You can upload YouTube Shorts from your PC using the YouTube website or the YouTube Studio app
YouTube Shorts are vertical videos up to 60 seconds long. You can upload them directly from your computer through YouTube Studio, which is the creator dashboard YouTube provides. The process is straightforward: sign in to your YouTube account, go to YouTube Studio, select the upload option, and choose your video file. YouTube will guide you through adding a title, description, and visibility settings before publishing.
You do not need special software or a phone to create Shorts on a PC. Any vertical video file (9:16 aspect ratio works best, though YouTube will accept other formats) can become a Short. The upload takes just a few minutes, and your video can go live within seconds if you set it to public.
Key Takeaways
- Upload Shorts through YouTube Studio by signing in, clicking the create button, and selecting your video file from your computer.
- Vertical videos with a 9:16 aspect ratio display best, but YouTube accepts other formats and will adjust them automatically.
- Videos must be 60 seconds or shorter to be labeled as Shorts; longer videos upload as regular YouTube videos instead.
- You can schedule Shorts to publish at a specific time or publish them when ready by selecting the visibility setting before upload.
- YouTube Studio is free and works in any web browser on your PC without downloading additional software.
Step-by-step upload process through YouTube Studio
Open a web browser on your PC and go to youtube.com. Sign in with the Google account linked to your YouTube channel. In the top right corner, click the camera icon with a plus sign, then select Upload video from the dropdown menu. This takes you to the upload page.
Click Select file or drag and drop your video file directly onto the page. Choose the video from your computer's file explorer. YouTube will begin uploading and processing the file. While it uploads, you can add a title (up to 100 characters), a description, and choose whether the video is made for kids. These details appear on the video's page once it publishes.
Scroll down to the Visibility section. Select Public to make the video visible to everyone, Unlisted to share it only with people who have the link, or Private to keep it visible only to you. If you want to publish at a specific time, select Schedule and choose the date and time. Click Publish when ready.
Video format and file requirements
YouTube accepts most common video formats from your PC, including MP4, MOV, AVI, and WMV. The file size limit is 256 GB, which is far larger than any video you will upload. Videos process faster if they are under 2 GB, though this is not a hard requirement.
For the best appearance as a Short, record or edit your video to a 9:16 aspect ratio (vertical orientation). This fills the entire screen on phones without black bars on the sides. YouTube will accept videos in other aspect ratios—16:9 (horizontal), 1:1 (square), or others—but they will not display as full-screen Shorts. Instead, YouTube adds black bars or crops the video to fit the Short player.
Keep your video under 60 seconds for it to be classified and promoted as a Short. Videos longer than 60 seconds upload successfully but appear as regular YouTube videos in your channel, not in the Shorts feed. If you have a 90-second video you want to share as a Short, trim it in a video editor on your PC before uploading.
Using YouTube Studio desktop app instead of the website
YouTube also offers a desktop app version of YouTube Studio that you can read to your PC. Go to studio.youtube.com in your browser and look for a read link, or search your computer's app store for "YouTube Studio." The app works the same way as the website version: sign in, click create, upload your file, add details, and publish.
The desktop app can be faster if you upload frequently, since you do not have to open a browser each time. However, the website version works just as well and requires no installation. Choose whichever feels more convenient for your workflow.
What happens after you publish a Short
Once you click Publish, YouTube processes your video. This usually takes a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on file size and your internet speed. During processing, the video is live but may not appear in search results or recommendations when ready. YouTube's system reviews the video to check for copyright issues and community guideline violations, which typically takes 24 hours.
After processing completes, your Short appears in your channel's Shorts tab and may show up in the YouTube Shorts feed if YouTube's algorithm decides to promote it. You can share the video link right away, even while it is still processing. Viewers can watch and comment as soon as it is published.
Editing and adding music to Shorts on your PC
YouTube Studio includes a built-in editor for Shorts, but it is limited. You can trim the video, add text overlays, and adjust some basic settings after uploading. To access these tools, go to your video in YouTube Studio, click Details, and look for editing options. However, most creators edit their videos before uploading using PC software.
Free video editors for PC include DaVinci Resolve, OpenShot, and HitFilm Express. These let you trim, add music, explore filters, and adjust colors before uploading. YouTube also has a library of free music and sound effects you can add directly in YouTube Studio after upload, though adding music before uploading gives you more control over timing and volume.
Troubleshooting common upload issues
If your video will not upload, check that your file format is supported (MP4 and MOV are most reliable) and that the file is not corrupted. Try uploading a different video to see if the problem is with that specific file. Clear your browser's cache and cookies, then try again. If you are using an older browser, update it or try a different browser like Chrome or Firefox.
If your video uploads but does not appear as a Short, verify it is under 60 seconds. Check the aspect ratio—if it is not 9:16, YouTube may display it as a regular video instead. If the video is private or unlisted, it will not appear in the Shorts feed; change the visibility to public. If YouTube's system flagged the video for review, wait 24 hours for the review to complete.
If you see an error message about copyright or community guidelines, YouTube is blocking the video because it detected copyrighted music, hate speech, or other violations. You can edit the video to remove the problematic content, re-upload it, and try again. YouTube's help center provides details on what triggered the block.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I upload a Short that is longer than 60 seconds?
Yes, but it will not be labeled or promoted as a Short. Videos over 60 seconds upload as regular YouTube videos and appear in your main channel feed, not the Shorts feed. If you want it to reach the Shorts audience, trim it to 60 seconds or less before uploading.
Do I need to use a specific video editor on my PC?
No. Any video editor that exports to MP4 or MOV works fine. YouTube Studio's built-in editor can handle basic trimming and text after upload. If you prefer to edit before uploading, free options like DaVinci Resolve and OpenShot are popular on PC.
How long does it take for a Short to appear after I upload it?
Your Short is live within seconds of publishing, but YouTube's system reviews it for 24 hours. During this time, viewers can watch and comment, but the video may not appear in recommendations or search results. After review completes, YouTube's algorithm decides whether to promote it in the Shorts feed.
What aspect ratio should my video be?
A 9:16 aspect ratio (vertical) displays best and fills the entire Short player screen. YouTube accepts other ratios like 16:9 (horizontal) or 1:1 (square), but they will have black bars or be cropped. For maximum visibility, shoot or edit your video vertically before uploading.
Can I schedule a Short to publish at a specific time?
Yes. During upload, select Schedule in the Visibility section and choose your desired date and time. YouTube will publish the Short automatically at that moment. This is useful if you want to release multiple Shorts on a set schedule.