Uploading high quality, HD photos to Facebook is important for sharing crisp, clear images with your friends and followers. Facebook compresses images that are uploaded, but the higher quality the original file, the better the compressed image will look.
Uploading HD photos to Facebook is easy to do from your computer or mobile device. Here are some tips for ensuring your photos look their best on Facebook.
Requirements for HD Photos on Facebook
For photos to appear high-definition on Facebook, they need to meet the following requirements:
- Minimum dimensions of 720 pixels on the shortest side
- File size of less than 100 MB
- Taken with a high resolution camera (at least 10 megapixels)
720 pixels is the minimum width or height Facebook recommends for HD display. Smaller images will be upscaled and lose quality. For best results, upload images that are at least 1080 pixels on the shortest side.
Facebook has a file size limit of 100 MB per image. Any photos larger than this will need to be compressed before uploading.
Using a high megapixel camera (10MP or higher) ensures your source photos are maximizing image sensor resolution potential. Cell phone cameras are typically 12MP to 48MP and more, making them ideal for capturing sharp images to upload.
Steps to Upload HD Photos
Uploading HD photos is a simple process whether you use Facebook’s website on a desktop computer or the mobile app.
From a Computer
Follow these steps to upload high resolution photos to Facebook from a computer:
- Visit www.facebook.com and log into your account.
- Click on the Photo/Video button in the status update box.
- Click on “Upload Photos/Video” and select up to 20 photos from your computer to upload.
- Adjust any relevant settings like date, location, etc.
- Click Post. The HD images will upload.
Uploading photos through Facebook’s website provides the flexibility to add many images at once. Just be sure each individual photo meets the resolution and file size requirements.
From Mobile App
Using Facebook’s mobile app is an easy way to upload photos on-the-go. To share HD photos from your phone or tablet:
- Open the Facebook app on your device.
- Tap on the status box at the top.
- Tap “Photo/Video” and select up to 10 photos to upload.
- Enter any accompanying text or details.
- Tap “Post” to upload the HD images.
The Facebook app will automatically compress or resize images that exceed the resolution or file size limits for HD quality. For best results, use your highest resolution photos taken directly on your mobile device.
Editing Tips for Facebook HD Photos
A little bit of editing can go a long way towards enhancing image quality before uploading to Facebook. Here are some quick tips:
- Crop to optimal dimensions – Cropping your image to be at least 1080 pixels wide will help quality. The ideal photo dimensions for Facebook are 1080 x 1080 pixels.
- Sharpen details – Use editing software to do quick sharpening and make details crisper.
- Reduce noise/grain – Minimize noise and grain for cleaner looking photos.
- Adjust brightness/contrast – Fix lighting imperfections and flat contrast issues.
- Convert to JPG – Save your edited photos as JPG files to reduce file size before uploading.
HD photos don’t require extensive editing before uploading to Facebook. Just a few tweaks can make your shots really stand out online.
Video Upload Requirements
Videos can also be uploaded in HD quality to Facebook. To share high resolution videos:
- Minimum resolution of 720p HD (1280 x 720 pixels)
- Maximum file size of 4GB
- Minimum length of 3 seconds
- Maximum length of 4 hours
- 16:9 aspect ratio recommended
Meeting these technical specifications will ensure your videos achieve an HD playback quality on Facebook. Uploading is the same process as photos, just select video files instead.
Linking HD Photos From Other Sites
Rather than uploading directly to Facebook, you also have the option to link HD photos from photo hosting sites:
- Flickr – Upload full resolution photos to Flickr then link them to Facebook for high quality sharing.
- Google Photos – Similarly, store HD photos on Google Photos and link to Facebook.
- Instagram – HD images shared on Instagram can be set to also post on a connected Facebook account.
Storing your high resolution photos on dedicated hosting sites prevents Facebook compression and allows the full quality image to be displayed.
Troubleshooting HD Photo Uploads
If your HD photos appear compressed, pixelated or lower quality on Facebook, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Double check the original photo resolution and file size meet Facebook’s requirements.
- Try editing the photo to sharpen details and reduce graininess.
- Upload the photo in a higher resolution like 2160p or 4K if possible.
- Use PNG or TIFF formats for lossless quality instead of JPG.
- Link the photo from Flickr or Google Photos instead of direct upload.
- Report image quality issues directly to Facebook if problems persist.
With some testing and tweaking to optimize images before uploading, you can share stunning high resolution photos through Facebook.
Facebook Photo Upload Limits
In addition to resolution and file size limits per individual photos and videos, Facebook also enforces the following overall upload restrictions:
| Upload Type | Facebook Limit |
|---|---|
| Photos per album | 5000 photos |
| Albums per profile | 5000 albums |
| Videos per album | 500 videos |
| Albums per page | 100 albums |
| Photos per post | 20 photos |
Being aware of these limits can prevent running into roadblocks when trying to upload a high volume of HD photos and videos to your Facebook profile or page.
Copyright and Ownership Issues
When uploading HD photos to Facebook, it’s important to ensure you own the rights or have permission to share the images. Copyright infringement and unauthorized sharing of professional photos is prohibited.
Facebook’sTerms of Service state:
You will not post content or take any action on Facebook that infringes or violates someone else’s rights or otherwise violates the law.
Violating copyright opens you up to potential legal consequences. Be mindful of only uploading and sharing your own original HD photos on Facebook or images you have explicit rights to distribute publicly.
Backing Up Your HD Photos
While Facebook stores your uploaded HD photos, it shouldn’t serve as your only photo backup. Options for backing up your high resolution images include:
- External hard drive storage
- Cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox
- A secondary social media platform like Instagram
- A dedicated photo hosting site like Flickr
- Physical photo prints or photo books
Backing up ensures you always have access to your original quality HD photos even if they are somehow lost from Facebook.
Conclusion
Uploading photos in HD quality to Facebook is straightforward when you have high resolution source files that meet the recommended specifications. Editing options like cropping, sharpening and compression can help optimize your images before posting to get the best results.
Linking HD photos from dedicated hosting sites rather than direct upload provides another option for preserving quality. Be mindful of copyrights, backup your photos, and check Facebook’s limits when uploading large volumes.
Following the tips covered in this guide will enable you to share stunning, crisp photos in HD with all your Facebook friends and followers.