YouTube Shorts expands to three minute videos, enhancing creator flexibility

In a major update aimed at empowering creators, YouTube has announced that its popular Shorts format will soon support videos of up to three minutes in length.

Currently limited to 60 seconds, this expansion will take effect on October 15 and comes in response to creator demand for more flexibility in storytelling.

In a blog post, the company highlighted that this feature was the most requested by its creator community. The new three-minute limit will apply to videos that are square or taller in aspect ratio, ensuring that previously uploaded content remains unaffected.

YouTube is also enhancing the Shorts experience with a revamped player that features a more streamlined design, allowing creators' content to take centre stage while providing viewers with an immersive viewing experience. Additionally, users will soon be able to utilize templates to create Shorts inspired by their favourite trends, offering a fresh way to remix content. By selecting the "Remix" option on a Short they enjoy, users can easily access these templates and personalize their creations with new audio and unique elements.

In the coming months, YouTube will further enrich the Shorts experience by enabling users to access a wider range of content directly from the Shorts camera. This feature will allow users to remix clips from their favourite videos and music, pulling from multiple sources across the platform.

Moreover, YouTube is set to integrate Google Deepmind's video-generating model, Veo, into Shorts. This innovative tool will enable creators to enhance their videos with imaginative backgrounds and unique video clips, expanding the creative possibilities within the format.

To improve user experience, YouTube is also introducing a new feature called "Show Fewer Shorts", allowing users to customize their feed based on personal preferences. By clicking on the three-dot menu in the upper right corner of any Shorts grid in their home feed, users can temporarily reduce the number of Shorts displayed.