How Long Should a Vertical Drama Episode Be? WeChat's 45-Second Minimum, China's 20-Minute Rule, and Fixing 30s Episodes

As of

Rules are as of November 2, 2026 (Asia/Shanghai). Every rule was re-read from a public page that day. We will revise this page if platforms or regulators change them.

Episode length rules at a glance (facts)

We found no publicly verifiable hard episode-length rule from Hongguo, Douyin or Kuaishou this time, so they are not in the table.

Matching length and hook placement (our view)

These are our editorial suggestions, not requirements from any platform or regulator: - Treat 45 seconds as a floor, not a target. Leave 3–5 seconds of margin so trims or credit changes don't push you under. - Put a conflict or odd image in the first 3 seconds; see our [episode 1 cold open hook guide](https://news.shorstory.com/en/articles/vertical-drama-episode-1-cold-open-hook/). - Give each episode at least one complete beat (goal, obstacle, turn) and end on a question. Longer episodes need one more small reversal in the middle so the pace doesn't sag. - Don't make paywall episodes work just by running longer. Make the cliffhanger before the paywall heavier, and lay it out with the [short drama beat sheet template](https://news.shorstory.com/en/articles/short-drama-beat-sheet-template/).

If your episodes are 30 seconds long

Our suggestions below are inference, not platform rules: 1. Audit first: list the real runtime of every episode awaiting review or in production, credits included, and flag anything under 45 seconds. 2. Merge before padding: if two neighbouring episodes run on, combine them into a 60–90 second episode. That reads more naturally than added shots, and keeps lengths roughly even for filing. 3. Add story, not filler: add a reaction shot or a small twist mid-episode instead of slow motion, long credits or repeated footage. 4. Re-align cliffhangers: merging cuts the episode count, so re-map paywall points and end-of-episode hooks. The [vertical drama script format template](https://news.shorstory.com/en/articles/vertical-drama-script-format-template/) helps with the rewrite. 5. The notice does not say whether titles already live must change; follow what the platform back end tells you.

Limits

• WeChat's original notice sits behind a developer-community login, which we did not use. We rely on two matching full-text reprints (Tencent News/Bianniushi and Sina Finance). The notice does not say which entry point it covers (mini programs, Channels, etc.) or whether live titles are affected.
• "Roughly equal episode lengths" comes from Shaanxi's filing FAQ; other provinces may differ.
• The craft advice is editorial experience, not backed by platform data.
• Context: Hongguo's coin changes and other platform moves are covered in our [November 2, 2026 daily](https://news.shorstory.com/en/articles/daily-2026-11-02/); market size is in [microdrama market 2026 numbers](https://news.shorstory.com/en/articles/microdrama-market-2026-numbers/).

Sources

Accessed November 2, 2026 (Asia/Shanghai): - 腾讯新闻（鞭牛士，转载微信通知全文）, "微信官方调整短剧剧集最低时长：少一秒，不过审": https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20261029A05I0S00 - 新浪财经 7x24, "微信调整短剧最低时长为45秒": https://finance.sina.com.cn/7x24/2026-10-29/doc-iniwwpnu5990619.shtml - 中国政府网·国务院公报, "微短剧发展管理办法（广电总局令第16号）": https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2026/issue_13006/202609/content_7082247.html - 国家广播电视总局, "国家广播电视总局办公厅关于进一步加强网络微短剧管理 实施创作提升计划有关工作的通知（广电办发〔2022〕345号）": https://www.nrta.gov.cn/art/2022/12/27/art_110_63202.html - 陕西省广播电视局, "网络视听节目申报备案相关问题解答": https://gdj.shaanxi.gov.cn/bsfw/wlstczxmsb/bazn/202507/t20250718_3544781.html

Related research & methods

Microdrama Market Size 2026: $3.6bn Outside China, ¥100bn+ in China (Sourced Numbers Table)

How to Write the Episode 1 Cold Open for a Vertical Drama: The First 3 Seconds

Vertical Drama Script Format Template: One Page, Three Labels

How to Break Down a Short Drama: A 12-Column Beat Sheet for Hooks and Paywall Episodes

Hongguo ends coins for new users, WeChat sets a 45-second episode minimum: what short-drama writers and producers should change this week (Nov 1–4)