Vertical or square video up to 3 minutes becomes a Short
What happens on YouTube depends on the details of this rule.
How serious: MinorYouTubeLow quality and video format
About to post? A full check of your video looks for this in the video's size, shape and length and the caption, with a plain fix.
Check a video freeWhat triggers it
Upload with a square or vertical aspect ratio and length up to 3 minutes.
What YouTube says
“Any videos uploaded on or after this date with a square or vertical aspect ratio up to three minutes in length will be categorized as Shorts on YouTube.”
How to fix it
Choose the format on purpose: export 16:9 or make it longer than 3 minutes for long-form, or keep it vertical for Shorts.
Check your video's length, size and shape freeCan FYProof spot it?
A full check of your video looks for it in the video's size, shape and length and the caption. What a check finds is an estimate, not a guarantee.
- Video: looked at for this rule
- Speech: not for this rule
- On-screen text: not for this rule
- Caption: looked at for this rule
- Hashtags: not for this rule
It doesn't read details stored inside the file, such as labels an editing app adds.
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Platforms change their rules often. This page sums up what YouTube publishes; it isn't legal advice.