YouTube Shorts’ New Editing Display: What Creators Need to Know

YouTube Shorts is testing a new in-app editing display that could make life easier for content creators. If you create Shorts directly within YouTube, this update helps you avoid placing text or elements where they might be blocked by YouTube’s UI buttons (e.g. Like, Comment, and Share).

Let’s break down what the new YouTube Shorts editor means for your content strategy.

What’s Changing in YouTube Shorts?

The new YouTube Shorts editor allows creators to see where UI elements (aka “channel furniture”) might obscure their content. This includes:

✅ Like & Dislike buttons
✅ Comment & Share buttons
✅ Video description overlays

These elements appear over the right-hand side of Shorts, meaning important text or visual elements could be hidden. The new editor prevents this issue, helping you design more engaging, easy-to-watch Shorts.

YouTube is currently testing this feature and plans to roll it out widely if feedback is positive.

How will this benefit creators?

This update is particularly useful if:

🎥 You create Shorts directly in the YouTube app
🎯 You add text, captions, or calls-to-action in your videos
📈 You want to maximise engagement and readability

Previously, creators had to manually test layouts to ensure important elements weren’t hidden by UI buttons. With this update, you’ll be able to preview and adjust your content in real time.

YouTube Shorts – Is it still worth posting?

We’ve been experimenting with Shorts across our own brand and clients. While none of our videos have gone viral (yet!), we’re seeing steady engagement and growth by posting consistently.

💡 Tip: A regular posting schedule (even just a few Shorts per week) can boost your visibility on YouTube.

Final Thoughts?

YouTube Shorts continues to evolve, making it easier for creators to produce high-quality, optimised content. If you’re already using Shorts, this new editing feature will help refine your videos. If you’re not using Shorts yet, now’s the perfect time to start experimenting!