Uploading videos to Facebook can be a great way to share memories and media with friends and family. However, you may encounter issues when trying to upload MOV files specifically to Facebook. MOV is a common video format saved by Apple devices, but not all MOV files are supported by Facebook’s video uploader.
In this article, we’ll look at the most common reasons why MOV files may fail to upload properly to Facebook and how to fix them. We’ll cover Facebook’s video requirements, incompatible codecs, file size limits, corruption issues, and using video converters to reformat MOV files for Facebook.
Facebook’s Video Requirements
Facebook has specific requirements that videos need to meet in order to be successfully uploaded:
Supported File Types
Facebook supports the following video file formats:
| MP4 | MOV | AVI | WMV | MPEGPS | MPEGTS | WebM | 3GPP |
So MOV is one of the approved formats. However, just because a file is MOV does not guarantee it will work. The encoding and codecs used are also important factors.
Video Resolution
The maximum resolution for videos uploaded to Facebook is 4096 x 4096 pixels. Any video larger than this may fail to upload properly. Most mobile devices record video at resolutions suitable for uploading to Facebook, but some 4K or HD videos may need to be resized before uploading.
Minimum Length
Facebook requires videos to be at least 1 second long. Anything shorter will not be accepted.
Maximum Length
Videos uploaded to Facebook can be up to 240 minutes long when uploaded through the desktop site. On mobile, videos can only be up to 15 minutes long.
Maximum File Size
Facebook limits video file sizes to 4GB for uploads through desktop and 1GB for mobile uploads. MOV files from devices like iPhones tend to be quite large, so file size could be an issue.
So in summary, Facebook supports MOV but has limits on resolution, length, and file size that can cause MOV files to be rejected on upload.
Incompatible Codecs
A codec is the format used to encode and compress video and audio data. MOV files can be encoded with various codecs, but Facebook only supports certain ones:
Supported Video Codecs
| H.264 | MPEG-4 |
Supported Audio Codecs
| AAC | MP3 |
If your MOV uses any other video or audio codecs, Facebook will not be able to process and transcode the file, causing the upload to fail.
Some common MOV codecs like Apple ProRes and AVCHD are not supported by Facebook. Re-encoding the MOV with compatible codecs can allow these files to be uploaded.
Corrupted or Damaged Files
Sometimes a MOV file may fail to upload simply because the file itself has become corrupted or damaged in some way. Potential causes can include:
– Camera or recording device errors when initially creating the MOV file.
– Interruptions when transferring or downloading the video from a device.
– Storage issues like bad sectors on a hard drive causing data loss.
– Attempting to edit the MOV and resave it improperly.
– Software bugs or crashes when processing the video file.
– General degradation of the file over time.
If a MOV itself has errors within the actual video or audio data, then Facebook will not be able to process it properly for uploading. Re-creating the video from scratch or re-exporting from an editing application may resolve this type of issue.
Using Video Converters
If your MOV file fails to upload due to incompatible codecs, resolution, or file size, the easiest fix is to convert the video to a Facebook-friendly format before uploading.
There are many free online video converter tools available that will re-encode your video to meet Facebook’s requirements. Here are some options:
Online Converters
| ClipConverter.cc | OnlineVideoConverter.com | OnlineConvertFree.com |
These web-based converters allow you to simply upload your MOV file and choose MP4 as the output format. The video will be re-encoded properly for Facebook and you can then download the new file to upload.
Most online converters have file size limits around 500 MB, so larger MOV files may need a desktop converter instead.
Desktop Software
For converting larger videos or doing batch conversions, a desktop app like HandBrake is a good option. It’s free, open source software that can re-encode MOV files into Facebook-ready MP4s.
The benefit of using a desktop converter is that there are no file size limits and you can customize the encoding settings as needed. This gives you more control over the output quality and file size.
Using video converter software is the most reliable way to prepare MOV files for Facebook. Re-encoded videos can be immediately uploaded without issues.
Summary
Here are the key points on troubleshooting MOV uploads to Facebook:
– Facebook has specific limitations on video resolution, length, size and codecs. MOVs must meet these requirements to upload properly.
– Incompatible codecs like Apple ProRes and AVCHD in MOV files will cause upload failures. Re-encode with supported codecs like H.264 and AAC.
– Corrupted MOV files with data errors will fail to upload. Try re-creating the video from the source or re-exporting from editing apps.
– Use free online or desktop converters to re-encode your MOV to an MP4 with the proper settings for Facebook. This is the easiest fix for most cases.
– Check the resolution, length and file size of your MOV to ensure it meets Facebook’s limits. Downsize if needed.
Following these troubleshooting tips should help identify and resolve the most common problems with uploading MOV files to Facebook. With the right encoding settings, your videos can be shared smoothly.
Conclusion
Uploading MOV files to Facebook can sometimes be tricky depending on the video settings and encoding used to create the file. By understanding Facebook’s video requirements and using video converters when needed, you can prep your MOV files to meet the proper resolution, size, codecs, and compression needed for successful uploads.
Troubleshooting codecs, file corruption, and reformatting options are key to fixing MOV upload issues. With the right troubleshooting and conversion tools, you’ll be able to share your videos memories and media on Facebook without hassles.