How to turn a YouTube video into Shorts
To turn a YouTube video into Shorts, cut one strong moment from it, reframe that moment to vertical 9:16, add captions and upload it as a Short. You can do it by hand in any editor, or paste the link into StreamClip and do it in your browser.
Step by step
- 1
Paste the YouTube link
Copy the URL of your YouTube video or stream and paste it into StreamClip. You can also upload the video file if you have it saved.
- 2
Trim to one moment
Pick a single highlight and cut it tight. A Short works best when it starts on the action instead of building up to it.
- 3
Reframe and caption
Choose a vertical layout, such as facecam on top and gameplay below, then add automatic captions with word-by-word highlight.
- 4
Export or publish
Export in HD from the browser and upload it as a Short. On Pro you can publish to YouTube Shorts directly or schedule it.
What a YouTube video needs to become a Short
YouTube Shorts are vertical or square videos of up to three minutes. A regular YouTube video is horizontal 16:9 and usually much longer, so turning a YouTube video into Shorts means two things: picking a short segment worth watching on its own, and reframing it to 9:16 so it fills the phone screen.
Captions are the third piece. Many people watch Shorts with the sound low or off, and on-screen text keeps them following along. A Short that starts mid-action, fills the screen and has readable captions has a much better chance than a horizontal clip with black bars.
The manual way
If you have the original file of your own video, open it in a desktop editor, create a 1080×1920 project and cut out the segment you want. Then reframe: either crop into the most important part of the shot, or duplicate the clip and stack two crops, like a facecam above gameplay.
Add captions by typing them or with a separate transcription tool, fix the timing, export and upload the result as a Short from YouTube Studio or the YouTube app. YouTube's own app also offers basic tools to create a Short from a longer video, which are fine for a quick cut but limited for layouts and styled captions.
Faster with StreamClip
StreamClip turns that into one browser workflow. Paste the YouTube link and the video loads without downloading anything. Trim to your moment, choose a split layout with automatic facecam detection, or crop and zoom by hand. AI captions handle English and Spanish slang, with about 90 animated styles to choose from.
For long videos and streams, AI Clipping on Pro analyzes a full VOD from YouTube, Twitch or Kick using audio and the transcript, then ranks the best moments so you can open them straight in the editor. Pro includes 50 hours of VOD analysis per month, and you can publish or schedule the finished Shorts.
Tips for Shorts that hold attention
Start on the payoff or right before it, not with an intro. Keep one idea per Short, even if the original video covered ten. Big, high-contrast captions near the middle of the screen are easier to read than small text at the bottom, where YouTube places its own buttons and title.
Make several Shorts from one long video instead of one. Each strong moment can become its own post, which gives you more chances to reach new viewers and more ways to send them back to the full video on your channel.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a YouTube Short be?
YouTube Shorts can be up to three minutes long. For clips cut from longer videos, a single tight moment usually performs better than using the full length.
What size should a YouTube Short be?
Vertical 9:16 at 1080×1920 is the standard. Square videos also count as Shorts, but vertical fills the screen.
Can I turn someone else's YouTube video into Shorts?
Only if you own the content or have permission to use it. The tools work with any public link, but you are responsible for what you publish.
Do I need to download the YouTube video first?
Not with StreamClip. Paste the link and the video loads in the editor. You can also upload a file if you prefer.
Can I make Shorts from a long YouTube stream automatically?
Yes, with AI Clipping on Pro. Paste the VOD link and it finds and ranks highlights using audio and the transcript, ready to edit.
One long video, many Shorts
Paste a YouTube link, pull out the best moments and turn each one into a vertical Short with captions.
Get started free