# How to post a YouTube video on Instagram Canonical: https://postmesh.app/blog/how-to-post-a-youtube-video-on-instagram By PostMesh team. Published 2026-10-31; updated 2026-10-31. Use the original file you uploaded to YouTube, or download your own video from YouTube Studio (Content, then the video's menu, then Download), and post it to Instagram as a Reel of up to 20 minutes, ideally vertical and under 3 minutes. Only do this with videos you made or have written permission to use; for anyone else's video, share the YouTube link in your bio or on a Story link sticker instead. ## The short answer Instagram has no button that imports a YouTube video, so posting one means getting the video file onto your phone or computer and uploading it as a Reel. That's straightforward when the video is yours. YouTube Help says you can download MP4 copies of videos you've uploaded, and that you can't download other people's videos. Instagram's copyright guidance says the best way to stay within the rules is to post only content you created yourself. | Your situation | What to do | | --- | --- | | It's your video and you have the original file | Post that file as a Reel. It's the best quality you have. | | It's your video but the original is gone | Download it from YouTube Studio or the YouTube app. Expect 720p or 360p. | | It's a YouTube Short you made | Download it the same way and post it as a Reel. Shorts are up to 3 minutes, which suits Reels. | | It's longer than 20 minutes | Post a cut-down version as a Reel and link to the full video. | | It's someone else's video | Share the link, or get written permission and the file from the creator. | | You just want people to watch it on YouTube | Add the link to your profile or a Story link sticker. | **Whose YouTube video is it, and what file do you have?** - Mine, and I still have the original export → Upload the original as a Reel. Skip the YouTube download. - Mine, but I only have it on YouTube → Download it from YouTube Studio, then upload it as a Reel. - Someone else's → Share the YouTube link, or ask the creator for written permission and their file. - I want views on YouTube, not Instagram → Post a short teaser Reel and put the full link in your bio or a Story. *Ownership decides what's allowed. The file you have decides the quality.* ## Can you post a YouTube video on Instagram? You can post your own. Posting someone else's is a different matter, and it helps to know what both platforms actually say before you start. ### What YouTube's terms say about downloading YouTube's Terms of Service say you're not allowed to download, reproduce or distribute any content except as expressly authorized by the service, or with prior written permission from YouTube and, where applicable, the rights holders. The download feature in YouTube Studio is one of those authorized routes, and it only works for videos you uploaded. Third-party download sites aren't an authorized route. ### What Instagram's copyright rules say Instagram's help article on copyright says that under its Terms of Use and Meta's Community Standards, you can only post content that doesn't violate someone else's intellectual property rights. It lists situations where you can still infringe someone's copyright, including when you: - Bought or downloaded the content - Gave credit to the copyright owner - Included a disclaimer that you didn't intend to infringe - Didn't intend to profit from it - Modified the work or added your own material - Found it on the internet, or saw others post the same thing - Think the use is a fair use The same article says it's generally a good idea to get written permission from the author before posting their work, and that you might be able to use someone else's content if you have a license, if it's in the public domain, or if fair use or another exception applies. Those exceptions depend on the facts, so if you're relying on one, get advice for your situation. **Fine to post** - Videos you made and uploaded yourself - Your own Shorts - Someone's video with their written permission or a license **Not covered by credit** - A creator's video with their name in the caption - A clip you trimmed or added commentary to without permission - A video ripped with a download site **Share the link instead** - A video you like but didn't make - A video you want people to watch on YouTube - Anything you're unsure about *Based on Instagram's copyright help article and YouTube's Terms of Service.* ## Which copy of your video should you use? If you still have the file you exported from your editor and uploaded to YouTube, use it. YouTube Help says downloads from YouTube are MP4 files in either 720p or 360p, depending on the video's size. Your original export is likely sharper than that, and quality affects reach on Instagram: Instagram's 2023 ranking explanation lists low-resolution Reels among those it aims to make less visible. A 720p download still meets Instagram's minimum. Instagram's help article on Reel sizes says Reels should have a resolution of at least 720 pixels and a frame rate of at least 30 frames per second. A 360p download falls below that, so if YouTube only offers 360p, look harder for the original or re-export from your project. > If you edited the video in YouTube Studio after uploading, by blurring or trimming it, YouTube Help says you can download it and upload it again to publish your changes. The download includes those edits, so it may be the only copy that matches what's live. ## How do I download my own video from YouTube? YouTube Help gives steps for a computer and for the YouTube and YouTube Studio apps on Android, iPhone and iPad. All of them only work for videos on your own channel. ### On a computer 1. **Sign in to YouTube Studio**: Use the Google account that owns the channel. 2. **Select Content**: It's in the left panel. 3. **Open the video's menu**: Find the video you want, select its Menu, then Download. 4. **Find the MP4**: It saves to your computer's downloads folder, in 720p or 360p depending on the video's size. YouTube Studio: Content › Video's Menu › Download *Only videos on your own channel show the Download option.