YouTube has announced a significant update for Shorts. It has extended the maximum video length in YouTube Shorts to 3 minutes. Starting October 15th, creators will be able to upload up to 3 minutes long videos in YouTube Shorts. This is a notable increase from the current 60-second limit.
This extended duration gives creators more flexibility to express themselves creatively. It even allows creators to post short films in a vertical format. YouTube mentioned that this was a “top-requested feature” from creators.
YouTube Shorts was originally launched to compete with TikTok, which currently allows videos up to 10 minutes. TikTok first introduced its 3-minute video option in 2021. Meanwhile, Instagram Reels supports videos of up to 90 seconds. With YouTube now offering longer videos, creators can easily repost their content across different platforms.
YouTube has also introduced a new feature called ‘Templates,’ which allows creators to reuse formats from other Shorts. This feature is similar to Instagram’s Templates feature which makes it easy to follow the trend on the platform. By selecting ‘Remix’ on a Short and tapping ‘Use this template,’ users can create similar videos by adding their own clips.
Additionally, YouTube has promised to enhance its recommendation system for longer Shorts. It will ensure that content receives better visibility and engagement on the video-sharing platform. If you primarily want to see full-length videos on the platform, you can ask YouTube to “Show fewer Shorts” by clicking on the three-dot menu in the upper right of any Shorts grid in your Home feed.
YouTube will also soon integrate Google DeepMind’s Veo model to advanced video generation for making creative shorts. The Comment Preview feature in the Shorts Feed is also coming soon.