How to Upload a Video to TikTok

You’ve filmed the perfect video, and now it’s time to share it with the world on TikTok. This guide breaks down every step of the process, from uploading your first clip from your phone or computer to mastering the powerful in-app editing tools. We'll cover everything you need to know to get your content live and in front of your audience.

Before You Upload: Prepping Your Video for Success

Before you even hit the upload button, a little prep work can make a huge difference. Think of this as setting your video up for the best possible outcome. For TikTok, the algorithm (and viewers) favors content that looks like it belongs on the platform.

Here are the three quick specs to check:

• Aspect Ratio: Stick to a full-screen vertical format, which is a 9:16 aspect ratio. This is standard for most smartphones when held vertically. While you can upload horizontal videos, they won't fill the screen and tend to perform worse because they feel out of place.
• Resolution: Aim for a high-quality video. 1080p (1080x1920 pixels) is the sweet spot. While you can upload in 4K, TikTok will compress it anyway, so 1080p provides a great balance of clarity without massive file sizes.
• File Format: The most common and reliable formats are .MP4 and .MOV. Most editing software and smartphones export in these formats by default, so you should be good to go.

Finally, the most important element isn't technical - it's your hook. The first one to three seconds of your video are your golden ticket. Does it grab attention, ask a question, or present an interesting problem? A strong hook is the single best thing you can do to stop thumbs from scrolling.

How to Upload a Pre-Recorded Video to TikTok (Mobile App)

Most creators upload directly from their phones where their raw footage lives. The mobile app gives you access to TikTok's full suite of editing tools, including trending sounds and effects, which is a massive advantage. Here’s the step-by-step breakdown.

Step 1: Open TikTok and Tap the Plus (+) Icon

This is your starting point for all content creation on TikTok. Open the app and tap the big plus (+) icon at the bottom center of your screen. This will open the TikTok camera.

Step 2: Access Your Camera Roll

Since you already have a video ready, look to the bottom right of the camera screen. You’ll see a button labeled "Upload." Tap that, and it will open your phone's photo library or camera roll.

Step 3: Select Your Video(s)

Now, browse through your library and tap to select the video you want to upload. A cool feature here is that you can select multiple clips. If your final video is made of several different shots, you can select them all in the order you want them to appear. Once you've made your selections, tap "Next."

Step 4: Edit Your Video within TikTok

This is where the magic happens. After you tap "Next," you enter TikTok's editor, which is surprisingly powerful. You can make basic trims or go all out with effects, text, and sounds. Let's look at the most important tools on this screen.

Adjusting Clips, Trimming, and Reordering

On the editing timeline, you can tap and hold a clip to drag it into a new position, pinch the timeline to zoom in for precise edits, and drag the white handles on either end of a clip to trim its start or end point. You can also tap a clip and choose "Split" to cut it into two separate parts.

Adding Sounds and Music

At the top of the editing screen, you’ll see an "Add sound" button. Tap it to open TikTok's massive library of commercial music and viral audio clips. Using a trending sound is one of the fastest ways to get your video noticed. You can browse playlists, search for specific tracks, or look at what's currently "Trending." Once you select a sound, you can use the "Volume" tool to adjust the balance between the original audio of your video and the music you've added.

Adding Text and Text-to-Speech

Tap the "Text" tool (Aa) in the right-hand menu. Type your message, and then you can customize the font, color, and background. A key feature here is Text-to-Speech. After you've written your text, tap the little head-and-soundwaves icon to have a Siri-like voice read your text aloud. Another useful function is "Set duration," which lets you control exactly when the text appears and disappears in your video.

Applying Effects, Filters, and Stickers

The right-hand sidebar is your toolkit for visual flair.

• Effects: This opens a universe of AR filters, transitions, and popular visual gags. You can apply effects to individual clips along your timeline.
• Filters: These are color grading presets that change the overall mood and look of your video. You can adjust the intensity from 0 to 100.
• Stickers: Here, you can add GIFs, polls, emoji, or even mention another user with a sticker.

Recording a Voiceover

If you prefer to narrate your video, find the "Voiceover" option in the right-hand editing menu (you might need to tap the down arrow to expand the list). Tap and hold the record button to speak over your video. This is perfect for tutorial videos, day-in-the-life vlogs, or storytelling clips.