* ### On a phone or tablet In the YouTube app, tap your profile picture on the lower menu, tap Your Videos, choose the Shorts or Videos tab, scroll to the video, and select Menu, then Save to device. In the YouTube Studio app, tap Content on the lower menu, choose Shorts or Videos, and select Menu, then Save to device. Saving straight to your phone is handy, because the Instagram app can then pick the file from your camera roll or gallery. ### Downloading everything at once YouTube Help also says you can use Google Takeout to download all the videos you've uploaded. That's the better route if you're moving a whole back catalog rather than one video. ### Why the download option is missing | Reason YouTube gives | What you can do | | --- | --- | | The video was removed from YouTube | Use your original file if you still have it. | | It has a copyright or Community Guidelines strike | Download isn't available. Don't repost it elsewhere either. | | It uses a preapproved audio track | Use your original export, and check the track's license covers Instagram. | | You've downloaded it five times in the last 24 hours | Wait a day. YouTube allows five downloads per video per day. | | It isn't your video | You can't download other people's videos. Share the link instead. | ## How long can a YouTube video be on Instagram? Instagram's help article on Reels says you can share Reels up to 20 minutes long, and that Reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences. Stories are shorter: a video up to 60 seconds appears as one Story clip, and longer ones are split into several clips. If a tool posts the Reel for you through Instagram's API, Instagram's API reference sets 3 seconds to 15 minutes and 300 MB. | Length of your YouTube video | Best way to use it on Instagram | | --- | --- | | Under 60 seconds | A Reel, or a single Story clip | | 1 to 3 minutes | A Reel that can be recommended to new audiences | | 3 to 15 minutes | A Reel your followers can watch; not recommended to new audiences | | 15 to 20 minutes | A Reel posted from the app or instagram.com; over the API limit for schedulers | | Over 20 minutes | Cut a highlight under 3 minutes and link to the full video | - 20 min: Longest Reel in the app - 3 min: Longest Reel recommended to new audiences - 60 sec: Longest single Story clip - 720p: Best quality from a YouTube download *From Instagram's Help Center and YouTube Help.* For most YouTube videos, which run longer than 3 minutes, the strongest move is a short cut: the best 30 to 90 seconds as a Reel, with the full video one tap away through your profile link. Our guide to [clipping a YouTube video](/blog/how-to-clip-a-youtube-video) covers making that cut, and [how to post a long video on Instagram](/blog/how-to-post-a-long-video-on-instagram) covers the full-length options. ## How do I make a horizontal YouTube video fit Instagram? Most YouTube videos are horizontal, 16:9. Instagram's help article says Reels can have an aspect ratio between 1.91:1 and 9:16, and 16:9 sits inside that range, so a horizontal video uploads without being rejected. The question is how it looks and how far it travels. ### Posting it horizontal A horizontal Reel won't fill a vertical phone screen. If you, or an editing app, add bars above and below to make it 9:16, that's a border, and Instagram's ranking explanation lists Reels that contain borders among those it aims to make less visible. Posting horizontal is fine for followers who already want the video; it's weaker for reaching new people. ### Reframing it vertical For reach, reframe the clip to 9:16 in your editor: set the project to 1080 x 1920, scale the footage up to fill the frame, and move it so the speaker or the action stays in view. This works best for talking-head videos and close shots. Wide shots with action at both edges lose too much, so pick a different section for the Reel. ### Checking quality after reframing Scaling footage up to fill a vertical frame enlarges it. A 1080p original holds up better than a 720p YouTube download, which is another reason to start from your original file. Export at 30 fps or more, since Instagram asks for at least 30. ## How do I post the video as a Reel? ### From your phone Instagram's help article on scheduling describes the start of the flow in the app: tap Create in the top left, or swipe right anywhere in Feed, then tap Reel, select your video and tap Next. From there you add a caption and any effects, then share it (or schedule it, which the same article covers). 1. **Save the video to your phone**: From YouTube's Save to device option, or by moving your original file over. 2. **Tap Create, then Reel**: Create is in the top left of the app, or swipe right anywhere in Feed. 3. **Select the video and tap Next**: Pick it from your camera roll or gallery. 4. **Choose a cover**: Instagram recommends 420 x 654 and says you can't change the cover after uploading. 5. **Write the caption and share**: Mention that the full video is on YouTube and where the link is. 1. Get your original file, or download it from YouTube Studio 2. Cut it to under 3 minutes for reach 3. Reframe to 1080 x 1920 at 30 fps 4. Upload it as a Reel with a 420 x 654 cover 5. Point people to the full video through your profile link *The whole move from YouTube to Instagram in five steps.