# How to post a long video on Instagram

Canonical: https://postmesh.app/blog/how-to-post-a-long-video-on-instagram

By PostMesh team. Published 2026-10-31; updated 2026-10-31.

Post a long video as a Reel: Instagram's help page says you can record or upload clips that add up to 20 minutes, but Reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences. Stories split videos longer than 60 seconds into clips, and scheduling tools that use Instagram's API stop at 15 minutes and 300 MB.

Instagram used to be a place for short clips, and a lot of advice online still reflects that. Today a single Reel can run 20 minutes, Stories handle long uploads by cutting them into pieces, and Live has no published time limit at all. What changes with length is who sees your video, and which tools can post it for you. This guide covers every format with the limits Instagram publishes, step-by-step posting on a phone and a computer, what to do with videos longer than 20 minutes, and how to tell whether people actually watch long videos on your account.

## The short answer

Open Instagram, start a new Reel, pick your video from your camera roll, edit, write a caption and share. Instagram's [help page on recording Reels](https://help.instagram.com/2720958398006062) says you can record and edit videos up to 20 minutes, as one clip or several that add up to 20 minutes. It also says, in a note that matters a lot for long videos, that Reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences.

So there are really two limits to plan around: 20 minutes is the most Instagram will take in a Reel, and 3 minutes is the most it will push to people who don't already follow you. If you schedule posts with a tool that uses Instagram's API, a third limit applies: Meta's developer documentation caps Reels at 15 minutes and 300 MB.

- 20 min: Longest Reel you can record or upload in the app
- 3 min: Longest Reel Instagram recommends to new audiences
- 60 sec: Longest single Story clip; longer videos split
- 15 min: Longest Reel through Instagram's publishing API

*The four length limits that decide how to post a long video.*

| Where it goes | Longest video | What to know |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reel, posted in the app or on instagram.com | 20 minutes | Over 3 minutes isn't recommended to new audiences. |
| Story | 60 seconds per clip | Longer videos are broken into multiple clips. |
| Live | No limit published | Needs a public account with 1,000 or more followers. |
| Carousel video | Not published on the help page | Up to 20 photos and videos per post; carousel videos aren't Reels. |
| Reel through a scheduling tool (API) | 15 minutes, 300 MB | Minimum 3 seconds; MOV or MP4. |
| Story through a scheduling tool (API) | 60 seconds, 100 MB | Minimum 3 seconds. |

**How long is your video?**
- Up to 3 minutes → Post it as a Reel. It can be recommended to new audiences, and any scheduling tool can send it.
- 3 to 15 minutes → Post it as a Reel. It won't be recommended to new audiences; consider a short cut for reach.
- 15 to 20 minutes → Post it from the Instagram app or instagram.com. Tools using Instagram's API can't send it.
- Over 20 minutes → Split it into parts, go Live, or post it in full elsewhere and share a clip on Instagram.

*Pick your route by length before you start editing.*

## How long can a video be on Instagram?

It depends on the format. Here's what Instagram's help pages and Meta's developer documentation say for each one.

### Reels: up to 20 minutes

Instagram's Reels help page says you can record one or multiple clips that add up to 20 minutes, and that a progress bar at the top shows how long you've recorded. The same page notes that Reels isn't available to everyone yet: some accounts can see Reels but can't record them. If you can't find the option, that may be why.

### Stories: 60 seconds per clip

Instagram's [Story help page](https://help.instagram.com/1257341144298972) says a video up to 60 seconds long appears as one clip in your story. Longer videos are broken up into multiple clips, which you can edit with a video trimmer at the bottom of the screen, though Instagram says the trimmer is currently only on iOS. Stories disappear after 24 hours unless you add them to your profile as highlights.

### Live: no published limit

Instagram's [Live help page](https://help.instagram.com/292478487812558) explains who can go live and how, but doesn't state a maximum length, and we didn't find one on Instagram's other Live pages. What it does say is that only public accounts with 1,000 or more followers can start a live video. After it ends, you can share the replay to your profile as a Reel or keep it in your Live archive.

