If you want to learn how to download YouTube Shorts videos, I’ve got you covered.
Just like downloading Facebook reels for offline viewing or downloading YouTube videos and converting them to your preferred format, there are different ways to download Shorts from YouTube.
In this article, I share the best ways to download YouTube Shorts on desktop and mobile.
What is YouTube Shorts?
YouTube Shorts is a feature of YouTube that allows people to create and watch very short videos. These “shorts” are videos of up to 60 seconds in length, which can be created using mobile phones or through the YouTube app.
The videos can also be downloaded if desired, either directly from the YouTube website or through a specific URL generated when creating the video.
This feature has been gaining traction as an alternative to popular social media apps like Instagram Reels and TikTok, as well as being a great way for creators to share concise content with their audience. With the ability to download YouTube shorts quickly and easily from any Android phone, it’s become easier than ever for people to access this powerful medium of expression and share their creativity with others.
Before downloading YouTube Shorts, we must learn how to copy the video URL or link. This is crucial to download the video.
How to Copy the Link for Youtube Shorts Download?
If you want to download a Youtube Short, the process is very simple and fast. Here’s how to copy the video URL on desktop and mobile.
Copy the YouTube Shorts Video URL on Desktop
1. Go to Youtube, select your channel, and click on the Shorts tab.
2. Locate the Short you would like to download.
3. Right-click on it and click “Copy Link Address.”
That was easy!
Copy the YouTube Shorts Video URL on Mobile (Android or iOS)
1. Open the YouTube app.
2. Go to the YouTube channel and click the Shorts tab or select Shorts at the bottom of the screen.
3. Click on “Share” and then “Copy link.”
Easy again!
As you see, there’s no secret to copying any YouTube Shorts video link.
After this, you should be able to paste the link into any kind of software to download videos that you have installed on your device. Once you paste the link inside your software, start the download and wait for it to finish. That’s all!
You will have your Youtube Short downloaded without any hassle.
How to Download YouTube Shorts on Desktop
There are different ways to download Shorts on a desktop: with a third-party tool or an online video downloader.
Download YouTube Shorts on Desktop with 4K Video Downloader
4K Video Downloader by 4K Download is a popular free YouTube converter that lets you download videos from thousands of different sites.
1. Install the free 4K Video Downloader from its website.
2. Copy the Shorts link as outlined above.
3. Open 4K Video Downloader and click on “Paste Link.”
4. Select the resolution and the download folder, and click “Download.” The downloaded video will be saved to your desktop or downloads folder.
If you want, you can also extract the audio from the Shorts instead of downloading the video file.
Check out the best social video downloaders for other apps that can download videos from multiple platforms.
Download YouTube Shorts on Desktop with a Free Online Downloader
Many free online video converters allow you to download Shorts and other videos from most video-sharing websites. However, virtually all of them display pop-ups and redirect to advertising sites when trying to download the video.
This is annoying and can cause you to install third-party software without you even noticing, so be careful. Anyway, here’s how you can download Shorts on Y2Down.cc:
- Go to Y2Down.cc downloader online.
- Copy the video link as mentioned above.
- Paste the Shorts link into the URL text box, select the YouTube Short video formats and resolution, and click “Download.” The downloaded YouTube Shorts video will be stored in your downloads folder.
YouTube Shorts Video Download is another free online tool that lets you download the YouTube Shorts video on your device. However, it doesn’t download it in HD like Y2Down.
Note: If you want to avoid pop-ups, install the Brave browser, which automatically disables ads and pop-ups. It’s also one of the most secure browsers to navigate the web.
How to Download YouTube Shorts on Android
The best way to download any Shorts video on mobile devices is to use an app called Tube Shorts Downloading App by ProdigyCoder.
1. Simply head over to Google Play on your Android mobile and install Tube Shorts Watch Short Videos.
2. On the main dashboard, search for the YouTube channel that published the short you want to download.
3. Select the Short video you want to download and click the Download button.
4. The video will be downloaded to your phone gallery.
As you can see, downloading a YouTube Shorts video on Android is straightforward, as Google Play officially displays an app meant for it.
Moreover, this app lets you watch videos on YouTube (the normal YouTube videos) and save them to your Android device.
How to Download YouTube Shorts on iOS
While there are no YouTube Shorts downloader apps on the Mac App Store, you can use any online video downloader tools like you were on a desktop.
Follow these steps to download the video for offline viewing on your iOS device:
- Go to the YouTube app.
- Copy the link of the Shorts video that you want to download.
- Go to your preferred browser and type y2down.cc.
- Paste the video link, select the video quality, and hit “Download” to save the video content on your iOS device.
How To Download YouTube Shorts Video FAQs
Can you save YouTube Shorts to your Android and iOS phone’s gallery?
Yes, you can. On Android, you can use the app Tube Shorts Watch Short Videos to download videos from YouTube Shorts to your device. On iOS, the best way is by using a free online converter or YouTube Shorts video downloader through a web browser.
Is there a native way to download Shorts videos?
Unfortunately, there’s no native way to download YouTube Shorts via the official YouTube app.
What is YouTube Shorts?
YouTube Shorts is a short-form video service of 60 seconds or less. YouTube introduced the beta version in India in September 2020 and later released it globally in July 2021. While YouTube is a search engine, it’s also considered a social networking site where anyone can create channels and upload videos as a hobby or grow their businesses.
YouTube Shorts entered the market to compete with TikTok, the king of short-form content back then, which allowed users to upload videos of 15 seconds or less.
Short-form content is also an easy way to get a great amount of traffic in less time (compared to starting a YouTube channel or a blog), making it a favorite channel for affiliate marketers. The school for online marketers, Legendary Marketer, even launched a course for beginners on leveraging short-form content to get leads and sales for affiliate products or grow your business.
YouTube Shorts makes it easy for anyone with a mobile phone to create short-form videos and share them with the world.
How can I share YouTube Shorts?
Sharing YouTube Shorts is easy. Inside the YouTube app, open the Shorts video you want to download and click the Share button. You’ll be able to share the video to all social media platforms installed on your device or send the link via email.
If you download a YouTube Shorts video, you can then upload it to other short video platforms like Instagram Reels or Facebook Reels. However, you should only do this with your own videos.
What’s the length of a YouTube Shorts video?
While Shorts initially supported videos up to 15 seconds, you can now upload short-form video content to Shorts up to 60 seconds. With tools like FlexClip, you can merge multiple video clips together into one video before uploading it to YouTube Shorts.
Can I upload a YouTube Shorts video to Instagram Reels?
Yes, you can. But only upload your own Shorts videos unless you have the explicit permission of the copyright holder.
How to upload YouTube Shorts?
- Open the YouTube app.
- Tap on the camera icon in the screen’s top right corner.
- Select an existing video from your device or record one using your camera.
- Add a title, set the visibility and audience, then tap “Upload Shorts” to upload it to YouTube Shorts.
Is it legal to download YouTube Shorts?
No, downloading YouTube Shorts is not legal. YouTube does not allow its videos to be downloaded. Copyright infringement can occur when a person downloads content from YouTube without permission from the copyright holder.
You can, however, download a Shorts video for personal use and recreation and watch it later. But you can’t use it commercially. Nonetheless, it’s always best to get permission from the copyright holder.
Download Videos From YouTube Shorts: Conclusion
Saving YouTube Shorts videos is a great workaround for having to manually browse them any time you want to watch them.
Whether you want to download videos via third-party apps and websites to store them for later use or backup your own YouTube Shorts, the tips in this article can help you meet your goals.