Guide
How to Upload a Video to X: Length, Size and Format
Most failed video uploads on X come down to three things: the clip is too long, the file is too big, or the format is one X doesn't like.
Twit'n'Go · · 4-minute read
Short answer
To upload a video to X, tap the media button in the composer, pick the clip, trim it if needed and post; free accounts can post videos up to 2 minutes 20 seconds and 512 MB, and an MP4 file with H.264 video and AAC audio is the safest format.
Key takeaways
- Free accounts: up to 2 minutes 20 seconds and 512 MB per video, per X's help pages.
- X Premium allows much longer uploads; check X's help center for the current figures.
- MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio uploads most reliably; MOV works from phones.
- X re-encodes every upload, so start from a clean 720p or 1080p file.
Jump to a section
How do you upload a video to X?
Open the composer, tap the media button, choose the video, trim it if X asks, write your text and post.
On a phone:
- Tap the + or compose button.
- Tap the photo icon and choose your video from the gallery.
- If the clip is longer than your limit, X shows a trim screen. Drag the handles to choose the part you want.
- Add your text and tap Post.
On a computer it's the same, except you click the media icon under the text box and pick the file from your drive. Leave the tab open until the upload bar finishes; closing it early cancels the upload.
Write the text in the post composer first if you want to check the count. The video itself doesn't use any of your 280 characters, but a pasted link does.
What are the limits for video on X?
For free accounts, X's help pages give a maximum of 2 minutes 20 seconds and 512 MB per video; X Premium subscribers can upload far longer files.
| Limit | Free account | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 2 min 20 s | Longer clips get a trim screen |
| File size | 512 MB | Compress before uploading if larger |
| Recommended format | MP4 (H.264 video, AAC audio) | MOV is fine from phones |
| Aspect ratios | 16:9, 1:1, 9:16 and others | Vertical works, but is cropped in some views |
X Premium raises the length and size limits a lot, and X has changed those numbers more than once. If you subscribe, check X's help center for the figure that applies to your plan and device before you edit a long video to fit.
What video format works best?
An MP4 file with H.264 video and AAC audio, at 1280×720 or 1920×1080 and 30 or 60 frames per second, uploads most reliably.
Phones already save video in a format X accepts, so clips straight from the camera roll usually work. Problems show up with files from screen recorders, editing apps and cameras that use other codecs. If X rejects a file, export it again as "MP4, H.264" from your editor. Most editors offer a preset for social media.
Keep the bitrate sensible. A 1080p clip at 5 to 8 megabits per second looks good and stays well under the size limit for a two-minute video.
Why won't my video upload?
The usual causes are a clip over the length limit, a file over 512 MB, an unusual codec or a dropped connection during upload.
Work through these in order:
- Length. Trim to 2:20 or less, unless you have Premium.
- Size. Export again at a lower bitrate or 720p.
- Format. Re-export as MP4 with H.264 and AAC.
- Connection. Switch to Wi-Fi, or wait and try again. Large files fail more often on mobile data.
- App version. Update the X app. Old versions sometimes fail on newer phone formats.
If X says "Your media file could not be processed", the codec is the most likely culprit. Re-exporting fixes it almost every time.
How do you make a video work without sound?
Add on-screen captions and a clear first frame, because many people scroll X with the sound off.
Burned-in captions, meaning text that's part of the video, show up on every device. Put the main point in the first two seconds, either as text or as a clear visual, so people know why to stop. And describe the video in your post text. If the video is mostly a slide or chart, a still image may do the job better. The image sizer crops stills to X's shapes.
Does video need alt text?
X's description field is mainly for photos and GIFs, so for video, rely on captions and a clear description in the post itself.
If your video has no speech, say what happens in the post text. For GIFs and photos, the alt text helper checks your description for common mistakes before you paste it into X.
For still images, see X image sizes for 2026.
FAQ
What's the maximum video length on X?
For free accounts, 2 minutes and 20 seconds. X Premium subscribers can upload much longer videos, and X has raised that limit several times, so check its help center for the current number.
Why is my video blurry after uploading?
X re-encodes every video. Upload at 1280×720 or 1920×1080 with a decent bitrate, and give it a minute after posting: a higher-quality version sometimes appears once processing finishes.
Can I add captions?
The most reliable way is to burn captions into the video before you upload, so they show on every device. Many people watch with the sound off.
Can I post a video and photos together?
X's help center describes a post as holding up to four photos, one GIF or one video. If your composer won't add both, use a short thread: video in the first post, photos in the reply.