### Carousels: up to 20 items, length not published

Instagram's [carousel help page](https://help.instagram.com/269314186824048) says you can share up to 20 photos and videos as a single post, but doesn't list a maximum length for each video. It does say videos in carousels aren't considered Reels: they won't show in your Reels tab or get Reels features, and posts with several videos may take longer to upload.

### Through scheduling tools: 15 minutes

Scheduling tools that post through Instagram's API follow Meta's developer rules, not the app's. Meta's [media publishing reference](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/instagram-platform/instagram-graph-api/reference/ig-user/media) lists Reels at 3 seconds to 15 minutes and up to 300 MB, and Stories at 3 seconds to 60 seconds and up to 100 MB. It also says Reels can't be part of a carousel published through the API. Our [Instagram Reel size guide](/blog/instagram-reel-size) has the full technical spec, including codecs and bitrate.

## How do I post a long video as a Reel on my phone?

These are the steps Instagram's help page gives for the Android and iPhone apps, with notes on what matters for long videos.

Instagram app: Profile picture › Create new › Reel › Camera roll

*Start a Reel and pull your long video in from the camera roll.*

1. **Start a new Reel**: Tap your profile picture in the bottom right, tap Create new in the top right, then tap Reel.
2. **Add your video**: Tap your camera roll in the bottom left and choose the video. You can add several clips; together they can run up to 20 minutes.
3. **Edit on the timeline**: Tap Next, then Edit video in the bottom left. The timeline shows your clips with any text, stickers and music. Use the trimmers on each clip to change its length, and Reorder to rearrange clips.
4. **Pick a cover**: Tap Next in the top right, then Edit cover to choose a frame or upload an image. On a long video, a clear cover is what people judge it by in your grid.
5. **Write the caption and settings**: Add a caption, location or fundraiser, and choose whether to share to Facebook. More options lets you allow templates or downloads.
6. **Share**: Tap Share. Keep the app open and stay on a stable connection while a long file uploads.

> Instagram's help page says that if you share your Reel to Explore, it can also be seen in the Reels section of your profile. For a long Reel, remember the 3-minute note: being on Explore doesn't change the fact that Reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences.

### Recording a long Reel inside Instagram

You can also record in the app: tap Camera at the top of the Reel screen, then tap and hold Record for a clip, or tap once to start and again to stop. The progress bar fills as you record toward 20 minutes. For anything long, recording in your phone's camera app or in Instagram's Edits app and then uploading gives you more control and a file you keep.

### Using Edits for long videos

Instagram's [Edits help page](https://help.instagram.com/596380656307917) describes a separate video app from Instagram where you record and edit projects, switch resolution between HD, 2K and 4K, add music, a green screen or a teleprompter, then share to Instagram or download watermark free. Its [export page](https://help.instagram.com/553588510887194) says you can share a project to Instagram as a Reel or save it as an Instagram draft linked to the Edits project, so later edits can be exported again without losing your caption and tags. Deleted projects stay in Trash for 7 days before they're gone for good.

## How do I post a long video on Instagram from a computer?

Long videos often live on a laptop, and Instagram's Reels help page covers instagram.com too:

1. **Open Create**: On instagram.com, click Create on the left, then click Post.
2. **Choose the file**: Click Select from computer and pick your video. To add more files, click Media in the bottom right, then Add.
3. **Set the cover and trim**: Click Next. Use the Cover photo slider to pick a frame, or Select from computer to upload one. Use the Trim slider to cut the start or end.
4. **Add details**: Click Next. Write a caption, add a location, tag people, add alt text and adjust settings.
5. **Share**: Click Share in the top right and keep the tab open until the upload finishes.

1. Create, then Post
2. Select from computer
3. Pick cover and trim
4. Caption, tags and alt text
5. Share and keep the tab open

*Posting a long video from a computer on instagram.com.*

The computer flow has simpler editing than the app: a cover and a start-and-end trim, not the full timeline. Do your cuts in a video editor first. Our guide on [posting to Instagram from a desktop](/blog/can-you-post-on-instagram-from-desktop) covers what else works in a browser.

