How to Download Your Own YouTube Shorts as MP4 or MP3

Before you start: what you may save

• You may save: Shorts uploaded to your own channel, and Shorts whose owner gave you permission.
• You may not save: other creators' Shorts to repost, or Shorts that use music you do not have the rights to reuse.
• Age-restricted or private videos cannot be processed by a link-based tool.

Read our Copyright Policy and remember that YouTube's own terms apply to your content as well.

Method 1: Download your own Short from YouTube Studio

YouTube lets channel owners download their own uploaded videos. This is the cleanest option, because you get the file from the source.

1. Sign in and open YouTube Studio on a computer.
2. Go to Content and find the Short you uploaded.
3. Open the three-dot menu next to the video.
4. Choose Download. The file is saved to your computer.

Menu names can change, so search the Studio menus if you do not see the option right away. If the download option is not available for a video, use your original edit or the next method.

Method 2: Save a copy from a public link

For your own public Shorts, our YouTube Video Downloader can create a copy too.

1. Open the Short and copy its link using Share.
2. Paste it into the downloader.
3. Choose MP4 for video or MP3 for audio, and pick a quality.
4. Download the file and check it plays properly.

Paste one link at a time. Playlists and channels are not downloaded in bulk.

MP4 or MP3: which one do you need?

If you are new to file types, our guide to video formats explains the differences, and our guide to extracting audio to MP3 covers bitrate and quality.

Quality tips for Shorts

• Keep your original. The edit you exported before uploading is always better than any copy from a platform.
• Shoot vertical. Shorts use a 9:16 shape, and 1080 x 1920 is a good target.
• Choose the highest option. Pick the top quality in the downloader if you plan to edit the clip.
• Check the audio. If your Short has licensed music, that audio may not be reusable outside YouTube.

Common problems and fixes

The download option is missing in YouTube Studio

Not every video shows it. Use your original edit, or try the public-link method for a public Short.

The tool says the video is not available

Private and age-restricted videos cannot be processed. Make the video public first if it is yours and you want to use the link method.

The MP3 has no music

Some Shorts use sound that is not included in an audio download. This is normal, because licensed sounds belong to other people.

The file is large

Shorts are short, so files are usually small. If yours is not, see how to reduce video file size.

What to do with your downloaded Shorts

Put your files in a folder named by month, and keep a second copy on another drive or in cloud storage. You can find a step-by-step routine in our guide to backing up your own videos.

Quick checklist for creators

• Keep the exported file of every Short in a folder named by month.
• Save the script or idea notes next to the file, so you can turn a good Short into a longer video later.
• Download your best-performing Shorts from YouTube Studio once a quarter.
• Keep a list of which Shorts use third-party music, so you know which ones you can safely repost.
• Check the video on your phone before posting, because the crop for 9:16 can hide text near the edges.

Small habits like these save hours when you want to reuse a Short a year from now.