflow: From YouTube Tutorial to TikTok Tip

Imagine you have a 25-minute YouTube video titled "Ultimate Guide to Growing Tomatoes."

1. Find a "TikTokable" Moment: You find a 45-second clip where you explain a specific trick for preventing pests. That’s your gold.
2. Download & Edit: You download the original video file. In CapCut, you start a new 9:16 project. You put the clip on the timeline and place a bold headline at the top: "DON'T MAKE THIS TOMATO MISTAKE."
3. Add Native Elements: You use the auto-caption feature to add subtitles. You find a trending ambient sound and lower its volume to 3%. You use bold text overlays to emphasize words like "NEVER" and "ALWAYS."
4. Write a Caption: Your caption is: "This one tip saved my whole tomato crop this year! 🍅 Got any more gardening hacks? Share them below! #gardeningtips #tomatohacks #growyourownfood"

That process takes a tiny snippet of existing content and transforms it into a perfectly native, valuable TikTok video that can reach thousands of new people.

Final Thoughts

Repurposing your YouTube videos for TikTok is a strategic game-changer, breathing new life into your existing content and opening up new avenues for audience growth. By finding the best moments, reformatting for vertical video, and adding native elements, you can create a content ecosystem where each platform feeds the other.

As you get into the rhythm of creating these repurposed clips, you’ll find that managing your content calendar across platforms becomes the next challenge. We built Postbase specifically for this modern workflow. Once you've edited your TikToks and YouTube Shorts, our visual calendar makes it easy to schedule everything in one place, ensuring your content goes out consistently without you feeling overwhelmed.