YouTube Shorts Format Checker

How to use

1. Choose a video file from your device.
2. Let your browser read the local width, height, duration, filename, and file size metadata.
3. If metadata cannot be read, enter width, height, and duration manually.
4. Review the aspect and duration checks before uploading to YouTube.

Current YouTube Shorts format rules

YouTube currently publishes a Shorts duration condition of up to 3 minutes and a square-or-vertical aspect condition. This checker treats width less than height as vertical, width equal to height as square, and width greater than height as horizontal. It does not invent or require a 9:16 ratio.

For current uploads, YouTube's Help pages say square or vertical videos up to three minutes are handled as Shorts under the published rules.

What the results mean

• Neutral - no file is selected, or manual metadata is incomplete.
• Ready - duration is greater than zero and no more than 180 seconds, and width is less than or equal to height.
• Error - the video is over 3 minutes, horizontal, unreadable with no valid manual fallback, or has zero/negative dimensions or duration.

Square vs vertical video

Square and vertical both pass the aspect check because YouTube publishes the condition as square or vertical. A square 1080 x 1080 video passes the format check when it is no more than 3 minutes. A vertical 1080 x 1920 video also passes when it is no more than 3 minutes. A horizontal 1920 x 1080 video fails this specific Shorts format check.

Videos longer than one minute and Content ID

YouTube says Shorts over one minute with active copyright or Content ID claims can be blocked. This is neutral guidance here because CreatorToolWorks only reads local metadata and cannot know whether a selected file has an active claim.

YouTube also publishes a dated policy change for September 24, 2026, after which new Shorts longer than one minute with an active Content ID claim are no longer described as automatically blocked. This page was verified on September 18, 2026, so owner QA should re-check that source when reviewing after that date.

Methodology and limitations

This tool runs in your browser. It uses browser media metadata for width, height, duration, filename, and optional file size. Nothing is uploaded to CreatorToolWorks or a server. The pass/fail logic is deterministic: width less than or equal to height passes the aspect check, and duration greater than zero and less than or equal to 180 seconds passes the duration check.

Passing this checker does not guarantee upload, distribution, monetization, recommendation, copyright clearance, or final classification by YouTube. It cannot determine Content ID claims, copyright status, channel/account restrictions, Community Guidelines issues, monetization eligibility, music licensing, or final YouTube processing/classification.

FAQ

Official sources

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