Ever wanted to share a certain moment and not the entire YouTube video? Our fast-paced lives don’t leave room for wasting precious seconds on things that have no relevance to us. YouTube known this and provides users with the tools to easily cut up and create clips of longer videos, to allow them to share only what matters. This tutorial shows you how to create your very first YouTube clip.
Also read:8 of the Best Third-Party YouTube Apps for Mobile You Should Try
What are YouTube Clips?
Clips is a relatively new feature introduced by YouTube that mimics a similar and very popular feature from livestream platforms such as Twitch. Clips can be up to 60 seconds in length and created from most YouTube videos – although not all. Users making Clips will get access to a draggable timeline editor that will allow them to choose the part they want to share via a new URL. YouTube started to test this feature on select accounts early last year and seems like it has extended Clips’ availability.
YouTube Clips should not be confused with Shorts, which is another more recent addition to the streaming service. Shorts lets YouTube users get creative by allowing them to shoot short-form videos (once again up to 60 seconds in length), similar to TikToks, using nothing but their mobile device. Even while Clips are also mini videos, they are created from existing YouTube videos while Shorts are original content.
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How to Create a YouTube Clip
You can create YouTube Clips both on YouTube on PC as well as your mobile device (Android/iOS). This tutorial will walk you through the steps for both platforms.
Desktop
- On your computer, open up a YouTube video in your browser.
- Underneath the video window, look for the “Clip” option, the one that has a pair of scissors next to it, and click on it. Note that you need to be logged in to your account to be able to see the option.
- A new panel will open on the right to allow you to create your Clip.
- Drag the handles that appear superimposed on the video feed to select the piece of video you want to turn into a clip. Remember that the Clip can’t be longer than 60 seconds. The number of seconds making up your current selection will be shown underneath.
- If you already know the exact time stamp for the part you wish to share, you can add it at the top.
- Don’t forget to add a description for your Clip at the top, which is supposed to be under 140 characters.
- Once you’ve taken all these steps, press the blue Share button to complete the creation process.
- A pop-up window will ask you to pick the app where you wish to share your Clip, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Reddit, email, etc. Alternatively, copy the link (which is different from the original) and paste it wherever you want.
- Once someone accesses the link, they will be able to play the Clip as they would any normal YouTube video by pressing the Play button. In this case, however, the Clip will play on a loop. A scissor icon next to the video length indicates that this is a cutout. The name of the original video also appears underneath but faded out.
- On the right, you can see the account that created the clipping. There are also buttons for “Watch full video” and “Share Clip.” Note that all metrics such as views will be attributed to the creator’s original video.
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Mobile
The steps to create a Clip from a YouTube video on mobile are pretty similar. Here’s how to get started.
- Open the YouTube app on your mobile device and select a video.
- Underneath the actual video window, find the Clip option and tap on it. You may have to swipe right a little bit to see the option.
- A pop-up window will appear from the bottom. Use the handles to select the piece of video you want to share.
- Add a caption and you’re done.
- You can press Share if you choose to. As on PC, you have plenty of options to share, including sharing the link manually or via the various social apps you have installed on your mobile device.
- For instance, if you decide to share it via WhatsApp, the receiver will see a thumbnail with your custom caption as the video title and a message saying “Clipped by X.”
Also read:How to Cast YouTube from Your Phone to Your PC
How to View and Manage All Your YouTube Clips
Once you’ve created a Clip, YouTube will automatically save it to your library. Here’s how you can see and easily manage all your YouTube Clips.
Desktop
- Open YouTube in your browser of choice.
- From the menu on the left, select “Your Clips.”
- Here you’ll be able to see all the Clips you’ve ever created.
- If you wish to delete a Clip, hover your mouse over a Clip’s title until three dots will show up. Click on them.
- Select “Delete clip.” Alternatively, you can share it from here.
- Confirm your choice.
Also read:YouTube TV vs. YouTube Premium: What You Need to Know
Mobile
- Open the YouTube app on your mobile device.
- Tap on your profile picture in the upper-right corner of the display.
- Select “Your Channel.”
- From the options at the bottom, select “Library.”
- Tap on “Your clips.”
- Once again, you’ll be taken to your list of Clips.
- To remove a Clip from the list, tap on the three dots next to the Clip in question and select “Delete clip” at the bottom.
- Confirm that you wish to delete the Clip.
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Alternative to YouTube Clips: Use a URL Trick
Before YouTube Clips were a thing, people who wanted to share a particular part of a YouTube video used a URL trick. This is a built-in feature of YouTube that doesn’t require anything else for you to get started.
- Open a YouTube video on your PC and go to the part you want to share.
- Right-click on the video and select “Copy video URL at current time.”
- Paste the URL in a messaging app and send it to your friend or family member.
- When they click on it, they will be transported to the exact part of the video that you highlighted.
This trick is only available while using YouTube on your PC.
Also read:How to Stop YouTube Videos from Playing While Scrolling
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I make Clips of Livestreams?
Right now, it’s not possible to make Clips out of Livestreams that are currently unfolding. However, if the live stream has been uploaded in the form of a video, you can create mini clips. Also note that Livestreams without DVR and longer than eligible hours aren’t eligible for Clips.
2. Why have my Clips disappeared from my library?
If some of my Clips have disappeared from the library, it might be because the original video violated the YouTube Community Guidelines. Alternatively, the channel in question might have deleted the video or set it to private. To know for sure, go back to the original channel and see if the video is still available.
3. Can I disable the Clips option on my videos?
Yes, it’s possible, although only certain accounts have access to this option. To disable the option for your videos, you need to access YouTube Studio on your PC. Next, click “Settings” in the lower-left corner of the display and select Channel from the pop-up window.
Go to the “Advanced Settings” tab and scroll down to see if you can find the option to “Allow viewers to clip my content.” This is usually ticked by default, but if you don’t want others clipping your content, you can untick it.
Image credit: Unsplash
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