YouTube Shorts Hashtag Strategy: Complete Guide | ViralNow
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Platform Guide2 min readFeb 3, 2026

YouTube Shorts Hashtag Strategy: Complete Guide

Complete guide to hashtags on YouTube Shorts. Learn proven strategies to grow faster and reach more people.

YouTube Shorts hashtags work differently because YouTube is fundamentally a search platform. Here's how to use them to improve discoverability—and what matters more.

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How YouTube Shorts Hashtags Work

YouTube's approach to hashtags:

  • Hashtags in titles/descriptions become clickable links
  • Clicking a hashtag shows other videos using it
  • YouTube limits to 3 visible hashtags above the title
  • More than 15 hashtags can result in video being ignored
  • Hashtags contribute to search but less than keywords
  • YouTube SEO (titles/descriptions) matters more than hashtags

YouTube Shorts Hashtag Strategy

What works:

  • Use 3-5 relevant hashtags maximum
  • #Shorts is optional—YouTube auto-detects Shorts
  • Put hashtags at the end of description, not title
  • Use searchable, descriptive hashtags
  • Combine with strong titles and descriptions (these matter more)
  • Don't rely on hashtags—YouTube SEO is more important

YouTube SEO vs Hashtags

Where to focus your effort:

  • Titles should include searchable keywords
  • Descriptions should elaborate with related terms
  • Hashtags support but don't replace SEO
  • Think: 'What would someone search to find this?'
  • YouTube search is more powerful than hashtag browsing

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to use #Shorts on YouTube Shorts?

No. YouTube automatically detects vertical videos under 60 seconds as Shorts. The #Shorts hashtag is optional and doesn't improve discoverability. Use that hashtag slot for something more descriptive and searchable.

How many hashtags should I use on YouTube Shorts?

3-5 maximum. YouTube shows only 3 hashtags above the title anyway. Using more than 15 can flag your video as spam. Focus on a few highly relevant hashtags and put more effort into your title and description for SEO.

Are hashtags or SEO more important for YouTube Shorts?

SEO by far. YouTube is a search engine—your title and description matter more than hashtags. Spend time crafting a searchable title that includes keywords people look for. Hashtags are supplementary at best.

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