Short answer: Shorts can drive installs, but URLs in Shorts descriptions and comments are not clickable, so the path runs through your channel page links (up to 14) or a related video that explains the app. Post square or vertical demos up to three minutes, disclose realistic AI media in YouTube Studio, and treat Shorts as a search-friendly library that keeps working after the first day.
What's specific to Shorts
| Topic | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Links in Shorts | URLs in Shorts descriptions and comments are non-clickable | YouTube Help |
| Where links work | Channel profile (up to 14 links), long-form descriptions, end screens | Same page |
| Related video | A clickable link from a Short to another YouTube video | Same page |
| Length | Up to three minutes | YouTube Help |
| Shape | Square or vertical aspect ratio | Same page |
| AI disclosure | Required for realistic altered or synthetic content | YouTube Help |
All checked as of 17 September 2026.
The install path
- Short shows one app outcome.
- Related video points to a longer walkthrough on your channel.
- The walkthrough's description has a clickable App Store link (long-form descriptions can carry clickable links; see the help page for eligibility).
- Channel links carry the same tracked link for people who tap your name.
Use a distinct App Store Connect campaign token for YouTube; see tracking installs from organic.
What to post
- Tutorials ("how to X"). People search YouTube for how-to answers, and your Short can show up for that.
- Feature explainers with a clear title.
- Gameplay moments for games; YouTube says gameplay footage itself doesn't need an AI disclosure.
- Update clips when you ship something visible.
Say the thing in the title. "Split a restaurant bill in 10 seconds" is findable; "You won't believe this" isn't. See hook patterns.
Titles and search
YouTube is a search engine as much as a feed. Put the task in the title in the words people type, keep the app name for the description or the video itself, and group related Shorts into a playlist so a viewer who likes one tutorial can find the next. Reply to comments with new Shorts when a question comes up more than once. Keep a list of those questions; they are next week's titles.
Channel setup
- Channel name and handle that say what the channel is.
- Banner and about text that name the app.
- Up to 14 links on the channel, starting with the tracked store link.
- One long walkthrough video to serve as the related video.
For several channels on one phone, see YouTube Shorts on multiple channels.
A Shorts routine
Assume three to five Shorts a week per channel. Take them from the same recording sessions as your TikTok edits, but change the title, the first frame and the on-screen text. Once a month, update the long walkthrough that your Shorts point to, so the related video always shows the current app.
Posting Shorts from real iPhones
Farmero posts Shorts through the real YouTube app on your own iPhones and checks the channel for the new Short before marking it posted. Channels can share a phone with TikTok and Instagram accounts, up to eight accounts per iPhone. Setting a related video or the AI-use flag is not in its per-post settings list, so set those in YouTube Studio. See posting.
FAQ
Can I put a clickable link in a YouTube Short?
Not in the description or comments. Use channel links or a related video.
How long can a Short be?
Up to three minutes, in a square or vertical aspect ratio.
Do I need to disclose AI in an app demo Short?
Only for realistic altered or synthetic content. YouTube says scripts, titles and thumbnails made with AI don't need it.
Are Shorts worth it if TikTok already works?
They reuse the same footage and can be found through search. Re-cut and re-title rather than reposting the TikTok file.