## Why won't Instagram recommend my long Reel?

Because of length. Instagram's Reels help page says it plainly: Reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences. It doesn't say more about how recommendations work, so here's what that line does and doesn't mean in practice.

- A Reel over 3 minutes still posts, still appears on your profile and can still be seen by people who come to it.
- What it loses is recommendation to new audiences, the people who don't follow you and would otherwise find you through suggestions.
- Instagram doesn't say it hides long Reels from your followers. The note is specifically about new audiences.
- There's no partial penalty described. The line is drawn at 3 minutes, so a Reel at 2 minutes 59 seconds and one at 3 minutes 1 second sit on different sides of it.

**Reel up to 3 minutes**
- Can be recommended to new audiences
- Any scheduling tool can send it
- Good for discovery and growth

**Reel 3 to 20 minutes**
- Won't be recommended to new audiences
- API tools stop at 15 minutes
- Best for followers who want depth

*The 3-minute line decides who your Reel can reach.*

### How to get reach and length

If you want both new viewers and a full-length video, post two things. Cut a version of 3 minutes or less with the strongest part of the video, and post it as a Reel that can be recommended. Then post the full version separately, as a long Reel for followers or on a platform built for long video, and point to it from the short one's caption. Our guide to [clipping a YouTube video](/blog/how-to-clip-a-youtube-video) covers making short cuts from long footage, and [posting a YouTube video on Instagram](/blog/how-to-post-a-youtube-video-on-instagram) explains how to move a video from YouTube to Instagram.

### Where to put the short cut

Not sure whether the short version should be a Reel, a post or a Story? Our comparison of [Instagram posts, Stories and Reels](/blog/instagram-post-vs-story-vs-reel) explains what each format is for. In short: Reels for reach, Stories for your existing followers over 24 hours, feed posts for carousels.

## How do I post a video longer than 20 minutes on Instagram?

There's no format that accepts a single uploaded video over 20 minutes. You have four real options.

### Option 1: split it into parts

Cut the video into parts of 20 minutes or less in a video editor, and post each as its own Reel. Label them clearly in the cover and caption, for example Part 1 of 3, and post them in order so the newest part sits at the top of your grid. If reach matters, keep each part under 3 minutes instead, which means more parts but each one can be recommended.

### Option 2: a carousel of clips

A carousel holds up to 20 photos and videos, so in principle you can put several segments in one post. Instagram's carousel page doesn't publish a per-video length, so test with your own clips before relying on it. Remember that carousel videos aren't Reels: they don't appear in your Reels tab and don't get Reels features.

### Option 3: go Live

Instagram doesn't publish a maximum Live length, and a Live replay can be shared as a Reel afterward. It suits events, talks and Q&As rather than an edited video, and it needs a public account with at least 1,000 followers. The Live section below has the steps.

### Option 4: post the full video elsewhere and share a clip

For long tutorials, interviews or films, the full version usually belongs on a platform built for long video, with a short cut on Instagram pointing to it. The limits table near the end of this guide shows what each network accepts, and our guide to [scheduling YouTube videos](/blog/how-to-schedule-youtube-videos) covers publishing the long version.

### A worked example: a 45-minute workshop

Say you recorded a 45-minute workshop and want it on Instagram. Here's one way to plan it with the limits above. First, cut a highlight of about 90 seconds: the single most useful tip, with a caption saying where the full session is. Post that as a Reel, since at under 3 minutes it can be recommended to people who don't follow you yet. Second, decide where the full 45 minutes lives. On Instagram it has to be split, so that's three Reels of 15 minutes each, labeled Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3, which also keeps each part inside the 15-minute API limit if you want a scheduler to post them. Off Instagram, the full recording can go to YouTube as one video, which PostMesh can publish to verified channels at up to 12 hours. Third, use Stories on the day: a 60-second teaser clip that points to the highlight Reel.

