Facebook allows users to upload and share videos on their platform. However, Facebook does have a limit on the maximum file size for videos that can be uploaded. Knowing the maximum file size for Facebook videos can help you optimize your videos for sharing on the platform.
What is the current maximum file size for videos on Facebook?
As of October 2023, the maximum file size for videos uploaded to Facebook is 4GB or 4096MB. This is the absolute hard limit that Facebook sets on video files being uploaded to the platform. If your video file is larger than 4GB, it will not be accepted by Facebook for uploading.
Has the maximum video size on Facebook always been 4GB?
No, Facebook has increased the maximum file size for videos over time as technology has improved and internet speeds have become faster. Here is a brief history of the video size limits on Facebook:
- Up to 2008 – Upload limit was 100MB
- 2008-2010 – Increased to 1GB maximum
- 2010-2011 – Increased again to 2GB maximum
- 2011-2015 – Raised to 4GB maximum
- 2015-present – Remains at 4GB maximum
So the 4GB limit has been in place since 2011, and Facebook has not increased it since then. With many users still on slower connections, Facebook likely feels that 4GB covers most use cases for now.
What video formats and codecs does Facebook support?
In addition to video file size limits, Facebook also has limits on which video formats, codecs, and containers it supports for uploading. Here are the technical video specifications for Facebook:
- Formats: MP4, MOV, and AVI
- Codecs: H.264, H.265 HEVC
- Containers: MP4, MOV, and AVI
- Minimum resolution: 720p HD (1280 x 720 pixels)
- Maximum resolution: 4K UHD (3840 x 2160 pixels)
- Minimum length: 1 minute
- Maximum length: 240 minutes (4 hours)
- Minimum frame rate: 24 fps
- Maximum frame rate: 60 fps
- Maximum bitrate: 40 Mbps
As long as your video meets these technical criteria in addition to being under the 4GB file size limit, it should be supported for uploading to Facebook.
What happens if you try to upload a video over 4GB?
If you try to upload a video that is over 4GB in size, Facebook will prevent the upload and show an error message that the file exceeds the maximum allowed size. You will not be able to override or bypass this limit.
Some things that can happen if your file is too large include:
- The upload may fail immediately upon selecting the video
- The upload progress bar may freeze partway through
- An error message saying the file is too large will appear
- The video will fail to process after “uploading” due to the size
In all cases, the video will not make it to your Facebook feed if it surpasses 4GB. The only option is to go back and reduce the video file size before re-uploading it.
How can you tell the file size of your video?
To view the file size of a video you want to upload to Facebook, use these methods:
- In Windows File Explorer, right click the video file and select “Properties”. The file size will be shown.
- On Mac Finder, click the video file and hit Command+I to open Info. The file size is shown.
- In your video editing software, look at the export settings and note the output file size.
- Use a third party program like QuickTime Player to open the video file and check the size.
Checking the properties or info of the video before uploading can prevent failed uploads from oversized files.
How can you reduce your video file size?
If your video exceeds 4GB, here are some tips to reduce the video size before uploading to Facebook:
- Export at a lower resolution like 720p instead of 1080p or 4K.
- Reduce the frame rate to 24 fps instead of 30 or 60 fps.
- Use a higher compression codec like H.265 instead of H.264.
- Lower the video bitrate in the export settings.
- Trim the length of the video to only the essential parts.
- Remove unwanted audio tracks from the video.
- Compress the audio at a lower bitrate like 128kbps AAC.
- Use video optimizing software to reduce file size.
With the right compression and export settings, you can reduce most oversized videos to meet Facebook’s 4GB limit.
| Resolution | Typical File Size (1 Min Video) |
|---|---|
| 1080P | 35-90MB |
| 720P | 15-45MB |
| 480P | 7-25MB |
| 360P | 5-15MB |
This table gives you a rough estimate of how resolution affects typical file size. As you can see, lowering resolution significantly reduces size.
Maximum length for Facebook video uploads
In addition to file size, Facebook also limits the maximum length of videos uploaded to the platform. Here are the maximum video lengths on Facebook:
- Facebook feed videos – 120 minutes (2 hours)
- Facebook Stories – 15 seconds
- Facebook Watch – 240 minutes (4 hours)
- Facebook Live streams – 8 hours
- IGTV on Instagram – 60 minutes
- Instagram feed videos – 60 seconds
- Instagram Stories – 15 seconds
- Reels on Instagram – 60 seconds
So regular videos uploaded to your Facebook feed can be up to 2 hours long. But other Facebook and Instagram formats have much shorter limits. Trimming longer videos can help meet these length requirements.
Converting a video before uploading to Facebook
If your video is in an unsupported format, codec, container, or has technical specs outside Facebook’s requirements, you may need to convert the video first before uploading.
Some free online converters you can use include:
- HandBrake – Open source converter for Windows and Mac
- Online UniConverter – Web-based converter
- Freemake Video Converter – Downloadable software for PC
- CloudConvert – Web and API-based converter
- Convertio – Simple web converter
- ffmpeg – Command line tool for advanced users
These tools can convert your videos to formats like MP4 with H.264 codec to meet Facebook’s criteria. Make sure to adjust resolution, frame rates, and compression to reduce file size too.
Uploading very large videos to Facebook
If you have a video that exceeds Facebook’s 4GB upload limit but you still need to share it, there are a couple options:
- Upload to YouTube first, then embed or link to the YouTube video on Facebook. YouTube supports larger videos.
- Upload the video to a cloud host like Dropbox or Google Drive. Share the cloud link on Facebook instead of uploading directly.
- Compress the video as much as possible while retaining quality. May still be under 4GB.
- Split the video into multiple smaller parts under 4GB each before uploading.
While you can’t upload huge videos to Facebook directly, workarounds like cloud hosting allow you to still share the content.
Facebook’s recommendations for optimal video specs
While Facebook sets maximum limits on video uploads, they also provide recommended ideal specs for best results:
- Resolution: 1080p HD (1920 x 1080)
- Aspect ratio: 16:9 widescreen
- File format: MP4 or MOV
- Codec: H.264
- Constant frame rate: 30 fps
- Variable bitrate: 4-6 Mbps
- Audio codec: AAC
- Channels: Stereo
- Bitrate: 128kbps
Uploading 1080p videos at 30fps, 4-6Mbps video bitrate, and 128kbps AAC audio will provide a good balance of quality and file size for Facebook.
The main goal is keeping the file size under 4GB when exporting. But within that limit, using Facebook’s recommended specs can give you the best quality results.
Conclusion
To recap, the key facts around Facebook’s video upload limits are:
- Maximum file size is 4GB
- Supported formats are MP4, MOV, and AVI
- Minimum resolution 720p, maximum 4K
- Length limit depends on video type, up to 240 minutes
- Use optimal specs like 1080p 30fps video to get best quality
- Compress oversized videos to meet the limits
Checking your video file size before uploading and optimizing to Facebook’s recommendations will ensure your videos upload successfully for sharing.