Short-form video isn't just trending—it's taking over. TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook have all pushed creators toward bite-sized content, and even YouTube, traditionally the home of longer videos, couldn't resist joining the party.

YouTube Shorts is the platform's way of allowing creators to post shorter clips on YouTube. They're limited to 60 seconds in length, are vertical (instead of horizontal), and appear in the Shorts feed—a never-ending carousel of videos posted by other creators.

Another platform, another format to keep up with—we get it. But here's the good news: you don't need to create brand new content for Shorts. This guide will show you how to transform videos you've already made into effective Shorts, plus bonus tips for repurposing your existing work into content that actually resonates with your audience.

Why create YouTube Shorts from existing videos

Reach a wider audience with Shorts

There's one key difference between traditional YouTube videos and Shorts: the people who watch traditional long-form videos likely search for them, but when they head to Shorts, they're relying on the algorithm to show videos they'd be interested in—without any prompts in the form of a YouTube search. This is why learning how to create YouTube Shorts from existing videos can help you reach new audiences.

This gives you a shot at reaching new audiences who aren't actively looking for what you provide, but could be swayed in the direction of your business's YouTube channel. Repurposing existing videos into Shorts allows you to maintain a consistent posting schedule without creating entirely new content every time.

Maximize your existing video content

You've already put the hard work into creating a YouTube video. Repurposing what you already have prevents you from starting the entire process all over again to produce new content. You're just clipping the video you've already made and have a bunch of new footage to share on YouTube. Remember that Shorts must be in vertical format (9:16 aspect ratio) and under 60 seconds to qualify as YouTube Shorts.

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Repurpose videos across platforms

While you can use YouTube's repurposing feature to turn videos into YouTube Shorts, you don't have to limit your video clip to the platform. Choose a different tool (such as Descript's video editor) to save the snippet. From there, you can upload it to other social media platforms where short-form videos thrive, such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, or Facebook. This cross-platform approach helps you maximize the value of your original content.

Just like that, you've got enough content to power your social media accounts for a few weeks—all from a single YouTube video.

How to create YouTube Shorts from existing videos on mobile

Step 1: Create and upload your original video

The first step is to produce your video and upload it to your YouTube channel. The best videos have a strong hook, focus on a topic that your target audience is interested in, and are easy to follow. A good script—which can simply be a list of talking points—is a great tool to have at this stage.

Use a professional video editor to add the final touches to your YouTube video, such as captions and subtitles, transitions, overlays, or special effects. When you're happy, head to the YouTube homepage, sign into YouTube Studio, and upload the video to your channel.

Step 2: Locate your existing video

Now that your video has been uploaded, go to your YouTube channel and open the video player. Bear in mind that you can only create a Short from an existing video using your smartphone (such as an Android or iPhone) or iPad—not a desktop. For instructions on how to do this with a desktop, scroll down to the next section.

Step 3: Select Create or Remix option

Once you've located your video in the YouTube mobile app, choose the Remix button. This may appear as a Create button, depending on the device and YouTube app version you're using. From here, select Edit into a Short. The exact location of these options may vary slightly depending on app updates.

Step 4: Trim your video for Shorts format

YouTube will now open its Shorts editor. Use the sliders to define which section of the video you want to repurpose, then add stickers, captions, or transitions to the new clip. For optimal engagement, keep your Short between 15-30 seconds, though you can use up to the full 60-second limit.

You can also use this video editing tool to shoot or import new footage. If you're trimming a YouTube video about skincare and want to laser focus on a specific step in your Short, for example, you could add B-roll footage to show yourself applying your favorite face cream. Adding these creative elements like text overlays, music, filters, or special effects can significantly boost engagement.

Step 5: Publish your new YouTube Short

When you're happy with your clip, press Publish to upload it as a YouTube Short. Any clips made using this method will link back to the full original YouTube video, making it easy for Shorts viewers to interact with longer videos on your channel. This connection helps drive traffic between your short and long-form content.

