Quick Answer
There are a few common reasons why your video may not be posting to your Facebook story:
- Your video file is too large – Facebook stories only allow videos up to 4GB in size
- Your video format is not supported – Facebook stories require videos to be in .MP4 or .MOV format
- Your video is too long – Videos can only be up to 20 seconds long on Facebook stories
- Your privacy settings don’t allow posting – Check that your privacy settings allow for public sharing
- The Facebook app needs to be updated – Make sure you’re running the latest version of the Facebook app
- Your internet connection is slow or unstable – Upload your video when you have a strong WiFi or cellular connection
If your video meets the requirements and is still not posting, try restarting the app, clearing the cache, uninstalling and reinstalling the app, or reporting the issue to Facebook.
Video File Requirements for Facebook Stories
Facebook has specific video file requirements that need to be met for videos to properly upload to stories:
- File Size: 4GB max
- File Types: .MP4 or .MOV
- Aspect Ratio: 9:16 or 1:1 (square)
- Frame Rate: 30fps
- Resolution: 720p HD
- Bitrate: 4-5mbps
- Codec: H.264
- Audio Codec: AAC
If your video exceeds the 4GB file size limit or is not in a supported file type like .MP4, it will fail to upload to your story. Try compressing your video or converting it to a smaller MP4 to meet the requirements. The aspect ratio also needs to be optimized for mobile – vertial 9:16 or square 1:1 work best.
Video Length Restrictions
In addition to file specifications, Facebook also limits the length of videos on stories:
- Maximum Length: 20 seconds
- Minimum Length: 3 seconds
Your video needs to be at least 3 seconds long but cannot exceed 20 seconds. Even videos that meet the right file type and size will fail to upload if they are over or under the allowed duration. Consider trimming longer videos to fit the 20 second limit.
Privacy Settings Issues
If your video meets all the technical requirements but still won’t post, the issue may be your privacy settings:
- Confirm your account is public and visible to everyone
- Make sure your story sharing is set to “Public” not “Friends”
- Check that story privacy is not set to exclude certain friends or groups
- Review post audience selector to ensure it is public
Facebook stories default to being visible to all your friends and followers. But if you have stricter privacy controls enabled, your story may not post publicly as expected. Double check your account, story and post privacy settings.
Updating the Facebook App
Technical issues uploading videos can sometimes be caused by an outdated version of the Facebook app itself.
- Open your device’s app store (Google Play or Apple App Store)
- Search for “Facebook” and go to the app page
- If an “Update” button is shown, tap to update to the latest version
- If already updated, uninstall and reinstall the app
Updating or reinstalling the app can clear out bugs preventing videos from uploading correctly in stories. Make sure you don’t have any pending app updates.
Internet Connectivity Issues
Uploading video files requires a reasonably fast and stable internet connection:
- Videos need to upload quickly without interruption to post successfully
- Use Wifi if possible for faster speeds than cellular data
- Retry uploading when you have 3-4 bars of service if on cellular
- Avoid uploading in areas with weak signals
- Patience is needed for large, high resolution video files
An unstable internet connection while trying to upload introduces the risk of failure and errors. Make sure you have adequate network conditions to upload videos, especially longer ones at high resolutions.
Troubleshooting Steps
Follow these troubleshooting steps if your video still fails to upload to Facebook stories:
- Restart the Facebook app – close and relaunch the app
- Force stop the Facebook app – stop it from device app settings
- Clear the app cache and data – deletes temporary files
- Uninstall and reinstall the app – gets a fresh copy
- Try uploading on a different device
- Check for Facebook service issues at https://www.facebook.com/help/
Restarting the app, clearing cached data, and reinstalling the app can often resolve intermittent technical issues that prevent uploading. Trying on another device tells you if the issues are isolated or not. And check Facebook’s help pages to see if others are reporting widespread service problems.
Conclusion
The most common reasons videos fail to upload to Facebook stories include incompatible video file specs, excessive length, restrictive privacy settings, outdated app versions, poor internet connections, and technical glitches. Make sure your video meets the size, format, ratio, duration and other requirements. Double check your privacy settings allow public story sharing. Update the Facebook app, use a stable wi-fi or cellular connection, and try standard troubleshooting steps. If the issues persist across devices, contact Facebook support for additional help getting your video to post.
Table: Video Requirements Summary
| Requirement | Facebook Story Limit |
|---|---|
| File Size | 4GB max |
| File Type | .MP4, .MOV |
| Aspect Ratio | 9:16 or 1:1 |
| Frame Rate | 30fps |
| Resolution | 720p HD |
| Duration | 3-20 seconds |
Table: Troubleshooting Steps
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| Restart Facebook App | Force close and relaunch the app |
| Clear Cache/Data | Delete temporary files and data |
| Reinstall App | Uninstall and install a fresh copy |
| Try Different Device | See if issue persists on another device |
| Check Facebook Help | Visit help pages and check for service issues |