Facebook allows users to upload and share videos on both their personal profiles and Facebook pages. However, Facebook does have requirements for the video formats, codecs, resolutions, and file sizes that are supported on their platform. Two common video file types are MOV and MP4. Knowing whether Facebook is compatible with these formats can help you successfully upload and share videos on Facebook.
Quick Answers
Is Facebook compatible with MOV files?
No, Facebook does not support uploading and sharing MOV video files directly. The MOV file format must be converted to MP4 before it can be uploaded and shared on Facebook.
Is Facebook compatible with MP4 files?
Yes, Facebook supports sharing MP4 video files. MP4 is one of the recommended and optimal video formats to use for Facebook.
What video formats does Facebook support?
The video formats supported by Facebook include:
- MP4
- MOV (must be converted to MP4)
- AVI
- WMV
- MPEGPS
- FLV
- 3GPP
- WebM
Of these, MP4 is the most recommended format to use for optimal playback across different devices and platforms.
Facebook Video Specifications
When preparing a video for Facebook, it’s important to be aware of their supported specifications:
Resolution
- Minimum resolution: 600×315 pixels (1.9:1 aspect ratio)
- Maximum resolution: 1920×1080 pixels (16:9 or 1.77:1 aspect ratio)
- Ideal resolution: 1280×720 pixels (16:9 or 1.77:1 aspect ratio)
Higher resolution videos will be compressed to meet these requirements.
Length
- Minimum length: 1 second
- Maximum length: 4 hours
- Ideal length: Less than 10 minutes
Longer videos may experience lower viewership and engagement. Shorter videos tend to perform better.
File Size
- Maximum file size: 4GB
- Recommended file size: Smaller than 1GB
Smaller file sizes will aid uploading speeds and playback performance.
Bitrate
- Minimum bitrate: 600 kbps
- Maximum bitrate: 8,000 kbps
- Recommended bitrate: Between 1,500 – 2,500 kbps
Higher quality videos should use higher bitrates, but excessive bitrates may cause playback issues for some viewers.
Frame Rate
- Minimum frame rate: 15 fps
- Maximum frame rate: 60 fps
- Recommended frame rate: 24 – 30 fps
Higher frame rates will increase file size with diminishing quality improvements. Standard frame rates are recommended.
Recommended Codecs
Facebook’s preferred video codecs include:
- H.264 – The most widely supported high quality codec.
- H.265 – More modern and efficient than H.264, but less compatible.
- VP8 – Open source/royalty free codec developed by Google.
- VP9 – Higher efficiency update to VP8, but lower compatibility.
- AV1 – Next generation royalty free codec, but currently low compatibility.
For the broadest compatibility, H.264 is the safest codec choice for Facebook videos.
Is Facebook Compatible with MOV Files?
The MOV file format is not directly supported for uploading and sharing on Facebook. MOV is a common container format used by Apple products and apps like iMovie and Final Cut Pro.
MOV files use video codecs like H.264 and ProRes to encode the video content. However, Facebook requires MP4 as the container format.
Therefore, MOV files must be converted to MP4 before they can be successfully uploaded and played on Facebook.
Converting MOV to MP4
Here are some ways to convert MOV videos to the MP4 format for Facebook:
- Use video converter software like Handbrake, FFmpeg or Adapter to batch convert MOV files to MP4.
- Import the MOV into editing software like Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro or iMovie, then export as MP4.
- Use online converters like CloudConvert, Zamzar or Online-Convert to convert MOV files up to a few GB.
- On Mac computers, use QuickTime Player’s “Export As” option to convert MOV files to MP4.
Be sure to export the MP4s using optimal codec and resolution settings for Facebook. H.264 codec and 1280×720 resolution is recommended.
Is Facebook Compatible with MP4 Files?
Yes, Facebook readily supports uploading and sharing MP4 video files.
MP4 is Facebook’s most recommended and ideal container format for video content. MP4 provides great quality and compression efficiency. It’s compatible with the H.264 codec that Facebook prefers.
