YouTube Shorts have taken over the platform. In 2024, YouTube reported over 70 billion daily Shorts views — and that number is still growing. If you want to save a Short to your phone, share it offline, or archive a video before it disappears, EasyYTDown lets you download any YouTube Short as an MP4 file for free, on any device, without installing anything.
What Are YouTube Shorts?
YouTube Shorts are vertical short-form videos of up to 60 seconds, YouTube's answer to TikTok and Instagram Reels. They appear in the dedicated Shorts feed in the YouTube app and website, and can also be found on individual creator channel pages. Their URLs have a distinct format:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XXXXXXXXXX
Unlike regular YouTube videos (which use /watch?v=), Shorts use /shorts/ in the URL. EasyYTDown handles both formats — just paste the URL and it works.
Why Download YouTube Shorts?
- Save for offline viewing: Watch on planes, trains, or anywhere without Wi-Fi
- Archive before deletion: Creators sometimes delete content — save what you love
- Share without a link: Send the video file directly to friends on WhatsApp, Telegram, or email
- Personal content backup: If you are the creator, save your own Shorts locally
- Repurpose for personal use: Use clips for personal compilations, study material, or reference
How to Download YouTube Shorts — Step by Step
Step 1: Get the YouTube Short URL
There are two ways to get the URL of a YouTube Short:
On the YouTube app (mobile): Open the Short, tap the three-dot menu (⋯) on the right side, and tap Share → Copy Link. The URL will be in the format https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XXXXXXXXXX.
On a browser (desktop/mobile web): Navigate to the Short. The URL in your address bar is what you need — copy it directly.
Step 2: Open EasyYTDown
Go to easyytdown.com in any browser. No sign-up required.
Step 3: Paste the Short URL
Click or tap the URL input box on the EasyYTDown homepage. Paste the Short URL using Ctrl+V (Windows/Linux), Cmd+V (Mac), or the Paste button on the page.
Step 4: Select Format and Quality
Choose MP4 (Video) as the format. For quality, 720p or 480p is usually the best option for Shorts — they are shot vertically and rarely exceed 1080p in practice. Select your preferred quality from the dropdown.
Step 5: Download
Tap Download Now. Because Shorts are short (under 60 seconds), processing is very fast — usually under 30 seconds. When the result card appears, tap the download button. The MP4 file saves to your device.
YouTube Shorts File Size — What to Expect
Because Shorts are short by definition, the files are small. Typical file sizes:
- 15-second Short at 480p: ~5–10 MB
- 30-second Short at 720p: ~15–25 MB
- 60-second Short at 1080p: ~30–60 MB
Shorts are very storage-friendly — you could save dozens of them without making a dent in your phone's storage.
Downloading YouTube Shorts on Different Devices
On Android
Open the YouTube app, find the Short, tap Share → Copy Link. Open Chrome, go to easyytdown.com, paste the link, select quality, and tap Download Now. The file saves to your Downloads folder and may also appear in your Gallery.
On iPhone
Open YouTube in Safari, navigate to the Short, tap Share → Copy Link. Return to Safari and go to easyytdown.com. Paste the link and download. The file saves to the Files app (Files → Downloads). To save to Photos: open the file in Files → Share → Save Video.
On Windows PC
Open YouTube in any browser, find the Short, copy the URL from the address bar. Open a new tab and go to easyytdown.com. Paste the URL and download. The file saves to your Downloads folder.
On Mac
The process is identical to Windows. Copy the URL from YouTube, paste into EasyYTDown, download. The MP4 file saves to your Downloads folder and can be played in QuickTime or any video player.
Vertical vs. Horizontal Video — What Does a Downloaded Short Look Like?
YouTube Shorts are recorded and displayed in 9:16 vertical format (portrait orientation). When you download a Short and play it on a PC or TV (which is landscape/16:9), the video will have black bars on the left and right — this is normal and correct. The video itself is not broken.
On a phone (which is naturally portrait), Shorts play full-screen with no bars. This is why downloaded Shorts look best on mobile devices.
Can I Download Shorts That Are Not Public?
EasyYTDown can only download publicly accessible YouTube Shorts. Private Shorts (visible only to the uploader), unlisted Shorts shared via direct link, and age-restricted Shorts may not be downloadable. This is a YouTube restriction, not a limitation of EasyYTDown.
Shorts vs. Regular YouTube Videos — Any Difference in Download?
From EasyYTDown's perspective, Shorts and regular videos are handled the same way. The main practical differences:
- Shorts download much faster because they are short videos
- Shorts are in vertical format (9:16), regular videos are horizontal (16:9)
- Shorts typically max out at 1080p; some regular videos go up to 4K
- Both use the same MP4 format for download
Common Problems When Downloading Shorts
The URL shows as invalid
Make sure you copied the full URL including https://. Short URLs that begin without the protocol (e.g., youtube.com/shorts/XXXX) may need the full prefix added. Try copying the URL directly from your browser address bar rather than from the share sheet.
The Short is not downloading — it says "unavailable"
The Short may be private, deleted, or age-restricted. Try opening the Short URL directly in your browser first to confirm it loads correctly.
The video plays sideways on my PC
This is not a download error. Shorts are vertical (portrait) videos. Some media players on PC do not auto-rotate — use VLC Media Player, which correctly detects and displays vertical video orientation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is downloading YouTube Shorts free?
Yes. EasyYTDown's free tier allows 5 downloads per day — more than enough for casual Short saving. No sign-up required.
Can I download Shorts from the YouTube Shorts feed?
Yes, as long as you can get the URL. In the Shorts feed on mobile, tap Share → Copy Link to get the direct URL for any Short.
Do downloaded Shorts have the YouTube watermark?
No. EasyYTDown downloads the clean video file directly — no watermarks, overlays, or branding are added.
Can I use downloaded Shorts in my own videos?
Only if you have rights to the content — i.e., you are the original creator, or the video is licensed for reuse (Creative Commons). Using other creators' content in your own videos without permission can result in copyright strikes.
What is the maximum duration of a YouTube Short I can download?
YouTube Shorts are capped at 60 seconds. EasyYTDown handles any length video — from a 15-second Short to a multi-hour video — the same way.
YouTube Shorts vs TikTok Downloads — Is There a Difference?
Many people who want to download YouTube Shorts also download TikTok videos. The process is similar: paste the URL into a browser-based tool, choose quality, download. The main practical difference is that YouTube Shorts are stored at YouTube's CDN infrastructure (very reliable), while TikTok video availability can vary by region due to TikTok's own geographic restrictions. For YouTube Shorts specifically, EasyYTDown works consistently across all regions where YouTube itself is accessible.
TikTok downloads can also be done via browser-based tools — but that is a separate guide. For YouTube Shorts, EasyYTDown is the clean, no-install, no-ad solution.
How to Download YouTube Shorts for Reposting (Legally)
A common question: can I download a YouTube Short and repost it on Instagram Reels or TikTok? The answer depends entirely on copyright ownership:
- Your own Shorts: Download freely and repost anywhere — you own the content
- Creative Commons Shorts: Check the license in the description — CC-BY allows reposting with attribution
- Other creators' Shorts: Reposting without permission is copyright infringement, even if the video is public. Always ask the creator or get explicit permission before reposting their content
- Compilation accounts: Running accounts that compile others' Shorts without permission is a well-known copyright violation that YouTube and Instagram actively combat
For personal saving and private viewing, downloading Shorts is fine. For redistribution, always check who owns the content.
Download Your First YouTube Short Now
Head to EasyYTDown, paste any YouTube Shorts URL, and save it in seconds. Free, no sign-up, works on any device.