How to Post a Long Video on Facebook

Struggling to get your full-length podcast, webinar, or gameplay video onto Facebook? It should be a simple drag-and-drop, but technical limits and confusing specs can quickly turn the process into a real headache. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to upload long videos to Facebook, covering the official limits and providing clear, step-by-step methods that actually work.

Why Won't My Long Video Upload to Facebook? Understanding the Limits

Before we get into the "how," it's helpful to understand the "why." Usually, when a long video fails to upload on Facebook, it's because it's bumping up against one of two key limitations: file format or file size. Once you know the rules of the game, you can prepare your video to succeed.

Here's a quick breakdown of Facebook's video specifications as of today:

• Maximum Length: For a standard video uploaded to a Facebook Page or profile feed, the maximum length is 240 minutes (4 hours).
• Maximum File Size: The largest video file you can upload is 10 GB.
• Recommended Formats: While Facebook accepts most common video file types, MP4 or MOV formats are your best bets for smooth processing and quality.
• Resolution: Up to 4K is supported, but 1080p is generally the sweet spot for web viewing, balancing quality with manageable file sizes.

So, here's the reality: it's rare for creators to have a video that's longer than the 240-minute time limit. More often than not, the primary roadblock is the 10 GB file size limit. A high-quality, hour-long video shot in 1080p or 4K can easily exceed 10 GB. This is where most people get stuck, and it's what we'll focus on solving.

What About Reels, Stories, and In-Stream Video Ads?

It's also important to remember that different placements on Facebook have unique length requirements. The 240-minute limit applies to standard feed videos hosted on Facebook Watch. Here's how other formats differ:

• Facebook Reels: Up to 90 seconds.
• Facebook Stories: Up to 60 seconds of video per Story card.
• In-Stream Video Ads: Typically range from 5 to 15 seconds, but longer formats are possible in some cases.

For your long-form masterpiece - be it a sermon, a documentary, a full keynote speech, or a DJ set - your destination is the regular Facebook feed (which populates Facebook Watch).

How to Post a Long Video on Facebook: 3 Main Methods

Now that you know the limitations, let's get down to the practical steps for getting your video published. We'll cover three common scenarios and the best method for each.

Method 1: The Standard Desktop Upload (For Videos Under 10GB)

If your video is under the 240-minute and 10 GB limits, the process is straightforward. We always recommend uploading from a desktop computer, as it's far more stable and offers more optimization options than mobile.

Here's how to do it step-by-step from your Facebook Page:

1. Navigate to Your Page: Log in to Facebook and go to the page you want to post from.
2. Open Creator Studio or Meta Business Suite: For the most features and best experience, use Meta's professional dashboards. You can get there by clicking on "Meta Business Suite" in the left-hand menu of your Facebook Page. Once inside, click "Create Post."
3. Add Your Video: In the post creation tool, click the "Add Video" button and choose "Upload from Desktop." Find and select your video file.
4. Wait for the Upload: Facebook will start uploading and processing your video. This can take a while for larger files, so be patient and don't close the browser window.
5. Optimize Your Video Details (SUPER IMPORTANT): While it uploads, you'll see fields for crafting your post. Don't skip this!
   • Video Title: Give your video a clear, descriptive title. Think about what people might search for.
   • Description: Write a compelling description that tells viewers what the video is about and why they should watch. Ask a question to encourage comments.
   • Thumbnail: Facebook will suggest some automatically generated frames, but for a professional look, always upload a custom-designed thumbnail. Click "Upload Image" to add your own.
   • Tags: Add relevant tags to help Facebook categorize your video and show it to people interested in those topics.
   • Captions: In the "Video Details" section, you can toggle ON the option to auto-generate captions. After they're generated, review them for accuracy. This is huge for accessibility and for viewers watching with sound off.
6. Choose Your Publishing Option: Once your video is ready, you can either "Publish" it immediately, "Schedule" it for a future date and time, or "Save as Draft" to finish later.

Following this process through Meta Business Suite gives you much more control and can significantly improve your video's reach compared to a simple feed upload.

Method 2: Compressing Your Video File (For Videos Over 10GB)

What if your video file is a whopping 15 GB or 20 GB? This is a common issue for anyone recording long sessions in high resolution. The solution is video compression - the process of shrinking the file size while maintaining as much quality as possible.

