How to download YouTube Shorts
Saving a Short takes about ten seconds and doesn't need an app or your login. You copy the Short's link, paste it into the YouTube downloader, and get the vertical MP4 back — sound included, at the size it was posted. There's no separate mode to switch into; a Short downloads like any other video. Here's the same thing for each device.
On iPhone and iPad
iOS is a little fussy about where downloads land, so this is the one worth reading closely.
- Open the Short in the YouTube app. Tap Share, then Copy link.
- Open this page in Safari and paste the link into the box.
- Tap Download. The file saves to Files, not Photos.
- To get it into your camera roll, open Files, find the MP4, and use Share → Save Video.
On Android
Android is simpler — the file drops into Downloads and usually shows in Gallery.
- In the YouTube app, tap Share on the Short and choose Copy link.
- Open the downloader in Chrome, paste the link, and tap Download.
- The MP4 lands in your Downloads folder and usually appears in Gallery too.
On a computer
- Open the Short in your browser and copy the URL from the address bar, or use Copy link.
- Paste it into the downloader and click Download.
- The vertical MP4 saves to your browser's Downloads folder.
A few things worth knowing
- The Short has to be public. Private and unavailable videos can't be reached.
- You get the vertical video with sound, not a muted clip.
- Shorts are short, so these are usually the fast downloads — no long 720p merge to wait through.
Common questions
Do YouTube Shorts download differently from normal videos?
No. Copy the link, paste it, and download. You get the vertical MP4 with sound — same three steps as any other video.
Can I save just the audio from a Short?
Yes. Pick the MP3 option and you get the sound on its own, handy when a Short uses a track you want to keep.
Why can't I save this Short?
It's almost always a private or deleted video, or a link that got cut off when you copied it. Re-copy it from the Share button and try again.