How to Add More Than 35 Videos on TikTok

Trying to create a detailed photo dump or a storytelling slideshow on TikTok, only to be stopped cold by the 35-photo limit, is incredibly frustrating. You have the perfect vision, but the app's built-in tools just won't let you tell the full story. This guide will show you the simple, straightforward method to bypass that limit and include as many photos and video clips as you want in a single TikTok post.

What is the TikTok 35 Photo Limit, and Why Does it Exist?

First, let's address a popular question: is this a bug? No, it's a feature. The TikTok app's native uploader intentionally caps the number of individual photos or video clips you can select for a slideshow at 35. While TikTok hasn't given an official public reason, the limit likely exists for a couple of reasons:

• App Performance: Loading, processing, and editing a large number of assets directly on a mobile device can be very processor-intensive. A limit helps keep the app experience smooth and prevents crashes, especially on older devices.
• User Experience: TikTok's algorithm has historically favored very short, high-impact content. A limit encourages creators to be more selective, creating punchier, faster-paced videos that align with typical user attention spans.

But creative trends evolve. We now have photo dumps, long-form storytelling, and detailed "glow-up" timelines that require far more than 35 individual pieces of media. Thankfully, getting around this limitation isn't a complex hack, it just involves a slight shift in your workflow.

The Simple Solution: Creating Your Video Outside of TikTok

The secret is to stop thinking about uploading 50 individual photos to TikTok and start thinking about uploading one finished video file that contains those 50 photos. By creating your entire slideshow in an external video editing app, you can compile an unlimited number of photos and clips into a single video file. Then, you simply upload that single file to TikTok, completely bypassing the 35-asset restriction.

This method not only solves the numbers problem but gives you far more creative control over timing, transitions, effects, and the overall rhythm of your slideshow.

Step 1: Choose Your Video Editing Tool

You don't need to be a professional video editor or buy expensive software. The most effective tools for this task are often free, mobile-first apps that integrate deeply with the social media experience. Here are a few top choices:

• CapCut (Recommended): Owned by the same parent company as TikTok (ByteDance), CapCut is basically TikTok's official, more powerful editing sibling. It feels familiar, integrates perfectly, and offers tons of TikTok-native features like trendy effects and sounds. It's the most frictionless choice for this task.
• InShot: A long-time favorite for social media managers and creators, InShot is an incredibly intuitive all-in-one photo and video editor. It's great for adding text, stickers, and simple effects.
• VN Video Editor: A fantastic free option with no watermarks that offers a more traditional multi-track editing timeline. It gives you a bit more precision and control, bridging the gap between mobile editing and desktop software.
• Canva: If you're already using Canva to create other assets, its video editor is more than capable of creating a fast-paced photo slideshow. It's a great choice if you prefer working on a desktop.

Step 2: A Step-by-Step Guide Using CapCut

Since CapCut is the most popular choice for TikTok creators, let's walk through the exact steps to create your long-form slideshow there. The process is very similar across other editing apps.

1. Start a New Project and Select Your Media

Open CapCut and tap the big blue "New Project" button. This will open your phone's camera roll. Go through and select every single photo and video clip you want to include in your slideshow. Don't worry about the order just yet. You'll notice immediately that you can select well over the 35-item limit. Once you've chosen everything, tap the "Add" button.

2. Arrange Your Clips on the Timeline

CapCut will now place all your selected media onto the editing timeline at the bottom of the screen. To reorder your clips, just press and hold on a photo or video thumbnail until it "lifts" up, then drag it to its new position in the sequence. This is where you build the narrative and flow of your story.

3. Adjust the Timing of Each Clip

By default, CapCut might set each photo to a duration of 3 seconds, which is way too slow for a fast-paced TikTok slideshow. You have two main options to speed things up.

• For Uniform Timing (The Fast Method): Edit one photo to your desired length, let's say 0.5 seconds. Then, select Batch and apply to all or select groups of assets from your timeline using the intuitive batch editor.
• You can also, from the timeline itself, drag the white handles on either end of each photo clip to shorten it. Most "photo dump" trends use a very short duration for each photo, like 0.3 to 0.5 seconds. This creates that rapid-fire effect.
• For Custom Timing: If you're timing your photos to sync with specific beats of a song, you'll want to adjust each clip's duration individually. Select a clip on the timeline and drag the handles to manually set its length to match your audio cues.

