Alexis Kestler
So you‘re sitting there, excited to share your latest cool video with all your adoring Instagram fans. You open the app, select your video, write a witty caption…and boom, an error pops up saying "Upload Failed."
Extremely frustrating, right? You‘re not alone my friend. Every day, thousands of Instagram users face issues getting their amazing videos to successfully upload for the world to see.
But don‘t despair! In this comprehensive troubleshooting guide, I‘ll dig deep into all the potential reasons your video won‘t upload to Instagram. Together we‘ll explore common upload errors, step-by-step diagnostics, app optimizations, and expert tips straight from an Instagram power user.
Stick with me, and we‘ll have you posting cinematic masterpieces to the ‘Gram in no time!
Why Instagram Video Uploads Fail
Before we start troubleshooting, let‘s quickly understand what causes Instagram video uploads to fail in the first place. There are 5 main culprits:
1. Unsupported Video Format
Instagram only allows videos in certain file formats – MP4, MOV, and a few others. Upload anything else, and sorry, error message for you!
2. Poor Internet Connection
Uploading video requires a fast, stable internet connection. Slow speeds or interruptions will disrupt and fail the upload.
3. App Glitches
Like any software, the Instagram app isn‘t perfect. Bugs and technical issues can temporarily prevent uploads from working right.
4. Guidelines Violations
Post too much shady stuff that goes against Instagram‘s rules, and they‘ll block your account from uploading anything for a while.
5. Device Incompatibilities
Problems with your specific phone model or operating system version may hamper Instagram‘s upload processing.
So those are the usual suspects when your video won‘t make it to the promised land of Instagram. Now let‘s start methodically investigating each one and get your upload working!
Step 1: Check the Video File Format
The #1 reason videos fail to upload to Instagram is an incompatible or unsupported file format. Instagram only allows videos in these formats:
- MP4
- MOV
- AVI
- WMV
- MPEG-4
So before anything else, verify your video file is one of those approved formats.
On an iPhone, go to the video in your Camera Roll. Tap the "i" icon in the corner to see the video‘s details and format type. On Android, check the video details in your Gallery.
On a computer, look at the video file extension – .MP4, .MOV, etc. If your video format isn‘t on Instagram‘s approved list, you‘ll need to convert it before uploading.
There are lots of free online video converters available:
- CloudConvert – Supports over 200 different video formats.
- Online-Convert – No size limits and includes editing tools.
- Convertio – Super fast conversion speeds.
Upload your video to one of these sites, select the output format as MP4 or MOV, and download the converted version. Now when you go to upload this Instagram-friendly file, success!
Step 2: Check Video Length and Dimensions
Alright, you‘ve got the right file format. But Instagram is still picky – they put limits on video lengths and dimensions too.
Length – Videos must be between 3 and 60 seconds long. Shorter or longer will fail.
Dimensions – Aspect ratio should be between 1.91:1 and 4:5. Vertical and widescreen are ok.
Check your video‘s length and dimensions in your device gallery or media player. If needed, use editing software to adjust the length and crop/resize your video to meet Instagram‘s criteria.
Some good cross-platform editing apps:
- Inshot – Trim videos and change orientation. Free limited version.
- Kapwing – Intuitive editor with resizing tools. Free account available.
- Adobe Premiere Rush – Advanced editing from the pros. Subscription required.
Get your video within Instagram‘s desired length and dimensions, and you‘ve eliminated another potential upload roadblock.
Step 3: Check Your Internet Connection
Slow internet = slow video uploads. Uploading high quality video requires strong bandwidth, especially on mobile.
To successfully upload standard definition video, you need at least 3 Mbps upload speed. For crisp HD, aim for 5 Mbps upload or higher.
You can check your current internet speeds using online speed test sites:
- Speedtest – A classic, works on desktop and mobile.
- Fast – Minimalist with one-tap testing.
- TestMy – Detailed results and connection info.
If your upload speed is lower than needed, here are some tips to boost it:
- Connect your phone to a strong 4G LTE or 5G cellular network instead of WiFi.
- Move closer to your WiFi router or access point for a stronger signal.
- Switch to Ethernet instead of WiFi on a desktop computer.
- Close anybandwidth-hogging apps or devices using your connection.
- Try again during off-peak internet usage hours when speeds are faster.
With a verified fast upload speed, you can breathe easy knowing your internet is primed for Instagram video uploads.
Step 4: Update and Restart the Instagram App
Like any software application, the Instagram app can develop glitches or get stuck in a funky state. Two fixes can snap it back into shape: updating and restarting.
