There are a few common reasons why videos may not be showing up on the Facebook app:
Videos exceed the upload limit
Facebook has a limit on the size and length of videos that can be uploaded. For mobile uploads via the app, videos are limited to 1024 MB and 120 minutes long. If you try to upload a video that exceeds these limits, it will fail to upload properly and not show up on your Facebook feed.
Connectivity issues
Uploading and viewing videos requires a stable internet connection. If you are trying to upload or watch videos over a slow or inconsistent connection, the videos may fail to fully upload or load on the Facebook app. Issues like being in an area with poor signal, using public WiFi, or experiencing network congestion can prevent videos from appearing correctly in the app.
App not updated
Make sure you have downloaded the latest version of the Facebook app for your device. Outdated versions of the app may have bugs or problems properly displaying video content. Go to your device’s app store to check for any Facebook app updates and install them.
Videos are hidden from your News Feed
Facebook uses algorithms to determine what content appears in your personal News Feed. Based on your past interactions, you may have inadvertently told Facebook you are not interested in seeing certain videos. This causes them to no longer show up in your feed.
To fix this, go to your News Feed Preferences on Facebook and make sure none of your connections are hidden. You can also try liking and interacting with video posts more often so Facebook’s algorithm learns to show more of them.
Videos are restricted by age or location
Some videos on Facebook are only made visible to certain age groups or locations. For example, a video may be age-restricted to only viewers over 18. If you do not meet the required age or location restrictions, the video will not be visible to you on the app.
Bug or glitch in the app
As with any mobile app, bugs or glitches can sometimes occur that affect certain features and functions. An issue with the Facebook app itself could be preventing videos from loading and playing properly. Try reinstalling the app or updating to the latest version which may fix any software bugs.
Account or privacy settings blocking videos
Double check your personal Facebook account settings and privacy options. Some settings like disabling video auto-play or restricting access to your profile can prevent videos from appearing on your timeline and in your News Feed. Additionally, if you are blocked by the person who posted the video, or vice versa, you will not be able to see it.
How to troubleshoot and fix videos not showing on Facebook app
If you are struggling to view videos on the Facebook mobile app, here are some troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue:
Check your internet connection
Make sure you have a strong and stable internet connection when trying to use the Facebook app. Connect to a different WiFi network or cellular data if available. Test loading and watching videos when connected to confirm if the issue is due to a poor connection.
Update or reinstall the Facebook app
Download the latest version of the Facebook app for your device. Deleting and reinstalling the app can also potentially fix software bugs preventing videos from loading properly.
Adjust news feed preferences
Go to your Facebook news feed preferences and make sure you have not hidden posts from any connections. You can also try adjusting filters related to video content.
Check size and length of videos
Review videos before uploading to ensure they meet Facebook’s size and length limits for mobile uploads (1024MB and 120 minutes). Compress or trim any videos that exceed the limits.
Log out and log back in
Force quit and sign out of the Facebook app entirely. Log back in and try viewing videos again. This simple reset can resolve temporary glitches.
Report problems to Facebook
If you still cannot get videos to appear in the app, use Facebook’s help options to report the problem. This provides them with feedback to improve the app and resolve persistent bugs.
Tips for successfully sharing and viewing videos on Facebook app
Here are some best practices for uploading and watching videos with the Facebook mobile app:
- Compress videos to under 1024MB before uploading for mobile.
- Trim longer videos to under 120 minutes in length.
- Use a video converter app to optimize videos for uploading.
- Upload over a strong WiFi or LTE connection for faster, more reliable uploads.
- Allow videos to fully process after uploading before trying to view them.
- Update to the latest version of the Facebook app frequently.
- Adjust news feed filter settings to ensure you see video posts.
- Enable video autoplay options in Facebook settings.
- Report issues through Facebook’s help page to improve video reliability.
Why Facebook limits video size and length
Facebook limits the size and length of videos uploaded via its mobile apps for a few key reasons:
Manage bandwidth usage
By capping video sizes at 1024MB, Facebook reduces the amount of data that needs to be transferred for each video. This helps manage their bandwidth costs for millions of users worldwide uploading and watching videos.
