YouTube lets creators attach a related video to a Short so viewers can move directly from the Shorts player to another piece of content on the same channel.
This is one of the cleanest ways to connect Shorts discovery with long-form viewing.
What can the related video link to?
The related-video feature can point to another:
- Long-form video
- Short
- Live stream
The selected content must come from your own channel.
Where viewers see the link
After a related video is added, viewers see a clickable link beneath the channel handle in the Shorts player. The goal is to give the viewer a logical next step without forcing them to search your channel manually.
Eligibility requirements
YouTube says adding a related video requires access to Advanced features. The selected video must be public or unlisted and must comply with YouTube’s Community Guidelines.
If the option is missing, check your channel’s Feature eligibility settings. Our YouTube Channel Verification & Security guide explains how Advanced features access works.
How to add a related video
- Open YouTube Studio.
- Select Content.
- Open the Short you want to edit.
- Choose a related video from your channel.
- Save the change.
Best use case: Shorts as discovery, long-form as depth
A Short can introduce a problem, result, moment or comparison. The related video can then provide the full tutorial, review, test or explanation.
For example, a 25-second Short showing a surprising benchmark result can link to the complete benchmark video. This creates a stronger viewer journey than a generic “link in bio” style CTA.
Match the promise exactly
The linked video should directly continue the Short’s topic. If the Short is about battery drain, link to the full battery test—not an unrelated recent upload.
Relevance matters more than simply choosing the video with the highest revenue potential.
Related video vs description links
The related-video link is integrated into the Shorts player, so it is generally more visible and easier to use than asking viewers to open a description and find a URL.
How to measure whether it works
Compare Shorts that use a related video against similar Shorts that do not. Look for changes in traffic to the linked long-form video, watch time, subscriber behavior and whether the long-form video gains new Shorts-related discovery.
Use our YouTube Studio Analytics guide to structure the analysis.
Practical funnel ideas
- Short product result → full review
- Short tutorial tip → complete tutorial
- Podcast highlight → full podcast episode
- Live-stream teaser → scheduled or replayed live stream
- Before/after result → full case study
Official source
See YouTube’s current related video for Shorts documentation.
Start the conversation
Corrections, useful experiences and focused questions are welcome. Keep discussion respectful and on topic.