Video Format Requirements

This document outlines the video format requirements for uploading to various social media platforms via the API.

Automatic Video Transformation

Our API automatically transforms videos to adapt them to the specifications of each social network. However, if you use this feature, the upload will take longer because the transformation is performed first before uploading to the platforms.

If you prefer faster uploads, you can pre-process your videos according to the specific requirements of each platform outlined in this document.

Video Encoding Compatibility

Some video creation tools occasionally produce videos with encoding that Meta's systems don't accept. At times, their output needs to be re-encoded for compatibility.

One Solution: Re-encode with FFmpeg

If your video uploads are failing, try re-encoding the video using FFmpeg, an open-source tool for video processing:

ffmpeg -i your_original_video.mp4 -c:v libx264 -preset medium -profile:v high -level 4.0 -pix_fmt yuv420p -c:a aac -movflags +faststart meta_compatible_video.mp4

This command converts your video to use the widely-compatible H.264 video codec and AAC audio codec, which Meta platforms accept.

Re-encoding "normalizes" your video to use standard encoding parameters that Meta's platforms are designed to process, without sacrificing quality. If you see these errors regularly, this simple step can save you frustration when sharing your creative content.

FFmpeg Installation and Usage

Installation instructions:

• macOS: brew install ffmpeg
• Windows: winget install ffmpeg
• Linux: sudo apt install ffmpeg (Ubuntu/Debian) or sudo dnf install ffmpeg (Fedora)

Parameters:

• -c:v libx264: Uses H.264 video codec
• -preset medium: Balance between encoding speed and quality
• -profile:v high -level 4.0: Compatibility settings
• -pix_fmt yuv420p: Standard pixel format for maximum compatibility
• -b:v 5000k: Video bitrate (adjust as needed for quality)
• -c:a aac: AAC audio codec
• -b:a 192k: Audio bitrate
• -movflags +faststart: Optimizes file for web streaming

TikTok Video Requirements

• Supported Formats: MP4 (recommended), WebM, MOV
• Supported Codecs: H.264 (recommended), H.265, VP8
• Framerate: Minimum: 23 FPS, Maximum: 60 FPS
• Picture Size: Minimum: 360 pixels (height and width), Maximum: 4096 pixels (height and width)
• Duration: Maximum via API: 10 minutes. (Note: All TikTok creators can post 3-minute videos. Some creators have access to 5-minute or 10-minute videos. Users may trim videos in the TikTok app.)
• Size: Maximum: 4GB

Instagram Video Requirements

• Container Format: MOV or MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14)
  • No edit lists
  • Moov atom at the head of the file
• Audio Codec: AAC
  • Maximum sampling rate: 48 kHz
  • 1 or 2 channels (mono or stereo)
  • Audio bitrate: 128 kbps
• Video Codec: HEVC or H264
  • Progressive scan
  • Closed GOP
  • Chroma subsampling: 4:2:0
  • Video bitrate: VBR, maximum 25 Mbps
• Frame Rate: 23-60 FPS
• Image Size:
  • Maximum horizontal pixels: 1,920
  • Aspect ratio: 0.01:1 to 10:1
  • Recommended aspect ratio: 9:16 (to avoid cropping or white space)
• Duration & Size:
  • Maximum duration: 15 minutes
  • Minimum duration: 3 seconds
  • Maximum file size: 300 MB

YouTube Video Requirements

• File Size: Maximum: 256 GB
• Accepted MIME Types: video/*, application/octet-stream

Important: Custom thumbnails are not supported for YouTube Shorts; they only apply to standard YouTube videos.

LinkedIn Video Requirements

• File Size: Minimum: 75 KB, Maximum: 5 GB
• Duration: Minimum: 3 seconds, Maximum: 10 minutes
• Resolution:
  • Range: 256 x 144 to 4,096 x 2,304
  • Aspect ratio: 1:2.4 to 2.4:1
• Technical Specs:
  • Frame rate: 10-60 fps
  • Bitrate: 192 kbps - 30 Mbps
• Supported Formats: AAC, ASF, FLV, MP3, MP4, MPEG-1, MPEG-4, MKV, WebM, H264/AVC, Vorbis, VP8, VP9, WMV2, WMV3

Facebook Reels Requirements

• File Format: MP4 (recommended)
• Resolution & Aspect Ratio:
  • Recommended: 1080 x 1920 pixels
  • Minimum: 540 x 960 pixels
  • Aspect ratio: 9:16
• Duration:
  • 3-90 seconds
  • Maximum 60 seconds for page stories
• Video Settings:
  • Frame rate: 24-60 fps
  • Chroma subsampling: 4:2:0
  • Closed GOP (2-5 seconds)
  • Compression: H.264, H.265, VP9, AV1
  • Progressive scan
• Audio Settings:
  • Bitrate: 128 kbps+
  • Channels: Stereo
  • Codec: AAC (low complexity)
  • Sample rate: 48 kHz

X (Twitter) Video Requirements

• Recommended Codec & Profile:
  • Video: H264 High Profile
  • Audio: AAC LC (Low Complexity)
• Frame Rates:
  • Recommended: 30 FPS, 60 FPS
  • Maximum: 60 FPS
• Resolution:
  • Recommended: 1280x720 (landscape), 720x1280 (portrait), 720x720 (square)
  • Dimensions: 32x32 to 1280x1024
• Bitrate:
  • Minimum Video: 5,000 kbps
  • Minimum Audio: 128 kbps
• Aspect Ratio:
  • Recommended: 16:9 (landscape/portrait), 1:1 (square)
  • Range: 1:3 to 3:1
  • Pixel Aspect Ratio: 1:1
• Duration & File Size:
  • Duration: 0.5 - 140 seconds
  • Max File Size: 512 MB
• Technical Video Specs:
  • Pixel Format: YUV 4:2:0
  • GOP: Must not be open
  • Scan Type: Progressive scan
• Technical Audio Specs:
  • Channels: Mono or Stereo (not 5.1 or greater)
  • High-Efficiency AAC: Not supported

Threads Video Requirements

• Container: MOV or MP4
  • No edit lists
  • moov atom at the front
• Audio Codec: AAC
  • 48kHz sample rate maximum
  • 1 or 2 channels (mono/stereo)
  • Bitrate: 128 kbps
• Video Codec: HEVC or H264
  • Progressive scan
  • Closed GOP
  • 4:2:0 chroma subsampling
• Frame Rate: 23-60 FPS
• Picture Size:
  • Max columns (horizontal pixels): 1920
  • Aspect ratio: 0.01:1 to 10:1 (9:16 recommended)
• Video Bitrate: VBR, 100 Mbps maximum
• Duration:
  • Max: 300 seconds (5 minutes)
  • Min: > 0 seconds
• File Size: 1 GB maximum

Pinterest Video Requirements

• File Size: Maximum: 1 GB
• Supported Formats: MP4, MOV, M4V
• Duration: Minimum: 4 seconds, Maximum: 15 minutes
• Aspect Ratio: Taller than 1.91:1 and shorter than 1:2. Recommended for standard video: 1:1 (square) or 2:3, 4:5 or 9:16 (vertical)

Reddit Video Requirements

• Video API posting is not supported by Reddit.