When uploading photos and videos to Facebook, the file size and quality of the media can have a big impact on how it looks once uploaded. Facebook automatically compresses images and videos to optimize file size and save on bandwidth. However, excessive compression can result in pixelation, artifacts, and lower image quality. The good news is that there are some steps you can take to adjust the upload quality settings on Facebook. Here’s what you need to know about changing Facebook upload quality for photos and videos.
Does Facebook compress images?
Yes, Facebook does compress images uploaded to their platform. Here are some key points on Facebook’s image compression practices:
- Facebook automatically resizes and compresses images to reduce file size.
- The compression algorithms optimize images for viewing on screens.
- Photos over 720px on either dimension will be resized to 720px.
- JPEG compression is applied to reduce file size without major loss of quality.
- Higher resolution images will suffer more compression than low resolution images.
The exact level of compression applied depends on the original file size and resolution. But in general, Facebook aims to keep photos under 2MB in size. This compression allows faster loading and smaller files, but can reduce quality if heavy compression is applied.
Does Facebook compress video?
Facebook also compresses and downscales video files uploaded to their platform. Here are some key aspects of Facebook’s video compression practices:
- Video is compressed using H.264 encoding to reduce file size.
- Resolution is scaled down to 720p for longer videos.
- Shorter videos may remain at higher resolutions like 1080p.
- Bitrate compression depends on resolution, but videos are capped at 4Mbps.
- Audio quality is lowered to 128kbps stereo.
- Longer videos will suffer more compression artifacts and quality loss.
As with images, video compression helps minimize file size and optimize for social media playback. But excessive compression can degrade quality, especially for high-motion scenes.
What are the upload quality limits on Facebook?
Facebook enforces the following limits on photos and videos uploaded to their platform:
| Media Type | Max Resolution | Max File Size |
|---|---|---|
| Photos | 720px on longest edge | 2MB |
| Standard Video | 720p | 4GB for longer videos |
| HD Video | 1080p | 4GB for longer videos |
Any images or videos that exceed these limits will be automatically compressed and resized by Facebook upon upload. So uploading high resolution, large files will still be restricted by Facebook’s compression and quality limits.
How can I improve Facebook upload quality?
If you want to maximize the image and video quality of your Facebook uploads within their restrictions, here are a few tips:
- Resize images to under 1000px on the longest edge before uploading.
- Use JPEG compression on photos, aiming for file sizes under 2MB.
- Export videos at 720p resolution and 4Mbps bitrate.
- Use MP4 or MOV files for higher quality than AVI or WMV formats.
- Avoid over-compressing files before upload to reduce artifacts.
- Upload in batches during off-peak times so Facebook servers can preserve quality.
Following these best practices based on Facebook’s requirements can help minimize additional compression and quality loss applied by Facebook. Leaving some overhead in your resolution and file sizes will allow their algorithms to work more effectively.
Can you adjust quality settings for Facebook uploads?
Unfortunately, there is no direct way to adjust the compression or quality settings when uploading to Facebook. Their systems automatically process and compress all uploads based on internal criteria. However, you can influence the final quality indirectly with these pre-upload tactics:
- Use image and video editing tools to optimize compression yourself.
- Upsize smaller files to just under Facebook’s limits for less compression.
- Enable High Quality Upload in Facebook’s Mobile Uploads tool.
- Upload media through the Facebook API instead of the browser interface.
- Tag photos as Edge Extend Rendered to improve compression.
While not full control, these tips can help coax better results from Facebook’s “black box” compression algorithms. Testing different file parameters is key to finding the optimal balance.
How does the High Quality Upload setting affect Facebook image quality?
The High Quality Upload setting under Facebook’s Mobile Uploads tool can help preserve additional quality for camera phone images being automatically backed up to Facebook servers. When enabled it does the following:
- Stores a 2048px version of the photo on Facebook’s servers.
- Uploads a full resolution copy for server-side compression.
- Provides higher base resolution to work from before compression.
- Results in less apparent compression artifacts and quality loss.
- Note this only applies to mobile uploads, not standard uploads.
While not a complete fix, enabling High Quality Upload can help camera phone images retain more detail from less compression. The setting is available in the Facebook app settings under Media Quality for mobile uploads.
Should you edit images before uploading to Facebook?
Performing your own image compression and file size optimization before uploading to Facebook can improve end quality. Here are some benefits of pre-editing images for Facebook:
- Gives you full control over compression settings and trade-offs.
- Allows you to resize accurately to Facebook’s limits.
- Reduces additional compression that Facebook itself applies.
- Retains more detail and sharpness from less generation loss.