Update the app – In your device‘s app store, manually check if any Instagram updates are available. Install them! The latest update could have fixes for upload issues.
Restart the app – Completely force quit the app and reopen it. On iPhone, swipe up and hold to close it fully. On Android, open Settings > Apps > Instagram > Force Stop. This refresh clears any app gremlins causing problems.
Try uploading after an update and restart – it‘s an easy fix if app issues were preventing your video from posting.
Step 5: Clear Cache and Reinstall Instagram
If updates and restarts don‘t work, your last app troubleshooting step is to clear the cache and/or fully reinstall Instagram.
Clear Cache – The Instagram app stores temporary data in a cache that can become corrupted. Wipe the cache to force a full refresh of that data.
Uninstall and Reinstall – As a last resort, fully removing then reinstalling the app can reset any issues. You‘ll have to log back in but settings and followers will be saved.
These steps force the Instagram app back to a clean state, eliminating any lingering glitches that could be blocking your uploads.
Step 6: Check Your Phone‘s Date and Time
Here‘s an Instagram upload issue you may not expect – incorrect date and time settings on your mobile device.
If your phone‘s date and time are inaccurate, it can confuse Instagram‘s upload processing. Always make sure automatic date and time are enabled on your device.
On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Date & Time and toggle on "Set Automatically". On Android, go to Settings > System > Date & Time and turn on "Use network-provided time".
With the correct date and time set, give uploading your video another try.
Step 7: Try Different Wifi or Cellular Networks
Public wifi networks with firewalls or restrictions can interfere with video uploads to social media sites. If you‘re on public wifi, try switching to a personal wifi network or mobile data instead.
Cellular data also isn‘t foolproof. Weak cellular signals or network congestion can also disrupt uploads. If you have the option, try testing different cellular connections – switch between 3G, 4G, and 5G to see which provides the most stable upload experience.
Strong home wifi or a blazing fast 5G network are your best bets for buttery smooth Instagram video uploads.
When You Need More Serious Troubleshooting
We‘ve covered a ton of troubleshooting steps to resolve why your video won‘t upload to Instagram. If you‘re still seeing error messages after all that, it‘s time to call in reinforcements.
Check Instagram‘s Known Issues Page
Instagram maintains a status page listing any current widespread technical problems with the platform. If they‘re experiencing global service issues, your video not uploading could be unrelated to the steps above.
Bookmark Instagram‘s status page and check it whenever you have trouble uploading. Any officially confirmed problems will be posted there.
Contact Instagram Support
If the issue appears isolated to just your account, reach out to Instagram‘s official support channels:
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In-app – Tap the Settings icon > Help > Contact Us to message support.
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Twitter – Tweet @Instagram with your problem and username.
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Web form – Visit help.instagram.com to submit a support request.
Provide details on when you started having upload issues, error messages you see, and troubleshooting steps you‘ve tried. Support can investigate your specific account and identify any problems.
Post in the Instagram Community
Beyond official Instagram support, you can also crowdsource help from other Instagram users. The Instagram community is full of video pros who have likely dealt with stubborn upload issues themselves.
Post about your problem in relevant Instagram Facebook groups, Reddit communities like r/Instagram, and the Instagram tag on Twitter. Describe your situation and ask if anyone has solved similar upload failures before. You‘ll often find helpful advice and recommendations from fellow users.
Last Resort Troubleshooting Options
If all else fails and you still can‘t get videos to upload to Instagram, a few last ditch options exist:
-
Use a different phone – Try uploading from a different device entirely as a control test. If it works fine on another phone, the issue lies with your original device.
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Factory reset your phone – Completely wiping and resetting your phone to default factory settings eliminates any problematic software issues. Resetting is extreme but can dislodge stubborn device-specific upload problems as a last resort.
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Contact phone manufacturer support – For phone-specific upload issues, your device maker‘s customer support team may be able to provide specialized help. Reach out to Apple, Samsung, Google, or whoever made your phone for assistance.
Don‘t Let Upload Issues Stop Your Instagram Videos
Well, we‘ve come to the end of this deep dive into why your videos won‘t upload to Instagram. I hope all these troubleshooting tips and expert advice get your video uploads working smoothly once again!
Instagram uploads failing can be incredibly frustrating, but don‘t let pesky technical issues stop you from sharing your amazing videos. With patience and persistence, you can get past upload roadblocks.
Now get out there, shoot some awesome footage, and share your cinematic brilliance with the Instagram world! Just maybe stick with photos until you have faster internet… Kidding! We‘ll get your video uploads fixed – I believe in you.
