Can you download YouTube Shorts without Premium?

Yes. ClipSaver downloads public Shorts for free in your browser. YouTube Premium offline viewing only works inside the app and does not give you an MP4 file.

Do YouTube Shorts download in vertical format?

Yes. Shorts are vertical videos and ClipSaver saves them as MP4 files that keep the portrait orientation.

Can you download Shorts as MP3?

Yes. After pasting the Shorts link, select MP3 instead of MP4 on the format list to save audio only.

Why did my YouTube Shorts download fail?

Common reasons include a private or deleted Short, an incorrect link, or temporary platform limits. Make sure the Short is public and copy the link again from the Share menu.

How to Download YouTube Shorts (Free, MP4)

Can You Download YouTube Shorts?

Yes. YouTube does not offer a built-in download button for Shorts, but you can save public Shorts by copying the share link. ClipSaver reads that URL and gives you a downloadable MP4 file. The video keeps its vertical format, so it plays correctly on your phone.

Only download Shorts you own or have permission to save. ClipSaver is not affiliated with YouTube or Google.

How to Download YouTube Shorts with ClipSaver

1
Copy the Shorts link
Open the Short in the YouTube app. Tap Share → Copy link. On desktop, open the Short on youtube.com/shorts/… and copy the URL from the address bar.
2
Open the YouTube Shorts downloader
Go to ClipSaver’s YouTube Shorts downloader in Safari, Chrome, or any browser. It works on iPhone, Android, Windows, and Mac.
3
Paste the URL and save the MP4
Paste the link, click Download, choose MP4, and save the vertical video to your device.

Three-step diagram: copy YouTube Shorts link, paste into ClipSaver, download vertical MP4 — Copy Shorts link → paste in ClipSaver → download MP4

Download a YouTube Short now

Paste your Shorts link on our dedicated tool page — free, no login.

Open YouTube Shorts Downloader

Shorts vs Regular YouTube Videos

Shorts are vertical videos under 60 seconds. The download method is the same — copy link, paste, download — but Shorts save in portrait orientation. For long-form videos, use our YouTube video downloader instead.

ClipSaver vs YouTube Premium for Shorts

Feature	YouTube Premium	ClipSaver
Download Shorts as MP4	No — in-app offline only	Yes
Works in browser	No	Yes
Keep file after canceling	No	Yes — you own the MP4
Cost	Paid monthly	Free
Account required	Yes	No

Comparison infographic: YouTube Premium vs ClipSaver for downloading Shorts — ClipSaver saves Shorts as MP4 files; Premium only stores them inside the YouTube app.

Tips for Downloading YouTube Shorts

Use Share → Copy link from the Shorts player — not a screenshot or screen recording.
Shorts URLs contain /shorts/ in the path; both mobile share links and desktop URLs work.
On iPhone, save to Photos via Files → Share → Save Video after downloading.
Pick MP3 instead of MP4 if you only need the audio from a Short.
Public Shorts download reliably; private or deleted content will fail.

Downloading Shorts on Phone and Desktop

iPhone and Android

Copy the Shorts link in the YouTube app, open ClipSaver in your mobile browser, paste the URL, and tap Download. The vertical MP4 saves to your Downloads or Files folder.

Windows and Mac

Open the Short on youtube.com, copy the URL, paste it into the YouTube Shorts downloader, and save the MP4 to your Downloads folder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Copy the Shorts link in the YouTube app, open ClipSaver in your mobile browser, paste the URL, and tap Download. Choose MP4 and save the vertical video to your device.

Related download tools

ClipSaver is not affiliated with Instagram or Meta. Only download content you have the right to save.