Virtually any device or video app can play back MP4 files, which is why Facebook chose to standardize on this format. MP4 ensures maximum compatibility and reach across all of Facebook’s platforms.
When preparing videos for Facebook, encoding source files into MP4 will guarantee easiest uploading and optimal playback for viewers. Other file types should be converted to MP4 first.
How to Share MP4 Videos on Facebook
Sharing MP4 videos on Facebook is straightforward:
- Record or convert your video into MP4 format using the recommended specs.
- Go to your Facebook profile or page and click “Photo/Video” to create a new post.
- Select your MP4 video file to upload.
- The video will process once uploaded. Larger videos may require more processing time.
- Edit the post with a description, tags, etc. then publish it.
- The MP4 video will now be live and playable for your audience!
MP4 is the quickest and simplest way to share high quality videos on Facebook. Avoid uploading unsupported formats like MOV to prevent failures.
Optimal Video Settings for Facebook in 2023
Here are the current optimal video settings recommended for Facebook in 2023:
| Video Parameter | Recommended Setting |
|---|---|
| File Format | MP4 |
| Resolution | 1080p (1920×1080) |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 (Widescreen) |
| Frame Rate | 30 fps |
| Bitrate | 2,500 – 5,000 kbps |
| Codec | H.264 |
| Length | Less than 10 minutes |
| File Size | Under 1GB |
Producing videos tailored to these specifications will allow you to upload and share high quality, properly formatted videos on Facebook moving forward.
Troubleshooting Video Uploading Issues on Facebook
If you encounter issues uploading videos to Facebook, here are some troubleshooting tips:
Video File Not Supported
Facebook requires MP4, AVI, MKV, WebM and other formats. Re-encode source files into one of Facebook’s compatible file types. MOV and other formats must be converted.
Video Processing Taking Long Time
Facebook requires time to process and compress uploaded videos. Larger or higher resolution files will take more time to process, sometimes over an hour. Patience is key.
Problem Playing Uploaded Video
This is likely caused by an unsupported codec, resolution or bitrate. Re-encode your video using Facebook’s recommended settings for resolution, bitrate, codec and other parameters.
Upload Failure for Large Files
Facebook imposes a 4GB file size limit. For larger files, re-encode using lower resolutions and bitrates to reduce file size. Alternatively, split into multiple shorter videos.
“Unsupported Media Type” Error
Your video file format and/or codec is incompatible with Facebook. Convert source file to a Facebook-supported file type like MP4.
Following Facebook’s encoding guidelines will help avoid these uploading and playback issues. Test videos first before posting to ensure successful sharing.
Facebook Video Encoding Tips
Here are some tips for preparing high-quality, optimized videos for sharing on Facebook:
- Set resolution based on content type. For screens and gaming, 1080p is ideal. For mobile, 720p is preferred.
- Reduce longer videos into shorter segments under 10 minutes for maximum engagement.
- Use constant frame rates like 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps for smooth playback.
- Encode audio using standard AAC codec at 96 to 128 kbps for quality sound.
- Add metadata like titles, descriptions and tags to help video discovery.
- Allow time for larger videos to process before posting. Facebook requires time to compress.
- Re-encode for Facebook’s recommended format and codec, if needed, before uploading.
Properly preparing and encoding source video maximizes quality and compatibility for sharing on Facebook. Following Facebook’s specifications also ensures your videos upload successfully the first time.
Conclusion
Facebook limits video uploads to the MP4 file format and requires specific encoding settings for optimal playback across all devices. MOV files are not directly supported by Facebook and must be converted to MP4 before uploading.
When encoding video content for sharing on Facebook, use recommended specifications for parameters like resolution, frame rate, codec, bitrate and file size/length to achieve successful video uploads and maximum compatibility for your viewers. Properly formatted MP4 video is the most effective format for Facebook in 2023 and beyond.