Then check the results after a week. If the three parts show an average watch time of a few minutes each, your followers are watching in depth and long parts work for you. If almost everyone leaves early, put more effort into short cuts and send people to the full version elsewhere. The insights section below explains where to find those numbers.

## How do I share a long video to my Instagram Story?

Stories accept long videos by cutting them into clips. Instagram's Story help page gives these steps for Android and iPhone:

1. **Open the Story camera**: Tap Create at the top or swipe right anywhere in Feed, then scroll to Story at the bottom.
2. **Pick your video**: Swipe up anywhere on the screen to choose a video from your gallery or camera roll.
3. **Check the clips**: Videos up to 60 seconds appear as one clip. Longer ones are broken into multiple clips; on iOS you can adjust them with the trimmer at the bottom.
4. **Add text or stickers**: Tap Draw, Text or Sticker. Drag anything you don't want to Delete at the bottom.
5. **Share**: Tap Your Story in the bottom left.

A long video in Stories becomes a run of 60-second segments that viewers tap through, and it's gone after 24 hours unless you save it as a highlight. That's fine for a few minutes of footage, but a 15-minute video becomes 15 separate clips, and many viewers won't tap through all of them. Use Stories to tease a long Reel, not to host it. If your Story video looks soft after upload, our guide to [why Instagram Stories look blurry](/blog/why-is-my-instagram-story-blurry) covers the usual causes.

## How do I go live on Instagram for a long broadcast?

Live is the one format without a published time limit. Instagram's Live help page sets out who can use it and how.

### Who can go live

- Only public accounts with 1,000 or more followers can start a live video.
- Live is off by default for Teen Accounts. Teens under 16 need a parent's or guardian's permission to turn it on; teens 16 to 17 can turn it on themselves.
- Newly created accounts may not be able to go live.
- If you've posted something removed for going against the Community Standards, you may not be able to go live. Account Status shows your permissions.

### Start a live video

1. **Open Live**: Swipe right anywhere in Feed, then scroll to Live at the bottom.
2. **Add a title**: Tap Title on the left, enter a title, then tap Add title.
3. **Go live**: Tap Go live at the bottom. Viewer numbers show at the top and comments at the bottom. Tap a comment and Pin comment to keep it visible.
4. **End it**: Tap Close in the top right, then End now. You can then share the broadcast.

### Schedule it ahead

Instagram's [scheduling page for Live](https://help.instagram.com/205039954953836) says you can schedule a live video from 1 hour to 90 days in advance: tap Create or swipe right in Feed, tap Live, tap Schedule, enter a title and start time, then tap Schedule live video. Followers can set reminders from posts and stories you share about it.

- Up to 90 days before: Schedule the live video and share it so followers can set reminders
- 45 minutes before: Last chance to change the start time
- 24 hours and 15 minutes before: Instagram sends you reminders
- During: Go live, pin a comment, manage requests and comments
- After: Share the replay as a Reel or keep it in your Live archive

*How a scheduled Live runs, from Instagram's help pages.*

### Share the replay

Instagram's [replay page](https://help.instagram.com/562982737951475) says that once your live video ends, you can tap Share as reel to post the replay to your profile and Feed. A few limits come with it: the replay won't include likes or comments from the live broadcast, its viewer count restarts, and you can't edit or trim the video before sharing it. You can also tap Download to save it to your camera roll, then edit it and post a trimmed version as a regular Reel. Instagram's [Live archive page](https://help.instagram.com/813486081708433) says broadcasts are saved to your Live archive by default, and you can turn that off in Live settings.