- Provides better final quality, especially for high resolution shots.
The simplest option is resizing images to ~1000px longest edge before uploading. More advanced tactics include optimizing JPEG quality, noise reduction, sharpening, and encoding in sRGB colorspace. Taking the time to prep your images can pay off in better Facebook quality.
What are the best image editing tools for Facebook upload prep?
Here are some recommended desktop and mobile apps for pre-optimizing images before uploading to Facebook:
| Platform | Recommended Tools |
|---|---|
| Desktop | Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, Affinity Photo |
| Android | Snapseed, Pixlr, Lightroom |
| iOS | Darkroom, Photogene, Pixelmator |
And some quick tips for getting the best results:
- Use batch processing to automate resizing, compression, etc.
- Dial down JPEG quality to balance size and quality.
- Sharpen images after resizing to counter softness.
- Save exported images as baseline standard JPEG files.
Does video editing help with Facebook quality?
As with images, properly prepping your video files before uploading to Facebook can maximize their final processed quality. Useful tactics include:
- Export videos at 720p resolution to match Facebook limits.
- Use bitrates between 3-4Mbps for the best size/quality ratio.
- Enable 2-pass encoding for optimal video compression.
- Use H.264 codec and MP4 or MOV containers for greatest compatibility.
- Preserve audio at 192kbps stereo or better to avoid distortion.
Having purpose-optimized masters tailored to Facebook requirements reduces the platform’s own compression needs. This preserves more detail and color fidelity. Aim for the 4GB file size cap for longest videos.
What video editing programs work best for Facebook uploads?
Here are some top video editing solutions for prepping video files for Facebook:
| Platform | Recommended Tools |
|---|---|
| Desktop | Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve |
| Mobile | Kinemaster, PowerDirector, Lumafusion |
| Online | Clipchamp, WeVideo, Kapwing |
Key features to leverage include resolution scaling, video codec selection, multi-pass encoding, and batch processing. Taking advantage of these will help balance file size and playback quality on Facebook.
Does it help to upload images and videos through Facebook’s API instead of the browser?
Uploading directly through the Facebook API can potentially help preserve additional quality vs going through their web interface. Here are some of the advantages of using the API for uploads:
- Direct file upload minimizes additional processing and generational loss.
- Ability to programmatically set some parameters for compression and quality.
- Optimize timing and server load for best results.
- More control over compression trade-offs.
- Faster and more reliable than manual browser uploads.
The Facebook API does still compress and process the files per their guidelines. But the API upload path has less variability than the web interface, leading to more predictable file handling.
How can you access Facebook’s upload API?
Here are a few ways developers and publishers can leverage Facebook’s API for media uploads:
- Use the Graph API with the /user/photos and /page/photos endpoints.
- Build tools atop their Business SDK upload functions.
- Integrate with server-side SDKs for Python, Ruby, Java, PHP, etc.
- Use API wrappers like facebook-python-business-sdk.
- Take advantage of media library management platforms with API access.
Having API access lets you automate and customize media uploads beyond Facebook’s standard web interface. This unlocks more potential quality benefits.
Should you tag photos as Edge Extend Rendered before uploading to Facebook?
Edge Extend Rendered (EER) is an image tagging standard that can potentially signal to Facebook to apply lighter compression. Here’s an overview of its potential advantages:
- Indicates image has already been optimized for minimal artifacts.
- Tells Facebook compression algorithms to tread lightly.
- Can help preserve crisp text and detail edges.
- Supported by some automation and editing tools.
- Simple EXIF/XMP tag to enable (EERImage = True).
Facebook has not officially confirmed improved treatment of EER-tagged images. But some tests indicate slightly better sharpness retention when enabling the tag. It’s an easy EXIF metadata option worth considering.
What tools support tagging images as Edge Extend Rendered?
Here are some apps that support adding EER metadata tags to images before Facebook upload:
- Adobe Lightroom Classic
- Luminar AI
- ExifTool utility
- XnViewMP
- ImageOptim
- photography-related APIs
The EER tag can be applied manually in supporting programs, or automated via scripts and workflows. Having the metadata pre-applied can signal optimal compression settings to Facebook’s systems.
Conclusion
While Facebook limits full control over media compression, you can take steps for better quality uploads:
- Resize and optimize files yourself before uploading.
- Leverage settings like High Quality Upload for mobile.
- Use Facebook’s API for increased reliability.
- Apply EER tagging to indicate optimized files.
- Test different parameters to find the best balance.
Understanding Facebook’s limits and using purpose-built masters can help maximize final image and video quality. Prepping your files properly before upload gives you more influence over the end results.