How To Make YouTube Shorts A Normal Video
YouTube shorts have grown in popularity as more and more content creators adopt this method to create their videos. According to Statista, as of October 2023, “YouTube shorts had reached over 70 billion daily views.”
However, despite the popularity and love for YouTube shorts, the fact that there are no video control features on YouTube shorts annoys many viewers. Therefore, it is not unusual to find people complaining about their inability to navigate YouTube shorts like you can with a regular video.
If you are one of those people who would love to watch a YouTube short like a regular video, don’t worry too much. In this article, we will break down several methods that can help you convert a YouTube short into a regular video.
And guess what? The methods below cover any device you use, whether a PC, Android, or an IOS device.
How To Change A YouTube Short To A Video: Five Methods
Method 1: Make Use of the Like Button
This is one of the simplest ways to convert a YouTube short to a video. The simple steps are:
Step 1: When you play your YouTube short, like the video.
Step 2: After this, go to your library and look for your liked videos.
Step 3: Play the YouTube short from within your library, and it will display like a regular video with the necessary video navigation tools.
Lastly, it is essential to note that this method works on your PC and the YouTube application.
Method 2: Edit The URL
This method will work only if you access YouTube via your web browser, either on your mobile or PC. It will not work for the mobile application. All you have to do is:
Step 1: Open YouTube on your PC and go to the YouTube short you want to watch.
Step 2: Edit the video URL, replacing “short” with “watch.”
Step 3: Once you do this, press enter to reopen the video, and it will do so as a regular video you can navigate through.
Method 3: The “Watch Later” Trick
This method works well on the YouTube application and via your web browser. To follow this method, do the following:
Step 1: Click on the YouTube short that you want to watch and let it play
Step 2: Click on the three vertical dots and select the “Playlist” option when it pops up.
Step 3: Click on “Save to Playlist” and choose the “Watch Later” option.
PS: If you have other playlists like the one in our example, you can add your YouTube Short to any of them.
Step 4: Go to your library, select your “watch later” playlist or any playlist where you saved your YouTube shorts, and play it from there. Your video will play like a regular video.
Method 4: Make Use of Extension
Several extensions allow you to watch YouTube shorts like regular videos. The only drawback to this method is that it only functions for desktops or PCs, not mobile devices. To make use of this method, use the Chrome browser and follow these steps:
Step 1: Go to the Chrome web store and look for any extension that allows you to play YouTube shorts like a video. Some popular ones that you will find include:
Step 2: Add the extension to your browser.
Step 3: Open YouTube and go to the short you want to view. Click on the video, then tap your extensions button at the top right of your screen.
Step 4: Click on the extension that allows you to convert the YouTube short. After clicking, you can play the YouTube short as a normal video.
Method 5: Save the YouTube Shorts
Another way to see YouTube shorts in normal video format is to save them as local videos on your devices – both on your PC and your mobile. However, to do this, you will need third-party tools designed to do so. Some third-party applications that can help you save YouTube shorts are:
- SaveFrom
- Snaptube
- Snapdownloader
- iTubeGo
To use these third-party applications on your devices, do the following:
Step 1: Download the application on your devices, either from the tool’s website or app stores (if available on stores)
Step 2: Open your YouTube application, select the ‘shorts’ you want to watch, and copy their URL ( We are using a mobile phone as an example here).
Step 3: Open the application, in this case, Snaptube, and then paste the URL into the application.
Step 4: After this, click download, click the resolution and format you want to download the video in, and then download.
After downloading, playing the downloaded “short” with your regular video player will display it as a normal video.
Apart from third-party downloader tools, you can save a YouTube short locally on your phone by screen recording it. Screen-recorded videos will have video navigation tools when you play them on your device’s video player. To screen record, simply use the feature if it is available on your device; if it is not, you will have to download screen recording applications and tools.
Lastly, you should note that you cannot convert a YouTube short to a regular video by adding a timestamp to the comment section of the YouTube short. Many people offer this as a “tip” on how to change a YouTube short into a video, but we tried it out, and it doesn’t work.
Ways to Block YouTube Shorts From Showing on Your Feed
If you are not a fan of YouTube shorts at all and don’t want to see them again, there are a couple of things you can do to guarantee that. They include:
- Installing an Extension
Developers have developed extensions preventing YouTube shorts from appearing on your browser. All you have to do is download these extensions and turn them on. Some popular extensions that you can download include:
For Chrome
Safari
Firefox
- Installing an older version of YouTube on your phone
Since “shorts” are a new feature added to YouTube, you can eliminate them by deleting the current applications and downloading the older versions. To get the older versions on Android, do the following:
- Install an APK file from APKMirror
- Disable Play Store updates so your old app is not updated after download.
- To turn off Play Store updates, go to your profile section on the app
- On getting there, tap “manage apps and devices.”
- Select YouTube from the “manage” section that shows up.
- After this, tap the three vertical dots and change the checkmark from “enable auto-update.”
- Downgrade the YouTube Application
This particular trick depends on your phone. If the YouTube version that came with your phone is 14.12.56 or earlier, you can simply uninstall all updates so it goes back to the original version that does not have “shorts.”
To uninstall updates on your Android, do the following:
- Go to settings and click on apps
- Click on YouTube and then tap the three dots in the top-right corner.
- Then tap “uninstall updates.”
Note that if you use an iPhone, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to downgrade your app.
What Makes A Short Different From A Normal YouTube Video?
Many differences exist between a YouTube Short and a regular video, including:
- The Format
YouTube shorts are usually 60 seconds or less and can only be viewed in vertical format. On the other hand, a regular video can last as long as the creator wants, and you can view it both in vertical and horizontal formats.
- The Making Process
Making a YouTube short is far faster and easier than a standard YouTube video. You need your smartphone with minimal editing for YouTube shorts. On the flip side, you will typically require more professional equipment and planning to create a proper YouTube video.
- The Purpose
Another distinguishing factor between YouTube shorts and standard videos is that “shorts” are designed to be attention-grabbing and brief. They are supposed to help creators cater to people with little time to spend online or a short attention span. On the other hand, regular videos are used for more in-depth videos and discussion, thereby taking more time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which is better, YouTube or Shorts?
A: One is not intrinsically better than the other, but one may better serve a function than the other. For instance, YouTube shorts may help boost your recommendations and visibility, while videos may be better if you intend to keep long-term loyal fans.
Q: Can You Turn Off YouTube Shorts?
A: Apart from the methods listed above to disable YouTube Shorts, YouTube does not allow you to turn off shorts entirely on your mobile app or within your browser. The best you can do on the YouTube App is to select the “not interested” option, which shows up when you tap the three vertical dots at the top corner of the video.
Similarly, on your PC, you can choose the “don’t recommend channel” option that shows up after you tap the three vertical dots. Note that these do not turn off YouTube shorts completely. They only turn off a particular channel or YouTube short video.