What Is YouTube Shorts? (And Is There a "You Shorts" App?)
Updated: October 29, 2026 · 2 min read
YouTube Shorts is YouTube's vertical short-video section, its answer to TikTok and Instagram Reels. There's no separate "You Shorts" or "YouShorts" app, even though people search for one: Shorts lives inside the regular YouTube app. This guide covers what Shorts is, how long one can be, how to upload from your phone or computer, and what it takes to make money from Shorts. It's based on YouTube's own help pages.
Apps called "You Shorts" in app stores aren't made by YouTube. Don't sign in to them with your YouTube account; use the official YouTube app for Shorts.
How long can a Short be?
- Length: up to 3 minutes. YouTube raised the limit from 60 seconds to 3 minutes in October 2024.
- Size: vertical (9:16) or square (1:1). The recommended resolution is 1080×1920.
- Horizontal videos: short horizontal videos aren't treated as Shorts; they're published as regular videos.
How to upload a Short from your phone
- 1Open the YouTube app and tap the + icon at the bottom.
- 2Choose Short.
- 3Record with the camera or pick a video from your gallery. You can add music, text and filters on this screen.
- 4Add a title, set the audience (made for kids or not) and tap Upload.
You don't have to put #shorts in the title. If the video is vertical or square and under 3 minutes, YouTube recognizes it as a Short on its own.
Can you upload Shorts from a computer?
Yes. In YouTube Studio, use Create > Upload videos with a vertical or square video under 3 minutes and it's published as a Short. You can schedule Shorts from a computer too: set the visibility to Schedule on the upload screen. With IZY Social you can schedule your Short alongside the same video on Instagram Reels and TikTok.
How Shorts views are counted
Since March 2025 YouTube counts every start or replay of a Short as a view. To see how many people actually kept watching, check engaged views in YouTube Studio. The monetization requirements are based on that number.
Can you make money with Shorts?
Yes, through the YouTube Partner Program. You need one of these:
- 1,000 subscribers and 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days, or
- 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours on long-form videos in the last 12 months.
Shorts revenue comes from a shared ad pool and pays less per view than long videos. The real value of Shorts is bringing in new viewers and subscribers.
Frequently asked questions
What does YouShorts mean?
It's a misspelling of YouTube Shorts. There's no separate YouTube app called YouShorts or You Shorts; Shorts is the short-video section inside the YouTube app.
How long can a YouTube Short be?
Up to 3 minutes. Longer videos are published as regular YouTube videos.
Can Shorts be horizontal?
No. Shorts need to be vertical (9:16) or square (1:1). Horizontal short videos count as regular videos.
When is the best time to post Shorts?
It depends on when your audience is active. For general guidance, see our post on the best time to post on YouTube.