--- title: 'YouTube to Shorts Converter | Turn Videos into Shorts - OpenClip' description: 'Convert YouTube videos to Shorts automatically with AI. Extract viral moments, add captions, and repurpose long content into engaging YouTube Shorts in minutes.' canonical: 'https://openclip.app/examples/youtube-to-shorts' markdown: 'https://openclip.app/examples/youtube-to-shorts.md' --- Repurpose Smarter # YouTube to Shorts Converter Transform your YouTube videos into viral Shorts automatically. AI finds the best moments, adds captions, and optimizes for mobile viewing—no editing skills required. ## Workflow 1 ### Import Your YouTube Video Paste any YouTube URL or upload your video file directly. OpenClip supports videos up to 3 hours long, perfect for podcasts, tutorials, webinars, and vlogs. 2 ### AI Identifies Viral Moments Our AI analyzes your content for engagement peaks, compelling soundbites, emotional hooks, and shareable moments that perform best as Shorts. 3 ### Automatic Framing & Captions Speaker tracking keeps faces centered in vertical format. AI-generated captions with word-level highlighting ensure your Shorts work perfectly without sound. 4 ### Customize & Export Choose from caption presets, adjust timing, and export multiple Shorts optimized for YouTube's 60-second vertical format with one click. ## Key Metrics 87% Time Saved 5-12 Clips Per Video 3.4x Engagement Boost ## Before & After ### Before OpenClip Spending 2-3 hours manually reviewing footage, identifying good moments, editing in timeline software, adding captions frame-by-frame, and exporting in the right format. Most creators only make 1-2 Shorts per long video due to time constraints. ### After OpenClip Upload once and get 5-12 ready-to-post Shorts in under 10 minutes. AI handles moment detection, framing, captions, and formatting automatically. Creators now repurpose every long-form video consistently, multiplying their content output without extra work. ## Features ### AI Viral Moment Detection Machine learning identifies the most engaging segments from your YouTube videos based on speech patterns, energy levels, and content structure. ### Auto Speaker Tracking Face detection and smart cropping keep speakers perfectly framed in vertical 9:16 format, even when they move around the frame. ### Dynamic Caption Generation AI transcription creates accurate captions with customizable styles and word-level highlighting that syncs perfectly with your audio. ### Batch Processing Process entire YouTube playlists or channels at once. Generate dozens of Shorts from multiple videos simultaneously to build your content library fast. ### Format Optimization Exports are automatically optimized for YouTube Shorts specifications: 9:16 aspect ratio, 60-second max length, and mobile-first viewing. ### One-Click Publishing Preview all generated Shorts, make quick adjustments, and export ready-to-upload files or schedule directly to your YouTube channel. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can I convert any YouTube video to Shorts? Yes! OpenClip works with any YouTube video you have permission to use—your own uploads, licensed content, or videos you have rights to repurpose. Simply paste the URL or upload the file directly. The platform supports videos from 1 minute to 3 hours long. ### How many Shorts can I create from one YouTube video? It depends on the source video length and content density. Typically, a 30-minute video yields 5-8 quality Shorts, while a 2-hour podcast can generate 10-15+ clips. OpenClip's AI identifies all viable moments, and you can choose which ones to export. ### Will the captions be accurate? OpenClip uses advanced AI transcription with 95%+ accuracy for clear audio. You can review and edit captions before exporting. The system handles multiple speakers, technical terms, and various accents effectively. ### What if my YouTube video has multiple speakers? Our speaker tracking technology detects and follows different speakers automatically. The AI intelligently reframes to keep the active speaker centered, and captions can be customized to identify different voices if needed. ### Can I customize how the Shorts look? Absolutely! Choose from multiple caption preset styles, adjust fonts and colors, modify timing and transitions, add your branding, and fine-tune the AI's clip selections. You have full control