- Option 1: Collab with another Short (Remix)
- Option 2: Invite collaborators (true collab)
- Remix collab or invited collaborators?
- Why invited collabs help discovery
- Other remix options for Shorts
- Stay on the right side of copyright
- Getting a collaboration invite accepted
- Can you stop people remixing your Shorts?
- Collab ideas for small businesses
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
There are two ways to collab on YouTube Shorts. To film alongside someone else's Short, open it in the app and tap Remix, then Collab. To credit a real co-creator, invite them as a collaborator in YouTube Studio when you upload: you can add up to 10 creators, and each gets their name and a subscribe button on the video.
"Collab" on YouTube Shorts means two different things, and YouTube has a separate tool for each. One is a remix: your Short plays next to someone else's, like a reaction or duet. The other is a true collaboration, where you and other creators are credited together on one video and it's shown to everyone's audiences. Here's how to do both, and which one does more for your growth.
Option 1: Collab with another Short (Remix)
- Open the YouTube app on your phone and sign in.
- Go to the Short you want to collab with.
- Tap Remix, then Collab.
- Record your part alongside the original, then edit and post as normal.
YouTube says your Short will credit the original, with a link in the Shorts player, so viewers can find the source. It also says creators' content is available for remix by default, which is why most Shorts offer the Collab option.
Option 2: Invite collaborators (true collab)
- Sign in to YouTube Studio.
- Click Create, then Upload videos, and choose your Short.
- In Details, under Audience, click Show more.
- Under Collaboration, click Invite a collaborator and add the creators.
- Publish. Each collaborator appears once they accept.
YouTube says you can invite up to 10 creators, on long-form videos and Shorts. Once someone accepts, their name and a subscribe button for their channel appear on the video, across desktop, mobile and TV.
Remix collab or invited collaborators?
| Remix, then Collab | Invite a collaborator | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Your video next to someone else's Short | A joint video credited to several channels |
| Need their permission? | No, if remixing is allowed | Yes, they must accept the invite |
| How many people | You plus the original | Up to 10 collaborators |
| Subscribe buttons | Credit link to the original | A subscribe button for each channel |
| Best for | Reactions, duets, trends | Planned partnerships |
Why invited collabs help discovery
YouTube says collaborations are meant to encourage audience growth and discovery, and its goal is to recommend the video to the audiences of both the collaborators and the channel that posted it. It also says you may not notice changes in search or recommendations at first, so judge a collab over a few weeks, not a few hours, and compare it with your usual Shorts rather than with your best one.
Other remix options for Shorts
- Green Screen: use another video as your background.
- Cut: sample a 1 to 5 second segment of a music video.
- Sound: use up to 90 seconds of a music video's audio, though some are limited to 30 seconds.
- Template: copy the structure of a Short with Use this template.
Stay on the right side of copyright
Remixing through YouTube's own tools is the safe route. If you instead upload a Short made elsewhere with someone else's material, YouTube warns you could get a Content ID claim, and a valid takedown notice can lead to a copyright strike. Use Remix inside the app, or get permission, rather than downloading and re-uploading other people's clips.
Getting a collaboration invite accepted
An invite only appears on the video once the other creator accepts it, so a little groundwork helps. Agree the idea with them before you film, send the invite as soon as you upload, and tell them by message that it's waiting, because invitations are easy to miss among notifications. If they don't accept, the video still publishes on your channel; it just won't show their name and subscribe button until they do.
Can you stop people remixing your Shorts?
YouTube says your Shorts and long-form videos are available for remix by default. That's usually good for reach, since every remix credits and links back to you. Remixes are made with YouTube's own tools, so your original video stays on your channel untouched, and every remix that does well can send curious viewers back to it. For most small creators, being remixed is free promotion rather than a threat.
Collab ideas for small businesses
- Invite a complementary business, like a florist and a wedding planner, to a joint tips Short.
- Remix a customer's Short that features your product, and thank them on camera.
- Join a trending format with Collab, adding your expert take.
Before you schedule your collab, see my guide to a YouTube upload stuck processing, and check who subscribed to your channel afterwards to see what the collab brought in.
My verdict
For a quick reaction or duet, tap Remix, then Collab on any Short. For a real partnership, invite up to 10 collaborators in YouTube Studio, so every channel gets a subscribe button and YouTube shows the video to all your audiences. The second takes more planning, but it's the one that grows channels.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I collab on YouTube Shorts?
Open a Short in the app and tap Remix, then Collab, or invite collaborators in YouTube Studio when you upload.
How many collaborators can I add to a YouTube Short?
YouTube says you can invite up to 10 creators.
Do collaborators get a subscribe button?
Yes. Once they accept, each collaborator's name and a subscribe button show on the video.
Can anyone remix my Shorts?
YouTube says Shorts and long-form videos are available for remix by default.
Can I add collaborators to a live stream?
Not to an active live stream, only to an archived one.
What happens if a collaborator doesn't accept?
The video still publishes on your channel, but their name and subscribe button only appear once they accept.
Does a collab help my Short get more views?
YouTube aims to show collaborations to all the channels' audiences, though changes may not show at first.
