Shorts

Shorts are vertical, short-form videos optimized for mobile viewing and quick consumption. This guide covers how to create and publish Shorts as a creator, and how to watch and interact with them as a viewer.

Shorts use the same upload flow as video (Videos page or Create menu) and are identified by vertical layout (9:16). To show a Shorts feed in your app, add a Shorts section in the Builder.

Feature overview and benefits

For creators

Keep viewers engaged — Shorts appear in a dedicated Shorts feed so viewers can swipe through your content.
Same tools as video — Use the same upload, editing, and metadata workflow as regular videos; vertical format is detected automatically.
Analytics — See views, watch time, and engagement for your Shorts in the creator dashboard.
Mobile upload — Record and upload Shorts directly from the Frontro mobile app (up to 8 seconds, 10 MB, MP4).

For viewers

Vertical, full-screen playback — Optimized for phone and tablet with tap-to-pause and swipe to next/previous.
Quick engagement — Like, comment, and share without leaving the player.
Playback controls — Adjust quality, playback speed, and audio language from the settings menu.
Comments — View and add comments in a side panel while watching.

For creators: getting started

Uploading Shorts

In the creator dashboard, use the Create menu (or equivalent) and choose Short (or Video).
Upload a video file. If the video is vertical (height greater than width), it will be treated as a Short.
Add title, description, and any other metadata.
Publish. The Short will appear in your Shorts library and in the Shorts feed for your channel.

Shorts use the same Content and video management flows as regular videos; the only difference is the layout (vertical vs horizontal).

Video specifications

Spec	Web/creator upload	Mobile app upload
Layout	Vertical (9:16) required	Vertical (9:16) required
Duration	Any	Up to 8 seconds
Format	MP4, MOV, WebM, MKV (same as video)	MP4 only
Max file size	Up to 1 GB (same as video)	10 MB
Resolution	1080×1920 (or similar vertical) recommended	—

Mobile app uploads have stricter limits (e.g. 8 seconds, 10 MB, MP4) to keep the in-app experience fast. For longer Shorts, use the web creator dashboard.

Editing and metadata

Manage Shorts in the same place as videos: open the Short and use the same tabs (details, additional files, etc.).
Title and description are shown in the Shorts player; keep titles short and descriptive.
Thumbnail can be set like for regular video.
Visibility (public, unlisted, private) and access (free vs gated) work the same as for video.

Shorts feed in your app

Add a Shorts (or "Short-form") item to your app menu or layout in the Builder. When viewers open it, they will see the Shorts feed.
The feed shows Shorts from your channel in a vertical, swipeable list.

Mobile upload from the app

In the Frontro creator mobile app, you can record or pick a short clip and upload it as a Short.
Limits apply: 8 seconds max, 10 MB max, MP4 only. For longer or larger Shorts, use the web dashboard.

Shorts analytics

In the creator dashboard, open Videos and filter or open the Shorts view.
You'll see totals for Shorts: number of Shorts, total views, watch time, and Shorts added in the current month.
Use this to see how your Shorts perform and which ones get the most engagement.

For viewers: Shorts feed and player

Shorts feed experience

Open Shorts (or the short-form section) in the channel app.
You'll see a vertical feed: one Short at a time, full screen.
Swipe up/down to go to the next or previous Short.
Tap the video to pause or play.

Player controls and overlay

Bottom left: Video title and description (e.g. "Short - wooden" or "Jumping pillow").
Bottom: Progress bar — drag to seek; the dot shows current position.
Right side: Action buttons (from top to bottom):
- Like (heart) — like the Short; count shown below.
- Comment (speech bubble) — open the comments panel; count shown below.
- Share — share the Short.
- Settings (gear) — open playback settings (quality, speed, audio).
- Volume — mute or unmute.

Comments

Tap the comment icon to open the Comments panel to the right of the video.
Read existing comments and use "Add a comment..." at the bottom to post.
You can keep watching while the panel is open.

Settings menu (quality, speed, audio)

Tap the Settings (gear) icon to open the settings menu. From there you can open:

Playback Quality — Choose Auto (recommended), 1080p, 720p, 480p, or 360p.
Playback Speed — Choose 0.5x, 0.75x, 1x (normal), 1.25x, 1.5x, or 2x.
Audio — If the Short has multiple audio tracks, select the language (e.g. English).

FAQ

What's the difference between a Short and a regular video?
Shorts are videos with vertical layout (height > width). They appear in the Shorts feed and use the vertical, swipeable player. Regular videos use horizontal layout and the standard video player.

Can I upload a horizontal video as a Short?
We recommend vertical (9:16) for Shorts. Vertical uploads will automatically be added as Shorts.

Why can't I upload a long video from the mobile app?
The mobile app limits Shorts to 8 seconds and 10 MB (MP4) for performance. Use the web creator dashboard for longer or larger Shorts.

Where do I see Shorts analytics?
In the creator dashboard, go to Videos and open the Shorts view (or filter by Shorts). You'll see counts, views, and watch time for your Shorts.

Can viewers share Shorts?
Yes. Share is available via the share button.

Can viewers download Shorts?
Download depends on channel and app settings.

Why don't I see the Shorts feed?
The channel must add a Shorts section. If you're a creator, add it in the Builder. If you're a viewer, the app may not have Shorts enabled yet.

Troubleshooting

Upload issues

Issue	What to try
"File too large" on mobile	Use a clip under 10 MB or upload from the web.
"Duration exceeds maximum" on mobile	Keep mobile uploads to 8 seconds or less; use web for longer Shorts.
"Invalid format" on mobile	Use MP4. Re-export or convert the file to MP4.
Upload stuck or fails on web	Check file size (e.g. under 1 GB), format (MP4, MOV, etc.), and internet connection. Try a smaller file or different browser.

Playback issues

Issue	What to try
Video won't play	Tap to play; check internet; try a different Short.
Low quality or buffering	Open Settings → Playback Quality and choose a lower resolution (e.g. 480p or 360p) or Auto.
No sound	Tap the volume icon to unmute; check device volume and system sound.
Wrong language	Open Settings → Audio and pick the desired language if multiple tracks are available.

Creator / feed issues

Issue	What to try
Short doesn't appear in Shorts feed	Confirm the video is vertical and published. Ensure the app has a Shorts section in the layout.
Analytics not updating	Analytics can delay by a few minutes; refresh the page or check back later.

Summary

Creators: Upload vertical videos (or use mobile within 8 s / 10 MB / MP4), add title and metadata, publish. Manage and analyze Shorts in the same dashboard as videos.
Viewers: Open Shorts in the app, swipe to browse, use like/comment/share and the progress bar; adjust quality, speed, and audio from the settings menu.
For more on content types and layout, see Content Types. For app setup, see Layout Editor.