How to Upload Videos to Instagram

Getting your video content onto Instagram should be simple, but with formats like Reels, Stories, and in-feed posts all vying for attention, it can feel a bit tangled. This guide smooths out the process, walking you through exactly how to upload each type of video, along with hard-won advice to make sure your content looks sharp and gets noticed every time.

Know Your Options: A Quick Guide to Instagram Video Formats

Before you upload, it helps to know where your video will live and why. Each format serves a different purpose and is designed for a specific kind of viewing experience. Choosing the right one is the first step toward getting more engagement.

Instagram Reels

Reels are short-form, vertical videos designed for discovery. This is Instagram's direct answer to TikTok, and the algorithm heavily favors engaging, entertaining, or educational Reels, showing them to people who don't even follow you. Think of Reels as your top-of-funnel content, they're your brand’s best chance to reach new audiences.

• Best For: Trends, tutorials, behind-the-scenes glimpses, humor, and quick educational tips.
• Length: Up to 90 seconds.
• Aspect Ratio: 9:16 (full-screen vertical).

In-Feed Videos

While Reels also appear in your feed, dedicated in-feed videos are great for longer content that caters to your existing audience. Previously known as IGTV, this format has been merged into the main feed. These videos don't get the same algorithmic "discovery" boost as Reels, but they are perfect for deepening your connection with the followers you already have.

• Best For: Mini-documentaries, in-depth tutorials, product showcases, interviews, or content that requires more than 90 seconds.
• Length: Up to 60 minutes.
• Aspect Ratio: Can be vertical (4:5), square (1:1), or landscape (16:9), though vertical 4:5 performs best as it takes up more screen space in the feed.

Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories are ephemeral, 24-hour video clips that live at the top of the app. Their temporary nature makes them feel informal, raw, and authentic. Stories are where you build community and engage directly with your most loyal followers using interactive elements like polls, quizzes, and Q&As. They are not designed for broad discovery but are immensely powerful for nurturing your audience.

• Best For: Daily updates, behind-the-scenes moments, interactive polls and questions, promotions, and sharing other creators' content.
• Length: Each video clip can be up to 60 seconds (Instagram automatically splits longer videos into 60-second segments).
• Aspect Ratio: 9:16 (full-screen vertical).

How to Upload a Reel (Step-by-Step)

Instagram is pushing Reels hard, and for good reason - they're the number one format for growth on the platform right now. Here’s how you get one posted:

1. Open the Creation Screen: From your home feed, tap the plus icon (+) at the bottom center of the screen and select Reel from the menu.
2. Select or Record Your Video: You can either record a video directly in the app or, more commonly, access your camera roll by tapping the gallery icon in the bottom-left corner. You can select one or multiple video clips to string together.
3. Edit Your Reel: This is where the magic happens. On the "Edit" screen, you can:
   • Trim, reorder, or split your clips.
   • Add music by tapping the music note icon. You can search for popular songs or use your own original audio.
   • Overlay text, add stickers, apply filters, and draw on the screen.
4. Craft Your Post: Tap Next. On this screen, write your caption. The first line is the most important, so lead with a hook that draws people in. Add your relevant hashtags here - a mix of broader, trending hashtags and smaller, niche-specific ones work well.
5. Adjust Your Settings: Before publishing, take care of logistics:
   • Edit cover: Choose a compelling frame from your video or upload a custom cover image to make your Reels grid look polished.
   • Tag people: Mention any accounts featured in your video.
   • Add location: If your location is relevant, tag it.
   • Rename audio: If you're using original audio, give it a unique name so others can discover and use it.
6. Share Your Reel: Tap the Share button. Your Reel will now be live on the Reels tab of your profile and visible to the audience you’ve selected (public or private). You can also choose to share it to your main profile grid, which is highly recommended for maximizing its visibility to your current followers.

How to Upload an In-Feed Video (Step-by-Step)

For content that’s longer than 90 seconds or isn’t designed for a fast-paced, trending format, a regular in-feed video is the way to go.

