Trim Video for YouTube Shorts
YouTube Shorts are vertical videos up to 60 seconds. Extract the best moments from your longer videos to create engaging Shorts that can reach millions of viewers on YouTube's short-form feed.
YouTube Shorts Requirements
- Duration: 60 seconds or less
- Aspect ratio: 9:16 (vertical) - this is critical
- Resolution: 1080x1920 recommended
- File size: No strict limit (YouTube handles large files)
Creating Shorts from Existing Content
The fastest way to grow on YouTube Shorts is repurposing your existing content. Take highlights from longer videos and turn them into bite-sized Shorts:
- Gaming clips: Epic moments, fails, or funny reactions
- Tutorial snippets: Quick tips extracted from longer how-tos
- Podcast highlights: The most quotable or controversial takes
- Vlog moments: The funniest or most interesting 60 seconds
How to Trim for YouTube Shorts
- 1 Load your video
Select your source video - works with any format YouTube accepts.
- 2 Find your 60-second moment
Preview and select up to 60 seconds. Mark in/out points with I/O keys.
- 3 Download and upload
Download your clip and upload to YouTube. Add #Shorts in the title or description.
Tips for Viral YouTube Shorts
Hook in 1-2 seconds
Viewers scroll fast - grab attention immediately
Keep it under 60s
Even 61 seconds disqualifies it as a Short
Loop potential
Shorts that loop seamlessly get more watch time
Use #Shorts
Include #Shorts in title or description to ensure it's recognized
Shorts vs Regular YouTube Videos
| Feature | YouTube Shorts | Regular Videos |
|---|---|---|
| Max length | 60 seconds | 12 hours |
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 (vertical) | 16:9 (horizontal) |
| Discovery | Shorts shelf, Shorts feed | Search, recommendations |
| Monetization | Shorts Fund / ads (limited) | Full ad revenue |
Note: Aspect Ratio
JustTrimVideo handles trimming (cutting length), not aspect ratio changes. If your source is horizontal 16:9, you'll need a video editor to crop it to vertical 9:16 for Shorts. However, if your source is already vertical (phone recording), you're all set - just trim to 60 seconds or less.
Related Pages
Ready to create YouTube Shorts?
Go to the Video Trimmer →