How to Edit YouTube Shorts in CapCut – Proper Size & Settings

If you also want to create YouTube Shorts that actually look good and get views, CapCut is one of the best free apps to use. It’s easy to use, fast, and gives you results. In this guide, I’ll tell you exactly how to edit YouTube Shorts on CapCut easily and without wasting your time.

How to Edit YouTube Shorts in CapCut (Quick Start)

 Open the app, create a new project, and set it to a 9:16 ratio so that your video looks perfect on mobile. Import your pictures, drag them to the timeline, and trim everything to 60 seconds. People are scrolling nonstop on YouTube, and therefore, 60 seconds is best for engagement. Add your text and music, and your short is ready. You can also use this guide for editing videos like events, text animations, and many more.

Create New Project

Tap on “+ New Project” or the “Create” button. First thing that you have to do is to go to the ratio option or in the format settings and set the aspect ratio of your project to 9:16. It makes your  Short look full-screen on phones. After this, select your video from your gallery that you want to convert into a shot and start editing.

Import Footage

Tap the + or Import button in CapCut and select your clips from the camera roll. You can add multiple videos at once and arrange them. One tip that I want to give you all is to make sure to add high-quality videos from the start to keep the quality intact, because  in the next steps, it will create problems if the video is not of good quality.

Trim to 60 Seconds

On the timeline, drag the edges of your clips to trim them down to 60 seconds or less. YouTube Shorts perform best when they are quick because the viewers are stopped at the content they find attractive and curious, not at every random short, so make sure to add the curiosity part at the first.

Proper Size for YouTube Shorts

To look perfect on mobile phones, YouTube Shorts need a vertical format. Most of the time, when a user uploads a short, it looks perfect on a desktop, but on phone, it comes with blurs and black bars, and it pisses off the user. To avoid this, make sure to follow these settings.

9:16 Aspect Ratio

Set your project to a 9:16 aspect ratio right from the start in CapCut. This vertical format fills the e-phone screen without cropping your images, and no black lines appear at the end. It’s the standard size for all YouTube Shorts.

 1080 x 1920 Resolution

Use 1080 x 1920 resolution (Full HD vertical) for the best quality. This setting makes your Shorts sharp and clear even after uploading to YouTube. Always choose it when creating a new project. These are the basic settings that you should follow from the start to avoid any mishap at the end.

Best Export Settings for YouTube Shorts in CapCut

Everyone wants their work to look of the best quality after it is exported and to see its final form. Most of the time, even after following all the right settings, when it is exported, it loses its sharpness and originality. To avoid this, make sure to follow these settings I researched and followed personally.

1080P 60FPS MP4

Export your video in 1080p at 60FPS as an MP4 file. As your short is fast-paced and you want it to grab attention, this setting is best. This combination also gives smooth motion and excellent clarity to your videos.

Bitrate and Quality

Bitrate is the amount of data used to encode your video every second. High bitrate means high-quality video, and low bitrate means low-quality video. Keep the bitrate high (around 8-12 Mbps) and select the highest quality option in CapCut. Higher bitrate helps prevent compression issues when YouTube processes your Short.

Uploading YouTube Shorts From CapCut

This is an important step because you have to export the video from CapCut to your phone and then upload it to YouTube. Most people lose the quality of their short video at this step. Make sure to follow the steps to retain the quality of your video.

Save to Camera Roll

After you have finished the editing, tap Export in the top right, choose the highest quality, and save the video to your camera roll. Make sure your internet connection is stable because quality can also be lost there. This makes it easy to upload directly from your phone’s gallery.

Add #Shorts in Description

If you have edited for the shorts then make sure to when uploading on YouTube, add #Shorts in the description. First lines are best for short as it demands attention in a few seconds. This helps YouTube recognize it as a Short and push it to the right audience.

Fixing Common CapCut Shorts Issues

 You have edited your video on CapCut perfectly, and still, you are facing some minor issues with your shorts. I got you. You don’t have to be worried about them. These issues are most commonly faced. Even with good editing, small problems can ruin your YouTube Short.

Black Bars Fix

Black bars appear when your video isn’t in a 9:16 ratio. To fix it, create a new project with a 9:16 aspect ratio from the start, or you can simply use the Crop tool and select “9:16” to remove the bars that are ruining your shorts.

Blurry Video Fix

Blurry videos usually happen due to low resolution or low bitrate. Always edit in 1080×1920, export at 1080p 60FPS with high bitrate (10-15 Mbps). Make sure to follow it from the start, and if you have missed it then you can do it from the toolbox. This keeps your Short sharp after YouTube uploads it.

CapCut vs Other Apps for YouTube Shorts

There are so many other apps available that you can use to edit your shorts, but CapCut is one of the most popular choices for editing YouTube Shorts. It is most easy to use, and there are so many other features that make it the best.

Free Features Comparison

CapCut offers strong free features like easy trimming, effects, text, music, and transitions without paying. Many other apps limit these tools and have paid plans, making CapCut better for beginners who want quality without spending money.

Watermark Issues

CapCut usually removes the watermark on free exports for most users, especially on Shorts. Some other editing apps show a big watermark unless you pay, which looks unprofessional on YouTube. Always double-check the final export video to make sure no watermark appears.