## Can I schedule a long video on Instagram?

Yes, within limits. Any tool that publishes through Instagram's API can only send Reels from 3 seconds to 15 minutes and up to 300 MB, per Meta's developer reference. A 16-minute Reel has to be posted by hand from the app or instagram.com.

| Spec | Instagram API limit for Reels |
| --- | --- |
| Length | 3 seconds to 15 minutes |
| File size | Up to 300 MB |
| Container | MOV or MP4 |
| Video codec | HEVC or H.264 |
| Audio | AAC, up to 48 kHz, mono or stereo |
| Frame rate | 23 to 60 fps |
| Width | Up to 1,920 pixels |
| Video bitrate | Up to 25 Mbps |

For long Reels, the 300 MB cap bites before the 15-minute cap. Spread 300 MB over 15 minutes and you get roughly 2.7 megabits per second for video and audio combined, far below the 25 Mbps maximum, so export long videos at a modest bitrate rather than the highest your editor offers. [PostMesh](/platform/instagram) checks Instagram videos against these limits before scheduling: MP4 or MOV, 3 seconds to 15 minutes, up to 300 MB, frame rate 23 to 60 fps, published as a Reel and shared to your feed. It publishes through Instagram's API, so a scheduled post goes out at the time you pick even if your computer is off. Our [Instagram scheduling guide](/blog/how-to-schedule-instagram-posts) compares that with Instagram's own options, and the [best time to post on Instagram](/blog/best-time-to-post-on-instagram) guide helps you pick a slot.

## How do I prepare a long video so it uploads cleanly?

Long files fail more often than short ones, simply because there's more to send. A few export choices make that much less likely, and the same file then works in the app and in scheduling tools.

**Before you upload a long Instagram video**
- [ ] Exported as MP4 or MOV with H.264 or HEVC video
- [ ] AAC audio at up to 48 kHz
- [ ] Frame rate between 23 and 60 fps
- [ ] 20 minutes or less, or 15 minutes if a scheduler will post it
- [ ] Under 300 MB if a scheduler will post it
- [ ] Vertical 9:16, the shape Meta recommends for Reels
- [ ] Cover image chosen in advance
- [ ] Instagram app updated and a stable connection

*Codec, frame rate and size limits come from Meta's developer reference.*

Shape matters as much as length. Our [Instagram Reel size guide](/blog/instagram-reel-size) covers the 9:16 frame, safe zones and cover size in detail, and the [Instagram post size guide](/blog/instagram-post-size) covers feed and carousel shapes. Before you post anywhere, the [post checker](/tools/post-checker) tests a caption and file against each network's limits, and the [Instagram caption counter](/tools/instagram-caption-character-counter) keeps a long video's description within Instagram's caption limit.

## Why won't my long video upload to Instagram?

Work through these in order. Each one comes from Instagram's help pages or the limits above.

- It's over 20 minutes. The app won't take a longer Reel; trim or split it.
- You're using a scheduler and it's over 15 minutes or 300 MB. Those are the API limits; post it by hand or shorten it.
- Reels isn't available on your account yet. Instagram's Reels page says some accounts can see Reels but can't record them.
- The app is out of date. Instagram's [app troubleshooting page](https://help.instagram.com/518372316681740) says some older versions stopped being supported in May 2022 and recommends updating, and reminds you that instagram.com works in a browser.
- The connection dropped. Instagram's carousel page says posts with multiple videos may take longer to upload and to use a reliable network; the same logic applies to any long file.
- The file uses an unusual format. Re-export as MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio.
- None of the above. Report it: shake your phone and tap Report a problem, or go to Menu, then Help, then Report a problem, as Instagram's [technical problem page](https://help.instagram.com/381579045265733) describes.

> If a long Reel uploads but looks soft, the cause is usually the export, not the length. Start from a 9:16 file, the shape Meta's developer reference recommends, and check our Reel size guide for resolution and frame rate settings.

## How do I know if people watch my long videos?

Length only helps if people stay. Instagram's [Reel insights page](https://help.instagram.com/202865988324236) lists the metrics that answer that question, available for up to two years after a Reel is published:

| Metric | What Instagram says it measures |
| --- | --- |
| Views | The number of times your Reel starts to play or replay. |
| Watch time | The total time your Reel was played, including replays. |
| Average watch time | Watch time divided by initial views, where an initial view is the first play in a Reel session. |
| Viewers | Unique accounts that saw your Reel on screen at least once, whether or not it played. |
| Follows | Accounts that started following you after viewing the Reel. |

To open them, go to your profile, tap Reels, tap the Reel and tap View insights. For a long Reel, compare average watch time with the Reel's length. If a 10-minute Reel averages under a minute, most people leave early, and a shorter cut may serve you better. If people stay for most of it, your audience wants depth. Our guide to [turning on Instagram Insights](/blog/how-to-turn-on-instagram-insights) explains who can see insights and how to read them.