Improve performance
Smaller video files improve upload speeds and playback performance in the app. Large, uncompressed videos can take a long time to upload and be slow to load.
Deliver optimal experience
Overly long videos are not ideal for the more casual scrolling of the mobile News Feed. Shorter videos align better with user behavior and expectations on mobile devices.
Encourage creativity
Constraining video length requires creators to be more selective and purposeful with their content. This results in videos that get straight to the point and hold viewer attention.
Limit server storage
With billions of users, storing massive uncompressed video files would be incredibly expensive for Facebook. Size limits reduce their server storage costs.
In summary, file size and length limits allow Facebook to deliver smooth video performance at scale while encouraging focused content.
Troubleshooting tips when Facebook videos won’t upload
If your videos fail to fully upload via Facebook’s mobile app, try these troubleshooting steps:
- Compress video file size under 1024MB limit
- Shorten video duration to under 120 minutes
- Use video optimizer apps to re-encode for Facebook
- Upgrade to a faster phone or camera for higher quality uploads
- Trim any unnecessary footage to shorten the video
- Use video editing software on a computer or laptop instead of mobile
- Ensure you have a strong internet connection when uploading
- Toggle Airplane mode on/off to reset connection
- Restart your device to clear any memory issues
- Update to the latest version of Facebook app
- Delete and reinstall Facebook app to fix bugs
Following these tips should help successfully upload videos from your mobile device to Facebook.
Comparing Facebook video specs vs other platforms
Here is how Facebook’s video specifications compare to some other popular social media platforms:
| Platform | Max Video Length | Max File Size |
|---|---|---|
| Facebook (mobile upload) | 120 minutes | 1024 MB |
| YouTube | 15 minutes for regular users | 128 GB |
| Instagram (IGTV) | 60 minutes | 650 MB |
| 2:20 minutes | 512 MB | |
| TikTok | 10 minutes | 200 MB |
As you can see, Facebook allows significantly longer videos than other platforms like Twitter and TikTok. However, the file size limit is more restrictive compared to YouTube and IGTV.
Understanding the video specifications of each platform helps ensure your uploads will be formatted properly.
Common video formats supported by Facebook
Facebook supports most common video codecs and file types. Here are the primary video formats supported:
- MP4
- MOV
- AVI
- WMV
- MPEGPS
- MPEG
- FLV
- 3GPP
- WebM
For the best results, Facebook recommends using MP4 files with H.264 video encoding and AAC audio encoding. Here are some benefits of the MP4/H.264 format:
- High compression for reduced file sizes
- Fast uploading and downloading
- Maximizes video quality at smaller file sizes
- Wide device compatibility
- Supported by all major platforms and browsers
Before uploading, you may need to re-encode or convert your video files into one of Facebook’s supported formats for proper playback.
Steps to convert videos for Facebook upload
To convert video files into a Facebook-friendly format, follow these steps:
- Upload the original video file to a video converter tool or app.
- Select MP4 as the output format.
- Under codec settings, select H.264 for video and AAC for audio.
- For optimized quality, choose output resolution of 720p or 1080p.
- Set the video bitrate between 2,500-5,000 kbps.
- Start conversion process and wait for new MP4 file to finish encoding.
- Review the file properties to confirm video and audio codecs are proper.
- Check that the file size is under Facebook’s 1024MB limit.
- Upload converted MP4 video to Facebook as you normally would.
Following these steps should provide you with a version of your video fully optimized for the Facebook platform.
Conclusion
Troubleshooting and resolving video upload issues on the Facebook mobile app involves several possible remedies. The most common fixes include:
- Checking video file size and length limits
- Updating the Facebook app
- Improving internet connection strength and reliability
- Re-encoding videos into Facebook’s recommended formats
- Reporting bugs and issues to Facebook
With Facebook used by over 2 billion people, even small changes to improve video reliability and performance matter. Hopefully these troubleshooting tips will help you successfully share and view videos on the Facebook mobile app.