Upload a YouTube Short directly from your PC using the YouTube Studio website

To upload a YouTube Short from your computer, go to youtube.com, sign in to your account, and click the camera icon with a plus sign in the top right corner. Select "Create a short" from the dropdown menu. This opens the YouTube Studio upload interface where you can select a video file from your PC that is between 15 seconds and 60 seconds long. YouTube will accept MP4, MOV, AVI, WMV, FLV, MKV, WEBM, and other common video formats.

After you select your file, YouTube uploads it and shows you a preview. You can add a title, description, and visibility settings (public, unlisted, or private) before publishing. The entire process takes just a few minutes if your internet connection is stable and your file size is under 256 MB.

Key Takeaways

  • YouTube Shorts must be between 15 and 60 seconds long; videos outside this range will not upload as Shorts.
  • Use the camera icon in the top right of YouTube.com and select "Create a short" to start the upload from your PC.
  • Common video formats like MP4, MOV, and AVI work; keep file size under 256 MB for fastest upload.
  • You can add a title, description, and choose who sees your Short before publishing it.
  • Vertical video (9:16 aspect ratio) fills the screen better than horizontal, but YouTube will accept either.

Step-by-step upload process

Open a web browser on your PC and go to youtube.com. Make sure you are signed into the Google account that owns your YouTube channel. If you do not have a channel yet, YouTube will prompt you to create one the first time you try to upload.

Click the camera icon with a plus sign in the top right corner of the page, next to your profile picture. A dropdown menu appears with several options. Click "Create a short". This is different from "Upload a video," which creates a regular YouTube video instead of a Short.

The upload page opens. Click "Select file" or drag and drop a video file from your PC directly onto the upload area. YouTube processes the file and shows you a preview within a few seconds. If the video is longer than 60 seconds, YouTube will tell you it cannot be uploaded as a Short and will ask if you want to upload it as a regular video instead.

Adding titles, descriptions, and visibility settings

After your video uploads, you see a form where you can add a title (up to 100 characters) and a description (up to 5,000 characters). The title appears below your Short when someone watches it. The description is optional but helps people find your Short through search and recommendations.

Below the description field, you choose who can watch your Short. Click the dropdown next to "Visibility" and select "Public" (anyone can find and watch it), "Unlisted" (only people with the link can watch it), or "Private" (only you can watch it). Most creators choose Public to reach the widest audience.

You can also add hashtags in the description by typing # followed by a word (for example, #dance or #comedy). YouTube uses hashtags to categorize your Short and show it to people interested in that topic. Do not use more than three or four hashtags per Short.

Video format and file size requirements

YouTube accepts most common video formats on PC, including MP4, MOV, AVI, WMV, FLV, MKV, and WEBM. If you recorded your video on your phone or camera, the file is almost certainly in one of these formats already. You do not need to convert it.

Keep your file size under 256 MB for the fastest upload. If your video is larger, your internet connection may time out or the upload may fail partway through. If you have a large file, you can compress it using free software like HandBrake (available for Windows and Mac) or VidCoder (Windows only) before uploading.

The video must be between 15 and 60 seconds long. If your video is shorter than 15 seconds, YouTube will still upload it as a Short, but it will not fill the screen properly. If your video is longer than 60 seconds, YouTube will reject it and ask if you want to upload it as a regular video instead.

Aspect ratio and orientation tips

YouTube Shorts work best in vertical orientation (taller than it is wide), with an aspect ratio of 9:16. This means the video should be 1080 pixels wide and 1920 pixels tall, or any multiple of those numbers. Vertical video fills the entire phone screen when someone watches your Short, which makes it more engaging.

If your video is horizontal (wider than it is tall), YouTube will add black bars on the sides to fit it into the Short format. This wastes screen space and makes your video look smaller. If you have a horizontal video you want to upload as a Short, you can crop it or add a solid background using free video editing software like DaVinci Resolve or OpenShot before uploading.

Common upload mistakes to avoid

The most common mistake is uploading a video longer than 60 seconds. YouTube will reject it when ready and ask if you want to upload it as a regular video instead. If you are not sure how long your video is, open it in a media player on your PC and check the duration before uploading.

Another mistake is uploading a file that is too large. If your upload stalls or fails, try compressing the video first. You can also try uploading at a different time of day when your internet connection may be faster.

Do not use copyrighted music or footage unless you own it or have permission from the copyright holder. YouTube's Content ID system will detect copyrighted material and may mute the audio, block the video in certain countries, or remove it entirely. Use royalty-free music from sites like YouTube Audio Library (built into YouTube Studio) or Pixabay instead.

Publishing and checking your Short after upload

Once you have added a title, description, and visibility settings, click the "Publish" button at the bottom right of the form. YouTube processes your Short and publishes it to your channel. This usually takes less than a minute, but can take up to 24 hours if YouTube's systems are busy.

After publishing, you can view your Short by going to your channel page and looking for it in your uploads. You can also share the link with friends or on social media. If you want to make changes after publishing, go to YouTube Studio (click your profile picture, then "Create," then "Go to YouTube Studio"), find your Short in the uploads list, and click the pencil icon to edit the title, description, or visibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I upload a YouTube Short that is longer than 60 seconds?

No. YouTube Shorts must be between 15 and 60 seconds long. If your video is longer, YouTube will reject it during upload and ask if you want to upload it as a regular video instead. You can trim the video using free software like OpenShot or DaVinci Resolve before uploading if you want to keep it as a Short.

What video formats does YouTube accept for Shorts on PC?

YouTube accepts MP4, MOV, AVI, WMV, FLV, MKV, WEBM, and most other common video formats. If you recorded on a phone or camera, the file is almost certainly in one of these formats. You do not need to convert it before uploading.

How long does it take to upload a YouTube Short from my PC?

Upload time depends on your internet speed and file size. Most Shorts under 256 MB upload in 1 to 5 minutes. After upload, YouTube publishes your Short within a few seconds to 24 hours. If your upload is taking longer than 10 minutes, your internet connection may be slow or unstable.

Can I edit my YouTube Short after I publish it?

You can edit the title, description, and visibility settings after publishing by going to YouTube Studio, finding your Short in the uploads list, and clicking the pencil icon. You cannot replace the video file itself without deleting the Short and uploading a new one.

Do I need to use vertical video for YouTube Shorts?

Vertical video (9:16 aspect ratio) works best because it fills the entire phone screen. Horizontal video will upload, but YouTube adds black bars on the sides, making your video look smaller and less engaging. If you have horizontal video, crop it or add a background before uploading.