Shorts Generator lets you create YouTube Shorts by describing your idea. You write what you want to see and hear, choose a duration, and vidIQ generates a ready-to-use vertical Short for you. No timeline editing or manual production steps are required inside the feature.
It removes many of the traditional production steps normally required to create vertical videos. Instead of manually scripting, filming, and editing, you can move directly from concept to a generated Short, making it especially helpful for rapid testing and high-volume content strategies.
What is the Shorts Generator?
Shorts Generator turns simple text prompts into vertical Shorts. You describe:
The scene
The style and mood
The character or speaker
The script or spoken message
Then vidIQ generates a Short based on your prompt. Shorts Generator is commonly used when you:
Want to build a Shorts-first channel
Need quick hook tests and concept variations
Prefer focusing on ideas and storytelling instead of editing
Want fast creative experimentation
You can generate multiple variations and build a steady pipeline of Short-form content. This feature focuses on speed and ideation rather than fine-grain editing control. It is designed for concept testing, hook experiments, and fast Short creation where speed matters more than detailed editing control.
How do you access the Shorts Generator feature?
If you're using a computer: First, log in to your vidIQ account. Once you're in, click "More tools" in the left sidebar. Then, click on "Shorts Generator".
On the Free plan, you get 30 credits per month. Boost and Coaching plans include 150 credits per month. Max plans include 600 credits per month, depending on your tier. For every minute of output video, the Short Generator will consume 2 credits. Clipping and Shorts Generator share credits, so using one reduces the available credits for the other.
How to Create a Short (Step-by-Step)
Step 1 — Enter your prompt: Describe what you want to see and hear using natural language. Example prompt: “A high-energy creator explaining a productivity tip in a neon-lit room with bold text overlays.”
Shorts Generator creates the video based entirely on your prompt. If the result is not what you expected, revise the wording and regenerate.
Prompting Best Practices
For more consistent results, include:
• Scene or setting.
• Character or speaker type.
• Visual style.
• Mood or tone.
• Script or spoken message (optional but recommended).
• Voice tone or delivery style.
Recommended prompt structure:
Scene → Character → Style → Script → Tone
If results are inconsistent, simplify the prompt and focus on a single idea or scene. Short, clear prompts usually perform better than complex multi-instruction prompts.
Step 2 — Select Short length: Select one of the available durations (such as 4s, 8s, or 12s). The credit cost updates automatically.
Step 3 — Generate: Click the arrow button to start generation.
Step 4 — Review and export: When complete, your Short appears in your list with a playable preview, the creation date, and the option to Delete, Download, or Publish to YouTube (Shorts).
FAQ of the Shorts Generator feature
Why did my Short not match my idea?
Usually, the reason is that the prompt was too broad or included too many instructions. Break it into simpler scenes and regenerate.
Can I upload my own video to transform into a Short?
Not in Shorts Generator. It creates new videos from prompts only.
Can I edit the generated Short?
No. For detailed edits, download and use your preferred video editor.
What resolution are the Shorts generated in?
The Shorts produced using the Shorts Generator feature are currently 720p vertical resolution.
How can I create a longer Short than the available duration options?
You can create longer Shorts by generating multiple clips as scenes and combining them in your own editor. Example workflow:
• Generate a couple of 12-second scenes.
• Download each scene.
• Stitch them together externally.
• Publish as one longer Short.
Does Shorts Generator support different languages?
While it may work in multiple languages, the Shorts Generator works best in English.
Why was my prompt blocked, and why did I see “Unable to create Short — credits refunded”?
Some prompts are automatically blocked for safety and copyright reasons. Common causes include:
• Real celebrity impersonation
• Named copyrighted characters
• Sensitive or explicit content
If a generation is blocked, no video is created, no credits are consumed from your account, and no usable Short is produced.
Why were my credits reduced if I didn’t use Shorts Generator?
Shorts Generator and Clipping share the same monthly credit pool. If you used the Clipping feature, those credits are deducted from the same balance used by the Shorts Generator. Even if you didn’t generate Shorts, Clipping usage will still reduce your available credits.
Can I edit a generated Short inside vidIQ?
No. Shorts Generator does not currently support in-tool editing. You can download the generated Short and edit it using your preferred external video editor. If you want a different result, you can generate a new Short with a revised prompt instead.
Why is my generated Short shorter than what I requested in the prompt?
Shorts duration is controlled by the duration option you select, not by the prompt text. Available Short lengths are:
• 4 seconds
• 8 seconds
• 12 seconds (maximum)
If you request a longer duration inside the prompt, the system will still generate the Short based on the selected duration setting. Prompt instructions cannot override the selected length. If you need a longer video, generate multiple Shorts and combine them.
Shorts Generator currently supports only prompt-based creation. Uploaded video editing and in-tool Short editing are not supported. Duration options, resolution, and credit usage are fixed by system settings and cannot be overridden by prompt instructions.
For additional optimization tools, you can also explore Clipping and other AI creation features inside the vidIQ web app.