Uploading photos and videos to Facebook is a great way to share memories and moments with friends and family. However, sometimes uploads can fail or not show up properly in your timeline or album for a variety of reasons.
Photos/Videos Not Posting
If your uploads are not posting at all, here are some potential causes and solutions:
- Slow internet connection – Uploads can fail if you have a weak or unstable internet connection. Try uploading when you have a stronger WiFi or cellular data signal.
- App issues – The Facebook app on your phone or computer may be experiencing a temporary glitch or bug preventing uploads. Try restarting the app or your device.
- Full photo albums – Your album may be full, preventing new uploads from posting. Remove some existing photos to free up space.
- Format not supported – Facebook only supports certain image, video and audio formats. uncommon formats may fail to upload.
- File size too large – Videos longer than 240 minutes or over 720p, and photos larger than 5 MB may fail to upload.
- Post privacy set to “Only Me” – If your post privacy is set to be visible only to you, others will not be able to see your upload.
Uploads Not Visible
If your photos or videos appear successfully uploaded but are not visible to others, try these troubleshooting steps:
- Refresh the page/app – New uploads can take time to process and appear. Try refreshing to load new content.
- Re-upload the file – Deleting the unsuccessful upload and re-uploading the file may help.
- Check date/time filter – If viewing a specific timeline or album, the upload may be outside the visible date range.
- View as post author – Posts with visibility limited to “Friends except acquaintances” won’t be seen by all friends. View as post author.
- Wait for review – Facebook scans all uploads for inappropriate content. Videos and certain photos undergo additional review which can delay visibility up to a day.
Only Part of Upload is Visible
If only a section of your video or panoramic/widescreen photo is visible, it is likely due to Facebook’s automatic cropping for news feed display. To see the full upload:
- Click the upload to open it at full size
- View it in the post details or photo viewer
- View it on your timeline or in album layout mode (not news feed)
Facebook prioritizes faces and central areas when cropping photos and videos to optimize visibility in feed layouts. The full upload will be intact when viewed in other contexts.
Can’t Find Upload In Profile or Albums
If you can’t find your upload by viewing your own profile or albums:
- Use Facebook search – Search your name, the file name, keywords from the post caption, etc. The upload may not be where you expect but still searchable.
- Check the audience – If visibility is limited, the post will only appear to authorized viewers.
- Review activity log – Your profile activity log records all uploads and can indicate if a file failed to post.
- Restore from trash – Deleting a post puts it in the trash for 30 days, where it can be restored if accidentally removed.
Still can’t find it? The upload may have failed without notice or been removed by Facebook for violating a policy.
Troubleshooting Tips
Here are some general tips for troubleshooting and preventing missing uploads on Facebook:
- Update app – Use the latest Facebook app version on mobile devices to avoid bugs.
- Clear caches – Clear your browser caches/cookies and Facebook app cache to eliminate corrupt data.
- Compress images – Use image optimization tools to reduce photo sizes below 5 MB.
- Shorten videos – Edit longer videos to under 240 minutes for successful uploads.
- Check permissions – Enable Facebook app permissions to access your photos, media and files.
- Use stable connections – Upload on fast, stable WiFi or cellular data whenever possible.
- Be patient – Allow time for uploads to fully process before troubleshooting.
- Report issues – Use the “Give Feedback” link to report persistent app upload issues.
Why Facebook Uploads May Fail
Understanding common upload failure causes can help identify and prevent missing content on Facebook:
| Issue | Cause |
| Format error | Unsupported video codec, image file type, etc. |
| App crash | App closures, crashes, or freezes during upload. |
| Processing error | Glitches when processing uploads for news feed. |
| Restricted content | Violates Facebook’s community standards and policies. |
| Visibility settings | Post privacy prevents all friends from seeing it. |
| Silent failure | Upload appears successful but does not post fully. |
Being aware of problems like app crashes, unsupported files, inappropriate content bans, etc. can help you avoid and troubleshoot issues when uploads go missing.
How To Retrieve Deleted Uploads
If you accidentally delete a Facebook upload, there are a few ways you may be able to retrieve it:
- Restore from trash – Deleted posts go to Facebook’s trash folder for 30 days, where they can be restored.
- View activity log – Your profile activity log shows removed uploads for a limited time.
- Re-upload – If you still have the photo or video file on your device, you can re-upload it.
- Check archives – Third party services may have archived your upload if shared publicly.
- Contact Facebook – If the delete was recent, Facebook may be able to restore your lost upload.
However, after 30 days the trash is cleared so uploads cannot be retrieved. Always be cautious when deleting Facebook content.
Mistakes to Avoid
You can prevent many missing upload issues by avoiding these common Facebook usage mistakes:
- Overloading albums – Too many photos in an album can cause glitches.
- Using outdated apps – Keep apps up-to-date to avoid bugs.
- Ignoring errors – Don’t ignore error messages during upload.
- Filtering incorrectly – Double check timeline filters haven’t hidden your upload.
- Changing visibility – Switching post visibility after uploading can hide it.
- Deleting hastily – Accidental deletes permanently remove uploads after 30 days.
- Restrictive settings – Overly strict privacy or tagging settings can limit visibility.
- Incorrect formats – Avoid uncommon image and video formats Facebook doesn’t support.
Being mindful of these missteps can help you avoid losing track of your uploaded memories and moments on Facebook.
Preventing Upload Issues
You can take proactive measures to help ensure your Facebook uploads are successful:
- Compress media – Use tools to optimize image and video files sizes for Facebook.
- Use stable connections – Upload on fast home WiFi or cellular data if possible.
- Update your app – Keep the Facebook app current to reduce bugs.
- Double check visibility – Confirm posts are shared toIntended audiences.
- Review formats – Check Facebook’s recommended formats before uploading.
- Spread out uploads – Gradually upload batches of photos instead of hundreds at once.
- Back up files – Keep original copies of photos and videos on your device or cloud storage.
Putting in place preventative measures can help ensure you retain access to all your cherished social media memories and moments.
Conclusion
Missing Facebook uploads can be annoying and cause you to lose out on sharing important life events and milestones. However, by understanding the common causes for disappearing uploads and taking proactive troubleshooting and preventative steps, you can master your Facebook media sharing experience. Keep these tips in mind to avoid upload issues and always have access to the photos and videos you want to showcase on Facebook.