An excellent, free, and powerful tool for this is HandBrake. It's an open-source video transcoder available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. It may look a bit intimidating, but it is actually quite simple for basic compression.

How to Compress a Video with HandBrake:

1. Download and Install HandBrake: Get it from its official website.
2. Open Your Video File: Launch HandBrake, and on the home screen, select your large video file as the "Source."
3. Choose a Preset: Under the "Preset" drop-down, you have a list of optimization options. For Facebook, a good place to start is under the "Web" category. "Fast 1080p30" is a fantastic, well-rounded choice that balances quality and file size. If your file is extremely large, you might try "Fast 720p30".
4. Check the "Web Optimized" Box: Under the "Summary" tab, make sure the "Web Optimized" checkbox is ticked. This structures the file for smoother streaming.
5. Set Your Destination and Start: Choose where you want to save the new compressed file ("Save As") and click the green "Start Encode" button. The process will take some time, depending on your video length and computer speed.

Once HandBrake is finished, you'll have a new, much smaller MP4 file. In many cases, this process can reduce a file's size by 50-70% with very little noticeable loss in quality on a platform like Facebook. From there, just head back to Method 1 and upload your new, optimized file.

Method 3: The Strategic Link Share to YouTube or Vimeo

What if you don't want to compress your video, or what if you'd rather build up your presence on another platform like YouTube? You can always upload your uncut, high-resolution original to a platform like YouTube or Vimeo (which often have much more generous limits for pros) and then share the link to Facebook.

However, you need to be strategic about this.

Social media platforms, including Facebook, generally prefer native content - content that is uploaded directly to their own servers. The algorithm tends to favor native videos over external links, which means a linked video may get less organic reach.

When Linking Is a Good Strategy:

• When driving traffic to your YouTube channel is your primary goal. You want clicks and subscribers over there.
• When your video is so massive that compression would still not bring it under the 10 GB limit.
• When you're sharing to Facebook Groups where file uploads might be restricted or less common.

How to Make Your Link Post Engaging:

• Write a Strong Introduction: Don't just paste the link. Write a few engaging sentences that hook the reader, explain what the video is about, and give a powerful reason to click through.
• Let the Thumbnail Shine: When you paste the link, Facebook will pull the title, description, and thumbnail from YouTube/Vimeo. Make sure your video on that platform has an amazing thumbnail set.
• Ask a Question: Prompt the user to comment on your Facebook post after they watch. This can help juice engagement on the Facebook post itself, even if the view happens elsewhere.

Best Practices for Engaging, Long Videos on Facebook

Just getting the video uploaded is only half the battle. You also want people to actually watch it. Engagement for long-form content on a fast-moving feed can be tough, but these tips will help:

• Hook Them Immediately: The first 3-10 seconds are everything. Start with a powerful quote, a preview of the best moment, or an intriguing question. Don't waste time with long, slow-fade intros.
• Create Shorter Teasers: Create a compelling 60-90 second vertical slice of your long video and post it as a Facebook Reel. In the caption, tell people the full video is available on your page and link to it in the comments or your bio. This is one of the most effective ways to drive traffic to long-form content.
• Pin it to the Top of Your Page: If this video is a new cornerstone piece of content (like a company documentary or a detailed tutorial), pin it so it's the first thing visitors see when they land on your Page.
• Promote it Across Your Channels: After posting, don't just sit and wait. Share your video to relevant Facebook Groups, your personal profile (if appropriate), and mention it in an Instagram Story with a "link in bio."

Final Thoughts

Posting long videos on Facebook isn't impossible, it just requires knowing the rules and having the right strategy. Whether you're uploading an optimized file directly, compressing a massive video to fit the limits, or thoughtfully sharing a link from another platform, the key is to prepare your video correctly to set it up for success.

We know that managing content, especially long videos requiring special prep work, can tax a social media calendar. That's why we built Postbase to make the planning and scheduling part of the process genuinely simple. Our visual calendar helps you see where a big video release fits into your broader strategy, and our rock-solid video scheduler handles the publishing reliably, saving you from wrestling with uploads in native apps when you have better things to do. Your focus should be on creating amazing content, not wondering if it will post correctly.

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