Posting videos on Facebook is a great way to share moments and memories with friends and family. Whether it’s a funny clip, a highlights reel from an event, or a home movie you want to make public, uploading videos to Facebook only takes a few steps.
Can You Download Videos from Facebook?
Before posting a video on Facebook, you first need to have the video file saved on your computer or mobile device. While you can’t directly download videos posted by others due to Facebook’s terms of service, there are a couple ways to save videos you have recorded yourself:
- If you uploaded a video to Facebook from your computer, you can download it again by going to the post, clicking the three dots in the upper right corner, and selecting “Download”. This will re-save the video file to your device.
- If you recorded a video directly within the Facebook app, you can save it by going to your Profile -> Menu -> Videos -> Your Videos. Tap on the video you want to save and select “Save Video”. This will save it to your camera roll.
Once you have the video file stored locally on your computer or phone, you are ready to upload it to Facebook.
How to Post Videos on Facebook
Posting a video on Facebook is very similar to posting a photo. Here are the steps:
- From your News Feed, click on “Photo/Video” above the status box.
- Click on “Upload Video”. On mobile, this is accessed by tapping the image icon to the left of the status box.
- Select the video you want to upload from your computer or mobile device. You can select multiple videos to create an album.
- The video will begin uploading. The time it takes depends on the size of the file.
- Once uploaded, you can edit the post just like a normal status update. Add a description, location tag, feelings, etc.
- When ready, click “Post” and your video will be shared to Facebook!
Video Post Options
When posting a video on Facebook, you have additional options to control how it displays:
- Preview Image – Select a frame from the video to use as the preview image.
- Tag People – Tag friends who are in the video via an auto-suggest feature.
- Check In – Add a location tag to your video.
- Feeling/Activity – Select a feeling or activity to display on your video.
- Album – Organize your video into a specific photo album.
- Audience – Choose who can view your post – friends, public, etc.
- Edit Settings – Trim the length of your video before posting.
How to Post a Video in a Facebook Group
In addition to your personal timeline, you can post videos directly to Facebook Groups:
- Go to the group where you want to share the video
- Click “Write something…” just like you were posting a normal status update
- Click on “Photo/Video” and select your video file to upload
- Add a description or caption if desired
- Click “Post in Group” to share the video to that group
The video will now appear in the group’s feed for all members to see. Make sure the group privacy settings allow video posts.
How to Post a Video on a Facebook Page
If you manage a Facebook Page, posting videos works the same way:
- Go to your Facebook Page
- Click “Write Post” at the top
- Select “Photo/Video”
- Choose the video you want to upload
- Add a caption or description
- Click “Post” to share the video to your Page
The video will now display on your Page’s timeline. Ensure videos are allowed under your Page’s settings.
Facebook Video Specifications
Facebook allows videos up to 1024 MB in size and up to 240 minutes in length. For the best results, here are the recommended video formats and dimensions for Facebook:
| Video Type | File Format | Resolution | Aspect Ratio | Max File Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Video | MP4 or MOV | Up to 1080p | 16:9 | 1024 MB |
| Square Video | MP4 or MOV | 720×720 pixels | 1:1 | 1024 MB |
Facebook compresses and processes videos after you upload them for optimized delivery. Higher resolution originals will result in better quality.
Uploading Videos from a Computer
Uploading videos from a computer allows you to easily select files and gives you more uploading capacity compared to mobile. To do so:
- Go to Facebook in your computer’s web browser
- Click on “Photo/Video” above the News Feed
- Select your video file(s) from wherever they are saved locally on your computer
- Add a description and edit the post as needed
- Click “Post” to upload the video to Facebook
The advantage of using a computer is you can batch upload large quantities of videos at once and pull videos from anywhere on your hard drive.
Uploading from Desktop vs Mobile App
Uploading on desktop has a few advantages over mobile:
- Higher file size limit – up to 1024 MB on desktop vs 400 MB on iOS and Android
- Batch uploading – can queue up multiple videos at once
- Larger video dimensions supported – full HD 1080p
- Access videos anywhere on your computer
However, the mobile app makes it easy to instantly post a video you recorded on your phone. Both are convenient options depending on your needs.
Editing Videos Before Posting
Before uploading your video to Facebook, you may want to edit the footage on your computer or phone:
- Trim – Shorten the video by cutting out unwanted sections
- Merge – Combine multiple clips into one video
- Add effects – Apply filters, text, transitions, etc.
- Change orientation – Rotate or flip video if shot in wrong orientation
Free editing software options include:
- Windows Movie Maker (PC)
- iMovie (Mac/iOS)
- Adobe Premiere Rush (PC/Mac/Mobile)
Basic trimming can also be done right within the Facebook apps during the uploading process.
Video Post Best Practices
To increase engagement when posting videos on Facebook, keep these tips in mind:
- Use brief but descriptive captions that explain what the video is about.
- Add relevant hashtags to help people find your videos.
- Tag people who appear in the videos.
- Post consistently and during peak hours when more people are online.
- Monitor comments and respond to any questions from viewers.
- Promote new videos by sharing the posts on other platforms.
What Types of Videos Perform Best?
Videos that tend to see higher engagement on Facebook include:
- Behind-the-scenes footage
- Live videos
- Short entertaining clips (under 60 seconds)
- Explainers/tutorials
- User-generated content
- Product demos
Test different types of video content with your audience and see what resonates best.
Downloading Facebook Videos on Computer
While you can’t directly download videos posted by other people from Facebook, there are workarounds to save videos on your computer:
Browser Extensions
Extensions like Facebook Video Downloader let you download Facebook videos. Just install, go to the video post, and click the extension icon to download.
Screen Recording Software
Tools like QuickTime Player on Mac or OBS Studio on Windows allow you to record your screen. Play the Facebook video and record it to get a copy saved to your computer.
Save from Mobile App
Open the video in the Facebook mobile app, tap the three dots, select “Save Video” and it will download to your camera roll.
Copy the Video URL
Paste the video’s URL into a website like fbdown.net to have it download the Facebook video for you.
Troubleshooting Facebook Video Uploading
If you are having issues getting videos to upload to Facebook properly, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Compress large video files – Use a program like Handbrake to reduce size.
- Convert format to MP4 – Facebook prefers MP4 format.
- Shorten long videos – Trim videos longer than 240 minutes.
- Clear browser cache/app data – Fix software issues preventing uploading.
- Check internet connection – Ensure you have a strong WiFi or mobile data connection.
- Restart the app – Close and relaunch the Facebook app if stuck.
Posting videos on Facebook is a fun way to share memories and creative content. With the right tools and strategies, you can make compelling videos that resonate with your friends and followers.
Conclusion
Posting videos on Facebook allows you to share moments and connect with friends in a more visual, dynamic way. While uploading and sharing videos is easy from both desktop and mobile, following best practices for video content and presentation helps maximize your engagement. With Facebook’s huge global audience, video gives you an opportunity to be creative and reach people in a personal, memorable way.