How to Watch Full YouTube Videos from Shorts.
Learn how to watch full YouTube videos from Shorts. Many Shorts are actually short clips taken from longer videos, and finding the original full version is easier than you think.
I’ll show you how to find and watch the complete video when you come across an interesting Short. I’m using the YouTube app on Android, but these steps work the same on iPhones and computers.
Where to Look for the Full Video Link
When you watch a YouTube Short, the link to the original full video is usually right in front of you. Here’s where to find it.
Open any Short and look at the area below the video. You’ll see:
- The channel logo and channel name
- The title of the Short
- A small play button icon or a link that says “from” followed by a video title
That play button or “from” link is what you want to tap. It connects directly to the original longer video that the Short was made from.
Step-by-Step: Go from a Short to the Full Video
Follow these steps:
- Open the YouTube app on your phone
- Find and play the Short you want to watch
- Look below the channel name for a play icon or a “from” link
- Tap that link
- YouTube will open the full video
That’s it. You’ll jump straight to the original long-form video and can watch the whole thing.
What If You Don’t See a Link?
Not every Short has a linked full video. Here’s what to check:
Watch the Short all the way through
Some creators add an animated arrow or text that appears halfway through the Short. This arrow points to where the link is. Let the Short play fully to see if a visual cue shows up.
Check the description
Tap the three dots or “More” below the Short to expand the description. Sometimes creators put the full video link there instead of using YouTube’s built-in linking feature.
Look for “Remixed” tags
If a Short says “Remix” or shows another channel’s name, the original might be from a different creator. The link usually still appears in the same spot below the channel name.
How to Manually Find the Full Video
Learn how to search for the original content if the Short doesn’t have a direct link.
Copy the title of the Short or use keywords from what you just watched. Then:
- Go to the YouTube search bar
- Type in the topic or what happened in the Short
- Add words like “full video” or “original”
- Look for videos that are longer than 60 seconds
- Check the upload date to find the earliest version
You can also go to the creator’s channel page and look through their regular video uploads. Many creators post the full video around the same time as the Short.
Why Some Shorts Don’t Have a Full Video
Some Shorts are original content made specifically as Shorts. There is no longer video to find. The creator filmed a 30-second clip and that’s the only version.
Other Shorts might be compilations or reposts from multiple sources. In those cases, there may not be one single original video to link to.
A Note for Creators
If you make Shorts from your own longer videos, always link back to the full version. Use YouTube’s “Related Video” feature when uploading a Short. This helps your viewers find more of your content and tells YouTube that your Short connects to a specific longer video.
Adding a visual arrow in the Short itself also helps viewers who might miss the small play button. A simple “Full video link below” text overlay works great.
Final Tips
- The play button icon is your best friend for finding full videos
- Watch the whole Short in case the creator added a visual hint
- Not every Short has a longer version to find
- Check the channel’s video list if the link isn’t showing up
If you have questions about finding full videos from Shorts on your device, let me know in the comments. Thanks for reading.
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