1. Start a New Post: Tap the plus icon (+) at the bottom of the screen and select Post.
2. Choose Your Video: Your camera roll will open automatically. Select the video you want to upload. You can tap the small "expand" icon on the left of the preview to toggle between the original aspect ratio and the default 1:1 square crop.
3. Trim and Fine-Tune: In the editing screen, you have basic options. You can apply filters (though it's generally better to color correct your video beforehand) and trim the length. You can also select a Cover frame, which is the thumbnail people will see before the video plays.
4. Write Your Caption: Craft a compelling caption and add relevant hashtags. Since in-feed videos are often longer, your caption is a great place to provide context, tell a story, or encourage discussion.
5. Finalize the Details: Just like with a photo post, you can tag other accounts, add a location, and explore advanced settings like adding branded content labels or turning off commenting before you share.
6. Go Live: Tap the Share button in the top right, and your video will be published to your feed.

How to Upload a Video to Your Story (Step-by-Step)

Stories are perfect for casual, in-the-moment sharing. The process is quick and loaded with creative options.

1. Open the Story Camera: Swipe right from your home feed, or tap the plus icon (+) at the screen and select Story.
2. Access Your Camera Roll: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen or tap the square gallery icon in the bottom-left corner to access the videos on your phone.
3. Select Your Video: Tap the video you want to post. If it's longer than 60 seconds, Instagram will automatically break it down into 60-second segments that will play consecutively in your Story.
4. Get Creative: Now you can add Instagram's signature interactive elements. Tap the sticker icon at the top to add GIFs, mention tags, location tags, music, polls, quizzes, or the popular Q&A box. You can also add text in different fonts and colors.
5. Share It: Once you're happy with your creation, you have a few options for sharing. Tap Your Story to post it for all your followers to see, or select Close Friends to share it with a smaller, curated list of people.

Best Practices for Uploading Videos That Get Noticed

Uploading is easy. But uploading a video that looks great and performs well requires a little more intention. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Nail the Technical Specs

Instagram compresses video files to save server space, which can sometimes degrade the quality of your upload. To minimize this, start with the best possible file.

• High quality upload setting: First, go to your Instagram Settings > Account > Data usage and make sure "Upload at highest quality" is toggled on. This tells the app not to excessively compress your files when on a cellular connection.
• File Format: MP4 is the universal standard and the most reliable option for Instagram.
• Resolution: Aim for a resolution of at least 1080p width. For a 9:16 video, that means 1080x1920 pixels. Anything less can start to look blurry.
• Frame Rate: 30 frames per second (FPS) is the sweet spot. It provides smooth motion and is what Instagram's platform is optimized for.

Craft an Unskippable First Three Seconds

You have a very small window to capture someone’s attention as they scroll. Your video's opening moments have to work hard. Use a strong visual hook, an on-screen text overlay with an intriguing question, or immediate movement to stop the scroll and encourage viewers to stick around.

Always Add Subtitles

The vast majority of users watch videos in their feed with the sound off. If your video relies on someone talking, your message is lost without text on screen. Always add burned-in captions or use Instagram's auto-caption sticker feature for Reels and Stories. Not only does this make your content accessible to those with hearing impairments, but it also caters to everyone watching in public or quiet environments.

Can I Upload Videos to Instagram from a Desktop?

Yes, you can! For years, this was one of the biggest frustrations for social media managers who edit their videos on a computer. Thankfully, Instagram now allows you to upload in-feed videos and Reels straight from your desktop browser.

The process is simple:

1. Go to Instagram.com and log in.
2. Click the plus icon (+) in the top menu bar.
3. A "Create new post" window will pop up. You can drag and drop your video file directly into this window or select it from your computer.
4. From there, you can crop the video, choose a cover frame, write your caption, add a location, and manage your settings - just like on mobile.

The only major limitation is that the creative editing tools for Reels (like adding trending audio or fancy transitions) are still far more robust in the mobile app. But for polished videos that are already edited and ready to go, the desktop uploader is a massive time-saver.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, uploading videos to Instagram is a straightforward process once you get familiar with the different formats and a few best practices. Whether you're posting a trending Reel, an in-depth in-feed video, or a quick Story, the key is to create content that feels native to the format your audience is viewing it in.

Once you get into a regular cadence of creating, managing videos across multiple platforms can start to feel overwhelming. It’s what inspired us to build Postbase from the ground up to support modern, video-first social media marketing. We wanted a simple, reliable way to plan our content calendar visually and schedule Reels, TikToks, and Shorts without dealing with compression issues or posts that mysteriously failed to publish, letting us spend more time on creativity instead of troubleshooting.