over the final output. ### How is this different from manually editing Shorts? Manual editing requires watching entire videos, identifying good moments, learning editing software, creating captions, and formatting for mobile—often taking hours per Short. OpenClip automates 90% of this work, letting you produce professional Shorts in minutes instead of hours. ### What video formats and quality does it support? OpenClip handles all standard YouTube formats (MP4, MOV, AVI, etc.) and maintains quality up to 4K resolution. Exports are optimized for YouTube Shorts with the correct 9:16 aspect ratio and compression settings. ### Do I need video editing experience? No editing experience required! The AI handles technical tasks like cutting, framing, and captioning automatically. If you can paste a URL and click buttons, you can create professional YouTube Shorts with OpenClip. ## Start Creating YouTube Shorts in Minutes Upload your first YouTube video and let AI transform it into multiple viral Shorts. Try OpenClip free—no credit card required. [Get Started Free](https://openclip.app/register) ## Related Pages ### Glossary [Bitrate Explained for Video Creators](/learn/bitrate) [Video Encoding Explained | OpenClip Glossary](/learn/video-encoding) [Caption Presets Explained | OpenClip Glossary](/learn/caption-presets) [Safe Zones in Video | OpenClip Glossary](/learn/safe-zones) [Short-Form Content Explained | OpenClip Glossary](/learn/short-form-content) [Thumbnail Generation for Videos | OpenClip Glossary](/learn/thumbnail-generation) ### Templates [Instagram Reels Template | Ready-to-Use Vertical Video Format](/templates/instagram-reels-template) [TikTok Caption Template | AI Auto-Captions for Viral Videos](/templates/tiktok-caption-template) [Vertical Video Template for TikTok, Reels & Shorts](/templates/vertical-video-template) [Tutorial Clip Template](/templates/tutorial-clip-template) [YouTube Shorts Template | OpenClip AI Video Repurposing](/templates/youtube-shorts-template) [Course Promo Template | OpenClip AI Video Clips](/templates/course-promo-template) ### Examples [Turn Course Videos into Promo Clips](/examples/course-to-promo-clips) [Conference Talk Clips: Turn Keynotes into Viral Content](/examples/conference-talk-clips) [Interview to Highlights | AI Video Editing](/examples/interview-to-highlights) [Real Estate Walkthrough Clips | AI Video Editor](/examples/real-estate-walkthrough-clips) [Fitness Class Highlights: Turn Workouts Into Viral Clips](/examples/fitness-class-highlights) [Turn Podcasts into Viral Clips](/examples/podcast-to-clips) ### Who It's For [OpenClip for Ecommerce Brands | AI Product Video Marketing](/for/ecommerce-brands) [OpenClip for Podcasters | AI Podcast Clip Creator](/for/podcasters) [OpenClip for TikTok Creators | AI Video Clipping Tool](/for/tiktok-creators) [OpenClip for YouTubers | AI Video Clip Generator](/for/youtubers) [OpenClip for Social Media Managers | AI Video Repurposing](/for/social-media-managers) [OpenClip for Twitch Streamers | Turn Streams into Viral Clips](/for/twitch-streamers) ### Integrations [Direct URL Import - Process Any Video Link](/integrations/direct-url) [OBS Studio + OpenClip Integration | AI Clip Repurposing](/integrations/obs-studio) [TikTok Integration for OpenClip | Export Viral Clips](/integrations/tiktok) ### Use Cases [Auto-Detect Viral Moments in Long Videos](/use-cases/auto-detect-viral-moments) [Behind-the-Scenes Content Clips with AI](/use-cases/behind-the-scenes-content) [Brand Awareness Shorts with AI Video Clips](/use-cases/brand-awareness-shorts) [Create Social Media Clips from Long Videos](/use-cases/create-social-media-clips) [Fill Your Content Calendar with AI Video Clips](/use-cases/content-calendar-filling) [Create YouTube Shorts from Long Videos](/use-cases/create-youtube-shorts) ### Guides [How to Automate Video Editing with MCP](/guides/automate-video-editing-with-mcp) [Hook Optimization Guide: Keep Viewers Watching](/guides/hook-optimization-guide) [A/B Testing Videos for More Views | OpenClip Guide](/guides/a-b-testing-video-guide) [Engagement Prediction for Videos | OpenClip Guide](/guides/engagement-prediction-guide) ### Related Workflows [OpenClip for Coaches & Consultants on YouTube](/for/coaches-consultants/youtube) [OpenClip for Course Creators + YouTube Shorts](/for/course-creators/youtube-shorts-template)