Step 5: Write Your Caption and Add Hashtags

Once you’re happy with your video edit, tap "Next" to move to the final posting screen. Here, you'll craft your caption. You have 2,200 characters, but you don’t need to use them all. A good caption is short, engaging, and relates directly to the video. Often, posing a question is a great way to generate comments.

Hashtags are also a big deal. A solid strategy is to use a mix of 3-5 hashtags:

• Broad hashtags: Like #food or #DIY (very high volume).
• Niche hashtags: Like #veganrecipes or #woodworkingtips (more targeted audience).
• Trending hashtags: Look at your discovery page for what's currently popular.

Step 6: Configure Your Post Settings

Before you hit post, review these important options:

• Cover: Select a frame from your video to be the thumbnail. Choose a visually interesting, high-quality frame that captures the essence of your video.
• Tag people: Use the @ symbol to mention any other accounts featured in your video.
• Location: Adding a location can help your video get shown to people in that area.
• Audience controls: Set your video to "Public," "Friends," or "Only Me." For growth, you’ll always want to choose "Public."
• Allow high-quality uploads: Under "More options," make sure this toggle is switched on to get the best possible video quality.

Step 7: Post or Save to Drafts

You have two choices at the bottom of the screen. Tap "Post" to send your video out into the world immediately. Or, if you're not quite ready, tap "Drafts." This saves the video, with all of your edits and caption, to a private folder on your profile. You can come back and post it later without losing your work.

Uploading a Video to TikTok from Your Desktop

If you create highly-polished marketing videos or tutorials edited on a computer, uploading from your desktop is much more convenient than transferring the file to your phone.

The process is straightforward:

1. Go to tiktok.com/upload and log in to your account.
2. You'll see a large upload window. You can either drag and drop your video file (MP4 or MOV) directly into it or click to select the file from your computer.
3. Once uploaded, you can fill in your caption, add hashtags, and select a cover image.
4. Configure the privacy settings for who can view the video and whether you want to allow comments, Duets, or Stitches.
5. The desktop uploader has one huge advantage over mobile: you can schedule your video. If you want your video to go live at a specific day and time, just toggle on the "Schedule video" option and select a date and time. This is perfect for planning a content calendar in advance.
6. Click "Post" or "Schedule" to finish.

One thing to note: the desktop uploader doesn't give you access to TikTok's trending sound library or effects. It's best used for videos that are already 100% complete and just need to be posted.

Pro Tips for Getting Your Uploads Noticed

Uploading is just the first step. Getting people to actually watch and engage is the real goal. Here are a few strategies to keep in mind.

Ride the Wave of Trending Audio

The TikTok algorithm heavily favors videos that use trending sounds. When you hear a sound repeatedly on your For You Page, that's your sign. Saving popular sounds and creating your own video with them is a powerful way to increase your reach.

Write Captions That Spark Conversation

Don't let your caption be an afterthought. Asking a question like, "Have you ever tried this?" or "What's the one thing I missed?" can be a huge driver of comments. The more comments you get, the more TikTok will push your video to new audiences.

Find the Best Time to Post

If you have a Pro or Business account (it’s a free switch in settings), you get access to Analytics. Under the "Followers" tab, you can find data showing the days and hours your audience is most active. Posting a video right before this peak window gives it the best chance to get immediate engagement.

Engage with Comments Immediately

The first hour after posting is critical. Try to be available to "like" and reply to comments as they come in. This engagement signals to the algorithm that your content is valuable and interesting, which can push it to an even wider audience.

Final Thoughts

From prepping your file to mastering the editing tools and scheduling from your desktop, uploading a video to TikTok is a straightforward process. By focusing on good hooks, using the right settings, and engaging with trends, you can give your content the best possible chance to connect with your audience and grow your account.

Once you’ve mastered the art of uploading, staying consistent can feel like a full-time job. As creators, we experienced the friction of planning content, shooting, editing, and then still having to remember to publish at the right time. That’s why we built Postbase. We wanted a tool designed for the way video content actually works today. It lets us organize all our TikTok ideas in a visual calendar, reliably schedule finished videos from our desktop without distraction, and manage all our comments without constantly jumping back into the app.