How to create YouTube Shorts from existing videos on desktop

While YouTube does allow video creators to repurpose their original videos into Shorts content without leaving the app, it isn't always the most effective approach—especially if you plan to create several clips, use a desktop computer, or reuse each snippet on other social media platforms. That's where Descript's YouTube Shorts maker shines.

Step 1: Import your existing video into Descript

Descript is a free video editor that includes premium features as standard. Create your free account, then download the Mac or Windows version. You can also open Descript in your browser if you'd prefer. Can you make YouTube Shorts from existing videos? Absolutely—and Descript makes the process seamless.

From there, launch Descript and press Create new video project in the top-right corner. Import your footage into the editor and wait a few seconds for the transcript to appear. This is how you'll edit your video—similar to how you'd edit a Google Doc.

⚡️ Pro tip: It's much easier to repurpose content if you've already polished up the original video in Descript. So, before uploading your video to YouTube, use Descript's AI features to remove unwanted background noise, add a transition, or fix audio mistakes with Overdub. You'll then be repurposing a clean video, which significantly cuts down editing time when repurposing.

Step 2: Use Find Good Clips for selection

Speaking of AI features, Find Good Clips is the tool you'll need if you want to create YouTube Shorts from existing videos. In your video editor, head to AI Actions and choose Ask AI. Scroll down to the Find section and choose Find Good Clips.

The tool uses artificial intelligence to pick out the most interesting or engaging parts of your video. It'll create a new video project for each snippet, ready for you to edit (without disrupting your original footage). This AI technology analyzes engagement patterns in your existing videos to identify which moments are most likely to perform well as Shorts.

Now's also a good time to change the aspect ratio and size of your YouTube video. Traditional YouTube videos are landscape (16:9), whereas Shorts are vertical (9:16). Click the rectangular button in your video preview and choose one of the preformatted ratios for your new Shorts project. Getting this aspect ratio right is crucial for how your Short will appear in the YouTube Shorts feed.

🖼️ Still need help? How to make a horizontal video vertical to repurpose your best content

Step 3: Export and upload your YouTube Short

Happy with your clipped video? Click the Publish button and switch to the Export tab. From here, you can export your Short in YouTube's preferred file format (MP4).

Next, head back to your YouTube account and select the Shorts tab. Select the video file from your media library, optimize it with an engaging video title, attention-grabbing thumbnail, and descriptive caption, then press Publish to share it with your audience. After publishing, be sure to track your Shorts performance to identify patterns that drive higher engagement.

How to track YouTube shorts performance effectively

If you want to measure the success of your repurposed YouTube Shorts, analyzing performance metrics is essential. YouTube Analytics provides engagement data like watch time, retention, and views, which help identify what resonates with viewers. Keep an eye on audience retention to see if your Shorts maintain interest across their entire duration. Tracking likes, comments, and shares can reveal how effectively your Shorts spark engagement with the audience. If your content is monetized, you can also review ad revenue or YouTube Premium earnings to gauge profitability. According to the research, combining these insights with experimentation will help you refine future Shorts for better results [Advanced performance tracking strategies].

4 tips for creating effective YouTube Shorts

Check how your Short loops for viewers

YouTube Shorts automatically restarts a video once you've reached the end. Before you upload your repurposed clip to the platform, check that this loop makes sense. You don't want to cut yourself off or talk about something wildly different at the start or end of your video. When someone watches the Short and the video loops back around to the beginning, it should make logical sense and appear like a seamless transition. The more seamless, the longer people will watch, and the more YouTube will serve your video to new viewers. Lead with suspense - don't reveal everything at once to create a curiosity gap that makes viewers want to watch until the end.

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Start with a strong hook

Short-form video sharing sites are driving down our attention spans. On YouTube in particular, viewers decide whether to continue watching your videos within just a few seconds. A strong hook is what convinces them to stick around. Only then can you turn them into loyal fans, subscribers, or buyers of your product.

