YouTube Shorts API
How to publish a YouTube Short via API, and what distinguishes it from a regular upload.
By André LugThere is no Shorts endpoint or publishAsShort flag in the YouTube Data API v3. Upload normally with videos.insert; YouTube classifies the video as a Short automatically, after the fact, if it is 3 minutes (180 seconds) or shorter and vertical or square. Duration and framing decide classification — no request field can override it.
There is no publishAsShort field anywhere in the YouTube Data API v3. A "YouTube Short" is not a distinct upload type at all — it is a classification YouTube applies automatically, after the fact, based on the video's duration and aspect ratio. Publishing a Short via API means uploading a video that qualifies, not calling a different endpoint.
What actually makes a video a Short?
Since October 2024, a video qualifies as a Short if it is 3 minutes (180 seconds) or shorter and shot in a vertical or square aspect ratio, per YouTube's own Shorts eligibility documentation. That is a change from the platform's original 60-second cap — if you are cross-referencing an older guide, treat any "60 seconds max" claim as outdated. A widescreen 16:9 video stays a regular upload no matter how short it is; framing, not just duration, decides classification.
The API has no Shorts field to set
Looking at the videos.insert/videos.update reference, the writable status fields are privacyStatus, publishAt, selfDeclaredMadeForKids, embeddable, license, publicStatsViewable, and containsSyntheticMedia — nothing that declares Shorts intent. YouTube determines Shorts placement server-side, from the uploaded file's own properties, independent of anything the uploading client asks for. There is no request field to set and no response field confirming Shorts status at upload time.
How do you publish a Short via PostGate?
Because there is no separate mode, publishing a Short uses the exact same request as any other YouTube upload — the same options.youtube fields, the same metadata requirements. The only thing that determines whether it lands in Shorts is the video file itself: keep it at or under 3 minutes and vertical or square, and encode it accordingly before you send it.
curl -X POST "https://postgate.studio/api/posts" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $POSTGATE_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "Idempotency-Key: yt-short-001" \
-d '{
"post": {
"body": "60 seconds on the launch.",
"options": {
"youtube": {
"title": "Launch in 60 seconds #Shorts",
"privacy": "public",
"made_for_kids": false,
"community_guidelines_confirmed": true
}
}
},
"profiles": ["pro_youtube123"],
"media": ["med_vertical_clip"]
}'Practical checks before you upload
Confirm the source file's duration and dimensions before sending it — a video that is 3:01 or shot 16:9 will upload successfully but publish as a regular video, not a Short, with no error to signal the mismatch. Appending #Shorts to the title or description is a common convention that can help YouTube's systems and viewers identify intent, but it does not override the duration/aspect-ratio determination.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a YouTube Short be?
Since October 2024, a video qualifies as a Short if it is 3 minutes (180 seconds) or shorter and shot in a vertical or square aspect ratio. That is a change from the platform’s original 60-second cap — treat any "60 seconds max" claim in older guides as outdated.
Does adding #Shorts to the title make a video a Short?
No. Appending #Shorts to the title or description is a common convention that can help YouTube’s systems and viewers identify intent, but it does not override the duration and aspect-ratio determination.
Why did my video publish as a regular video instead of a Short?
A video that is 3:01 or longer, or shot 16:9, will upload successfully but publish as a regular video, not a Short — with no error to signal the mismatch. Confirm the source file’s duration and dimensions before sending it; a widescreen 16:9 video stays a regular upload no matter how short it is.
Is there an API field that confirms Shorts status?
No. YouTube determines Shorts placement server-side, from the uploaded file’s own properties, independent of anything the uploading client asks for. There is no request field to set and no response field confirming Shorts status at upload time.