## Where else can I post the full-length version?

If your video runs past 20 minutes, or you want the full cut somewhere it can be recommended at any length, these are the video limits PostMesh checks when it publishes to each network:

| Network | Longest video PostMesh can publish | File limit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| YouTube | 12 hours for verified channels; unverified channels are capped at 15 minutes | 256 GB |
| LinkedIn | 30 minutes | 200 MB |
| TikTok | 10 minutes, or less if your account's limit is lower | 4 GB |
| Threads | 5 minutes | 1 GB |
| Facebook Pages | No maximum set; 1 second minimum | 1 GB |
| Instagram Reels | 15 minutes | 300 MB |

A common pattern is the full video on [YouTube](/platform/youtube), a short cut as an Instagram Reel, and the same short cut on TikTok and Threads. Our guide to [cross-posting to several platforms](/blog/how-to-cross-post-to-multiple-platforms) covers adapting one video for each network so you don't post the same thing everywhere unchanged.

## Questions

### What's the longest video I can post on Instagram?

A Reel can be up to 20 minutes, recorded or uploaded in the app or on instagram.com. Live has no published limit.

### Why do some Reels stop at 15 minutes?

That's the limit for tools posting through Instagram's API. Meta's developer documentation caps Reels at 15 minutes and 300 MB.

### Do long Reels get fewer views?

Instagram says Reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences, so they mostly reach people who already follow you or find your profile.

### Can I post a 1-hour video on Instagram?

Not as one upload. Split it into Reels of 20 minutes or less, go Live, or post it in full elsewhere and share a clip.

### How long can an Instagram Story video be?

Each Story clip holds up to 60 seconds. Longer videos are automatically broken into multiple clips.

### Do videos in a carousel count as Reels?

No. Instagram says videos in carousels aren't considered Reels, so they don't appear in your Reels tab or get Reels features.

### Who can go live on Instagram?

Public accounts with 1,000 or more followers. New accounts and accounts with removed content may not be able to go live.

### Can I trim a Live replay before sharing it?

Not in Instagram. Its help page says you can't edit or trim a replay before sharing, but you can download it, edit it, and post the edit as a Reel.

### Can I upload a long video from my computer?

Yes. On instagram.com, click Create, then Post, then Select from computer. You can set a cover and trim the start and end.

### How do I see how long people watch my long Reels?

Open the Reel and tap View insights. Instagram shows watch time and average watch time for Reels for up to two years.

## Sources

- [Instagram Help: Record a reel on Instagram](https://help.instagram.com/2720958398006062)

- [Instagram Help: Share a photo or video to your Instagram story](https://help.instagram.com/1257341144298972)

- [Instagram Help: Start a live video on Instagram](https://help.instagram.com/292478487812558)

- [Instagram Help: Schedule a live video on Instagram](https://help.instagram.com/205039954953836)

- [Instagram Help: Share a live video after it's ended](https://help.instagram.com/562982737951475)

- [Instagram Help: Turn off Live video archiving](https://help.instagram.com/813486081708433)

- [Instagram Help: Share a post with multiple photos or videos](https://help.instagram.com/269314186824048)

- [Instagram Help: Record a video with Edits](https://help.instagram.com/596380656307917)

- [Instagram Help: Download and share your video from Edits](https://help.instagram.com/553588510887194)

- [Instagram Help: View insights on your Instagram reels](https://help.instagram.com/202865988324236)

- [Instagram Help: Something's not working with the Instagram app](https://help.instagram.com/518372316681740)

- [Instagram Help: Report a technical problem on Instagram](https://help.instagram.com/381579045265733)

- [Meta for Developers: IG User Media reference (Reels and Stories specifications)](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/instagram-platform/instagram-graph-api/reference/ig-user/media)