Play around with your repurposed clip to find the most engaging hook. You could use Descript to stitch together the intro from your original YouTube video with the clipped section, or cut to a piece of footage where you say something powerful, entertaining, or scroll-stopping. Another option is to treat your Short as the teaser for your main video. For instance, if you have a cooking tutorial, you could extract the moment when you share a crucial tip or technique as a Short.

Here's a great example from creator Maria Foleo who starts the YouTube Short with a short and snappy statement:

Add a call to subscribe to your channel

Some video creators find it more difficult to get YouTube subscribers from their Shorts. It makes sense—there is no obvious subscribe button like you'd see beneath a traditional video. Instead, you have to make it obvious that your channel exists and it'd be a smart decision for your audience to subscribe.

This doesn't have to be anything complicated. You could end your video with a three second clip of you saying “if you like this video, subscribe.” Or design an end card in Canva that shows a subscribe button and stitch it to the end of your clip.

Optimize Shorts with keywords and hashtags

The YouTube algorithm matches short-form clips with people most likely to interact with them. One way to prove that your content is relevant to your target audience is to use keywords and hashtags that they'd use. If your audience are beauty enthusiasts, for example, you could use hashtags like #skincareroutine or #beautytips in your video caption to increase the odds of YouTube showing your Short to that audience. Using relevant hashtags like #YouTubeShorts or #repurposedcontent can also help categorize your video properly.

⚡️ Pro tip: Need help writing engaging captions? Social Post Writer, an AI-powered feature in Descript, takes the task off your plate. It'll scan your video and summarize it into a caption that you can copy and paste into YouTube.

Best practices for YouTube shorts thumbnails

Even though you're dealing with short-form content, a compelling thumbnail can still significantly boost visibility. Research suggests using bright colors or high-contrast visuals to quickly stand out on the YouTube feed. Incorporating a subtle emotional hook in the thumbnail design can spark curiosity and encourage clicks. Be sure to keep the branding elements consistent with your channel’s overall look for easy recognition. As outlined in the research, relevant imagery that accurately reflects your video's content builds trust and reduces bounce rates [Thumbnail optimization].

FAQs: Creating YouTube Shorts from videos

How do I upload a premade video as a YouTube Short?

1. Upload your video to YouTube
2. Find the video's watch page
3. Choose Remix
4. Select Edit into a Short
5. Trim and customize your video
6. Upload it to YouTube Shorts

How do I create Shorts from videos using AI?

1. Create a free Descript account
2. Import your video
3. Use the AI feature Find Good Clips
4. Export the clipped videos as an MP4
5. Upload your video to YouTube Shorts

Is there a free tool for creating YouTube Shorts?

Descript's free clipping tool allows you to repurpose long-form videos into shorter clips. It uses AI to find the most engaging parts of your video, then opens them in a new project to edit and export. They make for great YouTube Shorts, TikTok videos, or Instagram Reels.

What resolution should I use for my YouTube shorts?

YouTube Shorts supports various resolutions, but 1080p (1920x1080) is typically recommended for optimal viewing quality. According to the research, creators can also opt for 4K if they have the resources, but it isn’t strictly required. Both horizontal and vertical formats are supported, though vertical (9:16) is ideal for mobile viewing. Keep file sizes manageable so your uploads remain quick and efficient. For more technical guidelines, see the research on aspect ratio and resolution.

How can I stay consistent with YouTube shorts posting?

Maintaining a regular posting schedule is one of the best ways to build audience loyalty and gain traction with Shorts. As mentioned in the research, you can start by planning a weekly or biweekly posting routine that aligns with your production capacity. Creating a short series or theme helps you stay focused and gives viewers a reason to come back. It’s also helpful to use cross-promotion on other social platforms or your main channel to generate more visibility. Give preference to quality over quantity, but remain consistent enough to keep your viewers engaged.