How Do I Find YouTube Short Drafts?

Discover simple steps to locate and easily access your saved YouTube Short drafts on the platform.

With the rise of YouTube Shorts, many creators are finding a new way to engage their audiences with short, engaging videos. As a content creator, you should draft your Shorts before publishing them. Drafts allow you to prepare and tweak your content before it goes live. However, one question that often arises is, “How do I find YouTube Short drafts?”

In this guide, we’ll explain how to find, manage, and edit your YouTube Short drafts and provide tips on organizing them for seamless content creation.

What are YouTube Short Drafts?

YouTube Short drafts are saved versions of your video content that still need to be published. You can use drafts to prepare your videos, adjust them, and ensure everything is perfect before sharing them with your audience. These drafts are particularly useful when you’re working on multiple Shorts simultaneously or want to review your work at a later time.

How Do You Save a YouTube Short as a Draft?

Before learning how to find YouTube Short drafts, it’s essential to understand how to save a Short as a draft in the first place.

1. Open the YouTube App: Ensure you’re logged into the account you wish to use to create your YouTube Shorts.

2. Click on the Create Button: In the middle of the app’s bottom navigation, you’ll see a “+” button. Click this to create a new YouTube Short.

3. Record Your Short: Film your video by pressing and holding the record button or uploading an existing video. You can adjust the clip, trim it, and add filters or music.

4. Save as Draft: After recording, instead of publishing the video, you can save it as a draft. Tap on the Back arrow in the top-left corner of the screen, and YouTube will prompt you to discard or save the Short as a draft. Select Save as Draft.

Now that you know how to save YouTube Short drafts, let’s explore how to locate them.

How to Find YouTube Short Drafts on Your Mobile Device

Currently, YouTube Shorts drafts are only accessible through the YouTube mobile app. Here’s how to find them:

Open the YouTube App

YouTube Shorts is a feature primarily designed for mobile use, so you’ll need to open the app on your smartphone. Ensure you’re signed into the correct YouTube account associated with your drafts.

Go to Your Channel Library

You’ll see an icon for your Library in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Tap on it. This is where all your videos, playlists, and saved drafts reside.

Navigate to “Your Videos”

Within the Library, look for the section titled Your Videos. This is where YouTube organizes all your video content, including any videos you’ve uploaded or saved as drafts.

Access Drafts in the “Uploads” Section

You’ll see all your uploaded videos once you’re in the Your Videos section. If you scroll through the list, you should find your YouTube Shorts, both published and drafts. The drafts will be labelled “Draft” next to the video’s title.

Edit or Publish Your Drafts

Once you’ve located your draft, you can tap on it to resume editing, adjust any content, and finalize it for publishing. You can add a title, description, music, and any additional edits from here before hitting the publish button.

How to Find YouTube Short Drafts on a Computer?

While you can access and edit most YouTube content on a desktop, finding and managing YouTube Short drafts is a feature currently limited to the mobile app. Currently, YouTube does not offer a way to view or manage your Short drafts directly from a desktop or browser.

If you want to access your drafts, you must return to the YouTube mobile app, where you can continue editing and publishing the content. However, once the video is published, you can manage the Shorts from YouTube Studio on your computer.

Troubleshooting: Need help finding Your YouTube Short Drafts?

Sometimes, you may need help locating your drafts. Here are some common reasons and solutions:

1. You Saved It in Another Account: Ensure you’re logged into the correct YouTube account. Many creators manage multiple accounts, and drafts saved on one may not be accessible if you’re logged into a different profile.

2. You Accidentally Discarded It: If you mistakenly hit “Discard” instead of “Save as Draft,” the video is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.

3. App Cache or Bugs: It might be a technical glitch if you’ve followed the steps and still can’t find your draft. Try clearing your YouTube app’s cache or updating to the latest version.

4. Draft Overwrite: If you save a draft but later create a new one without publishing the original, the previous draft might have been overwritten. Always publish or save your draft separately before starting a new one.

How to Organize Your YouTube Short Drafts

Keeping track of multiple drafts can be challenging if you’re a prolific creator. Here are some tips for organizing your YouTube Short drafts effectively:

Plan Your Content Schedule

Using content calendars or planning tools, you can track which videos you’re working on and their status (whether they’re in draft mode or ready to publish).

Title Your Drafts

Make sure to add a working title to each draft so that you can easily recognize them when reviewing your content. If you have multiple drafts, this will prevent confusion.

Keep a Draft Log

You can create a simple list or spreadsheet where you log each draft, including its current status and any changes needed before publishing.

The Importance of Using Drafts for YouTube Shorts

Using the draft feature for YouTube Shorts can be incredibly helpful, especially for those looking to maintain a professional appearance and well-organized content strategy. Here are a few key reasons why:

Perfecting Your Content

Drafts allow you to revise and edit your video until it’s polished. You don’t have to rush the creative process. If you’re not satisfied with the video, leave it as a draft and return to it later.

Batch Recording

Many creators batch record their Shorts, meaning they film several videos in one go. Drafts allow you to record content ahead of time and stagger their release as needed.

Avoiding Mistakes

Publishing videos prematurely can harm your channel’s professional reputation. With drafts, you can take the time to review each video carefully, ensuring there are no errors.

Final Thoughts

Finding and managing YouTube Short drafts is a simple process once you know where to look. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure that your content is well-organized and ready for publishing when the time is right.

Drafts give creators the flexibility to plan, tweak, and improve their Shorts, so you never have to worry about posting anything that isn’t up to your standards. Whether you’re a seasoned YouTuber or just starting with Shorts, using drafts is a great way to maintain high-quality content creation.