This article delves into the digital transformation of Chinese folk music in the short - video era and its impact on the revival of folk music. With the advancement of the global digital wave, short videos, as a new communication medium, bring new opportunities and challenges to the dissemination and revival of folk music. Through literature research, case analysis, and data comparison, the article reveals the positive effects of short videos in expanding the dissemination scope of folk music, attracting young audiences, innovating performance forms, and promoting cultural inheritance. It also points out problems such as the dilution of cultural connotations and content homogenization. Based on this, strategies such as content innovation, precise dissemination, and talent cultivation are proposed, aiming to promote the sustainable development of Chinese folk music in the short - video era and achieve a win - win situation of cultural inheritance and commercial value on the global cultural stage.