Having a video get stuck at 0% processing can be incredibly frustrating. There are a few potential causes for this issue that are worth investigating when troubleshooting.
Check Your Upload Speed
One of the most common reasons a video gets stuck processing is simply due to a slow upload speed. The time it takes to fully upload a video to a platform will depend on factors like:
- Your internet connection speed
- The size of the video file
- The number of other users accessing the platform
For example, if you have a 10 minute video that is 1GB in size, but only have a 5Mbps upload speed, it could take a very long time to fully upload that video. The upload may start fast, but then slow down and get “stuck” at a certain percentage while it continues uploading in the background.
Try testing your internet speeds using a tool like Speedtest to get a sense of your upload rate. If it is very slow, that is likely the culprit behind videos getting stuck processing.
Solutions for Slow Upload Speeds
- Upload shorter videos or compress files to reduce size
- Use a wired ethernet connection instead of WiFi
- Try uploading during off-peak hours when less network congestion
- Contact your ISP about upgrades to boost upload speeds
Check Video File Format and Codecs
Another potential factor is the video file type and compression codec used. Certain formats and codecs can be more difficult for online platforms to process. For example:
- Large or high bitrate files like uncompressed AVI or WMV
- Variable frame rate recordings instead of constant frame rate
- Unsupported codecs like ProRes on Windows computers
Try transcoding the video to a more web-friendly format like MP4 or MOV using h.264 or h.265 codecs. The files should have a constant frame rate like 30fps. There are many free tools available to remux or encode videos.
This typically results in smaller file sizes that can upload faster. It also uses video codecs that online platforms are designed to handle efficiently.
Verify Platform Upload Limits
Most online video platforms enforce maximum file size limits on uploads. For example:
| Platform | Max Upload Size |
|---|---|
| YouTube | 128GB |
| Vimeo | 5GB for free members 50GB for Plus members |
| Dropbox | 2GB per file |
If you are trying to upload a file that exceeds the platform’s limit, it may have issues processing and get stuck. Double check that your video file does not exceed their size restrictions.
You can also try splitting the video into multiple parts to upload separately if needed.
Check Video Processing Server Status
In some cases, the processing servers themselves could be having technical issues on the platform you are uploading to. Heavy traffic or a system outage can sometimes disrupt video processing.
Check the platform’s status page or forums to see if other users are reporting similar problems uploading or processing videos during the same timeframe.
If it appears to be a widespread service issue, you may just need to wait until it is resolved rather wait than continually re-uploading the same file.
Force Quit and Retry the Upload
A simple step to try is forcibly quitting the platform’s app or website then restarting the upload process from scratch. This essentially resets the connection which can sometimes help get things unstuck.
If you are uploading from a phone app, force close the app completely from your device’s app manager. Then re-launch the app and start the upload again.
On a computer, use Task Manager (ctrl+alt+del) to end any platform-related processes that are still running. Then relaunch your browser or application and begin re-uploading the video file.
Check Hosting Account Status
For paid services like Vimeo Pro or Wistia, ensure your account is in good standing and has not reached hosting limits. For example:
- Verify your payment info is up to date
- Check if your account is past due or suspended
- Ensure you have not exceeded bandwidth or storage caps
Reaching maximum allotments or having an unpaid account could potentially stall the upload process. Check your account status in settings or contact customer support to confirm.
Try a Different Browser or Device
Uploading from a different web browser or device may help rule out any software-specific issues. For example:
- Upload on computer instead of mobile device
- Switch from Chrome to Firefox, Edge, or Safari browsers
- Use incognito or private browsing mode
- Try disabling browser extensions when uploading
If the video processes successfully using an alternate browser or device, it indicates a configuration, caching, or compatibility issue with the original software.
Potential Issues by Browser
| Browser | Known Upload Issues |
|---|---|
| Chrome | – Extensions interfering – Cache needs clearing |
| Safari | – Apple Safari 15 bug stalling uploads |
| Firefox | – Firefox 95 bug pausing uploads |
Check for Connectivity Issues
Difficulties connecting to the platform’s servers can also stall the upload process at 0%. Some things to check include:
- Testing internet speeds to confirm adequate bandwidth
- Connecting devices directly to modem instead of extenders or mesh networks
- Ensuring WiFi and ethernet drivers are updated on computers
- Checking for VPN, firewall, or proxy conflicts
- Testing with antivirus, firewalls, proxies disabled as trial
Interference from other software, weak signals, or network configurations could potentially interrupt the upload connectivity. Hardwire connections are generally more reliable than wireless as well.
Verify File Corruption Issues
In some instances, a damaged, incomplete, or corrupted video file itself may be preventing successful processing and upload. Some options to test this include:
- Play video file locally to check for errors or glitches
- Check file hashes to identify incomplete file transfers
- attempt transcoding to a new file as a test
- Upload a different video as control to confirm platform works
If the original file won’t play properly or different videos upload successfully, it points to a corruption issue with that particular file preventing processing.
Conclusion
Videos stuck endlessly processing at 0% can be incredibly annoying. However, there are many potential fixes ranging from technical issues like file corruption or platform outages to simple user oversights like unsupported formats or size limits.
Methodically ruling out the various causes and trying alternative troubleshooting steps can help narrow down and identify the specific reason your video upload is getting stuck. With some diligent testing and patience, you should be able to get your video uploaded and processed properly.