4. Add Transitions, Effects, and Text

This is where editing outside of TikTok really shines. Between each clip on the timeline, you'll see a small white box with a vertical line. Tap this to open the transitions menu. You can add fades, zooms, glitches, and hundreds of other effects to make your slideshow more dynamic.

You can also add effects, filters, and animated text overlays, just like you would in TikTok, but with more granular control over duration and positioning.

5. Choose Your Audio Strategy

You have two choices when it comes to sound:

1. Add Audio in CapCut: You can use CapCut's library of commercial sounds or upload your own. This is great for creating a fully finished video with an original audio track.
2. Export Muted and Add a Trending Sound on TikTok (Recommended for Growth): To capitalize on a trending TikTok sound, it's best to add it directly within the TikTok app. To do this, simply complete your entire visual edit in CapCut, but make sure the final video's audio is muted. Export the silent video. When you upload this file to TikTok, you can then select a trending sound from TikTok's library, which helps the algorithm categorize your video and show it to more people.

6. Export Your Finished Video

Once you're happy with your slideshow, tap the resolution setting at the top right of the screen (e.g., "1080p"). For the best quality on TikTok, make sure your settings are at least 1080p and 30fps (frames per second). Then, tap the export icon (an arrow pointing up) to save the finished video to your phone's camera roll. Your device will now have a single, shareable video file containing all your photos.

Step 3: Upload Your Masterpiece to TikTok

Now for the easy part. The rest of your workflow happens right in the TikTok app, just as it normally would.

1. Open TikTok and press the + icon to create a new post.
2. In the bottom right corner, tap the "Upload" button.
3. Instead of navigating to the "Photos" tab and selecting multiple items, stay on the "Videos" tab and select the single video file you just exported from CapCut.
4. Your entire slideshow, with all 50, 75, or 100+ photos, is now loaded into the TikTok editor as one clip.
5. From here, you can proceed as usual. Tap "Add sound" to add a trending audio, layer on TikTok-native text or stickers if you'd like, record a voiceover, and add your caption and hashtags.
6. Hit "Post," and your unlimited slideshow is live for the world to see!

Tips for Making Your Long Slideshows More Engaging

Just because you can add over 100 photos doesn't always mean you should. An effective video still requires a good story and a strong hook regardless of length. Here's how to make sure your audience stays tuned 'til the final photo:

• Tell a Cohesive Story: Arrange your photos in a logical order that creates a narrative. This could be a chronological "day in my life," a process from start to finish (like a remodel or art project), or a visual tour of a vacation spot. A clear arc keeps viewers invested.
• Sync to the Beat: Rhythm is everything on TikTok. If you're using a song with distinct beats, use the custom timing method in your editor to make your photos change exactly on the beat. This "beat sync" technique is incredibly satisfying for viewers and dramatically increases "rewatches."
• Create a Powerful Hook: Your first one-to-three photos are the most important. They need to create curiosity and convince the viewer that the rest of the slideshow is worth watching. Start with the most dramatic "after" shot, the most stunning view, or the funniest moment.
• Maintain a Consistent Look: If possible, try to use photos with similar lighting and tones. For a more cohesive feel, apply the same filter or color grade to all the clips in your editing app. This makes the final product feel professional and polished rather than chaotic.

Final Thoughts

The solution to getting past TikTok's 35-photo limit is beautifully simple: assemble your slideshow in an external app like CapCut, export it as a single video clip, and then upload that file to TikTok. This workflow not only lets you add as many assets as you want but also gives you far more creative freedom to build a compelling visual narrative.

Creating engaging short-form video is one thing, but consistently planning, scheduling, and analyzing your content across multiple platforms is a whole other challenge. We built Postbase because we were tired of wrestling with older tools that weren't designed for today's video-first world. Our visual calendar lets you see your entire content plan for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts at a glance, making it easy to schedule posts in advance and trust that they'll actually go live. Instead of jumping between apps, you can manage a more cohesive social presence, grow more effortlessly, and get more time back to focus on creating great content and engaging with your community - that’s where the fun is!