Article updated: August 23, 2023
Work with videos
Each social network has unique video requirements, such as limits on file size and aspect ratio. Hootsuite takes care of file size compression, video width, height, and bit rate for you in video processing. But it’s a good idea to review other requirements, such as length limits, before you attach videos to your post. Legacy Pro users must ensure that their videos meet all file requirements.
Be prepared to wait for extra video processing time if Hootsuite needs to adjust your video for things like dimension or bit rate.
Tip: Hootsuite's adjustments can sometimes have a minor effect on video sharpness. To preview your video before posting, you can schedule it and view it in Planner. See Schedule a post.
This article provides information on the video requirements and limitations for Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. For detailed instructions on how to attach videos to your posts, see Create and publish posts. For YouTube video requirements, see Publish a video to YouTube.
Video file requirements
| Twitter | Instagram mobile notification | Instagram direct publishing | Facebook Page
| LinkedIn Page, profile | TikTok | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web formats | mp4, mov | mp4, mov | mp4, mov | mp4, mov | mp4, mov | mp4, mov |
| iOS format | mov | mov | mov | mov | mov | mov |
| Android format | mp4 | mp4 | mp4 | mp4 | mp4 | mp4 |
| File size | 1 GB | n/a | 1 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB |
| Videos per post | 1 | 10 | 10 (posts) 1 (reels) 1 (stories) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Length | 0.5 - 140 sec | 10 min 60 sec (stories) | 3 - 60 sec 3 sec - 15 min (reels) 3 sec - 60 min (stories) | 1 sec - 20 min | 3 sec - 10 min | 3 sec - 10 min |
| Width | 32-1280 px | n/a | 1920 px max | n/a | 4096 px max | 360 px min |
| Height | 32-1024 px | n/a | n/a | n/a | 2304 px max | 360 px min |
| Aspect ratio | Between 1:3 and 3:1 | n/a | Between 4:5 and 16:9 Between 1:5 and 5:1 (reels) | Between 16:9 and 9:16 | Between 1:2.4 and 2.4:1 | n/a |
| Bit rate | 25 Mbps | n/a | 25 Mbps | n/a | 30 Mbps | n/a |
| Frame rate | 30 or 60 fps recommended, not to exceed 60 fps | n/a | 23 - 60 fps | 10 - 60 fps | 23 - 60 fps | |
| Audio | Mono or stereo | |||||
| Recommended codecs | Audio: AAC LC Video: H264 High profile | |||||
| Caption format | srt | Not supported | Not supported | srt | Not supported | Not supported |
Video cover images
Some social networks offer the ability to customize your video cover images (thumbnails) while some do not. You cannot customize video cover images on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram personal, Instagram stories, or TikTok. You cannot customize video cover images for Instagram posts with multiple images or videos (carousels). Other networks offer the following video cover options:
- Facebook Page - Choose a suggested cover image or upload a custom image.
- Instagram Business posts - Choose a suggested cover image.
- Instagram Business reels - Choose a suggested cover image or upload a custom image.
Notes:
- Publishing videos to Facebook groups is not available through third-party providers like Hootsuite. You can publish videos to Facebook Pages.
- Playable previews don't appear in Composer for videos with HEVC/H.265 codecs.
- For more information on LinkedIn video requirements for ads, see the LinkedIn help article LinkedIn video guidelines.
Understand aspect ratio
An aspect ratio describes an image or video's shape using a proportional relationship between its width and height. Aspect ratios are written as a formula of width to height, like 3:1.
For example, a square image has an aspect ratio of 1:1. The height and width are the same. The image could be 200px × 200px, or 1600px × 1600px, and the aspect ratio would still be 1:1.
A portrait-style image might have a ratio of 2:3, where the height is 1.5 times longer than the width. So the image could be 500px × 750px, 1000px × 1500px, etc.
Video processing times
There’s a short delay before Hootsuite publishes large videos and videos that need processing. Processing begins after you select Post or Schedule. While a video is processing, you can’t edit or duplicate the post.
If you want to change a scheduled video post, you need to make your changes at least 30 minutes before the scheduled publishing time.
A status window alerts you when processing is complete.
Training: Hootsuite offers group training to Business and Enterprise plan customers. Sign up for Live Product Training and learn how to build success with Hootsuite.
Make your video content accessible
To make your content more accessible, you can add .srt caption files to videos in Twitter and Facebook posts.
Looking for more info on .srt captions? Check out Inclusive Design for Social Media: Tips for Creating Accessible Channels. Visit the Hootsuite Blog for news, tips, tools, and tactics to help you succeed on social media.
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