* ### From a computer If the file is on your computer, you don't need to move it to your phone. Instagram's Reels help article gives computer steps: on instagram.com, click Create on the left, click Post, click Select from computer and choose the video, then click Next to pick a cover (from the clip or uploaded) and trim it, click Next again for the caption, location and tags, and click Share. Our guide to [posting on Instagram from a desktop](/blog/can-you-post-on-instagram-from-desktop) covers the rest of what the website can do. > Before uploading from your phone, consider Instagram's Upload at highest quality setting. Instagram's help article on Reel sizes says you can turn it on under Profile, then Menu, then Media quality, and that higher-quality uploads may take longer. ## Can I post a YouTube Short to Instagram? Yes, if it's yours, and Shorts are the easiest YouTube videos to move. YouTube Help on uploading Shorts describes them as videos up to 3 minutes with a square or vertical aspect ratio. That matches what works best on Instagram: vertical, and within the 3 minutes Instagram recommends to new audiences. Download a Short the same way as any video: in the YouTube or YouTube Studio app, open the Shorts tab, then Menu, then Save to device. Use your original export if you have it, especially if the Short was made with YouTube's own creation tools and includes music or effects you'd want to check first. Avoid posting a copy that carries another app's watermark. Instagram's ranking explanation says it aims to make watermarked Reels less visible, and that it's been testing notifications to tell creators when a Reel's reach may be limited by a watermark. ## What about the music in your YouTube video? Music is where moving a video between platforms most often goes wrong. YouTube Help says you can't download a video that uses a preapproved audio track. YouTube's Shorts help similarly asks creators to make sure copyright-protected material is approved for use on YouTube, and warns of Content ID claims and copyright strikes. Instagram's copyright rules are separate. Its help article says you can infringe even if you bought or downloaded the song, or recorded it playing in the background at an event. So before posting a YouTube video with music to Instagram, check that your license for the track covers Instagram too. If it doesn't, export a version without the music and add audio inside Instagram instead. ## How do I share a YouTube link on Instagram instead? Sometimes the link is the better choice: for other people's videos, for anything long, or when you want the views counted on YouTube. Instagram gives you two places for a link. ### Add it to your profile Instagram's help article on websites says you can add up to five websites to your profile, and that anyone, on or off Instagram, can see them. In the app: tap Profile, tap Edit profile, tap Links, then Add external link, enter the URL and tap Done. To change the order, open Links, tap Options, then Reorder links. Instagram: Profile › Edit profile › Links › Add external link › Done *Up to five links. Put your newest YouTube video first while it's new.* ### Add it to a Story Meta's business help center describes the link sticker for Stories: when people tap it, they go to the linked website. It says link stickers work in organic Stories, not in Stories ads. A screenshot or short clip of the video with a link sticker on top is a direct way to send followers to YouTube, and it disappears after 24 hours unless you add it to a Highlight. ### Post a clip to your Story You can also put part of the video itself in a Story. Instagram's help article on sharing to your Story says a video up to 60 seconds appears as one clip, while a longer video is broken into several clips, which you can edit with the video trimmer at the bottom of the screen (currently only on iOS). For a teaser, cut a 15 to 60 second section yourself so it plays as one clip, then add the link sticker on top. ### Combine them A pattern that uses each format for what it's good at: post a sub-3-minute Reel of the strongest moment to reach new viewers, share a Story with a link sticker for your followers, and keep the link in your profile so anyone who finds you later can still get there. Our comparison of [Instagram posts, Stories and Reels](/blog/instagram-post-vs-story-vs-reel) explains who each format reaches. ## Can I post someone else's YouTube video? Only with permission. Instagram's copyright help article says it's generally a good idea to get written permission from the author first, and lists credit, disclaimers and modifications among the things that don't prevent infringement. YouTube's terms also bar downloading content without authorization from the service or permission from YouTube and the rights holders. If you do get permission, ask the creator to send you their original file rather than downloading it yourself. It keeps you within YouTube's terms, and their export is better quality than anything you could download. Keep the written permission somewhere you can find it. If the creator says no, share their link in a Story or your profile instead. Instagram's help center has separate articles on copyright reports and on appealing a removal made for copyright reasons. ### What to put in a permission request Make the permission specific so there's no doubt later. Name the video by its title and link, say where you'll post it (for example, as an Instagram Reel on your account), say whether you'll trim or reframe it, ask how they'd like to be credited, and ask for their original file. A reply in writing, by email or direct message, that says yes to those points is what Instagram's help article means by written permission. ## How do I post the same video to YouTube and Instagram at once? If you haven't uploaded to YouTube yet, you can skip the download entirely by sending one file to both. In PostMesh, a YouTube upload goes through the official YouTube API with a title up to 100 characters and a description up to 5,000 bytes, and a vertical video of 3 minutes or less is marked as a Short automatically. The same video can go to Instagram as a Reel if it's an MP4 or MOV between 3 seconds and 15 minutes and up to 300 MB. For Instagram, PostMesh publishes through Instagram's API, so a scheduled Reel goes out at the time you pick. A 2-minute vertical 1080 x 1920 MP4 under 300 MB fits both as a YouTube Short and an Instagram Reel. More detail is on the [YouTube](/platform/youtube) and [Instagram](/platform/instagram) pages, and our guides to [scheduling YouTube videos](/blog/how-to-schedule-youtube-videos) and [whether cross-posting hurts engagement](/blog/does-cross-posting-hurt-engagement) go further. ## Why won't my YouTube video upload or look right on Instagram? ### The video is too long Reels stop at 20 minutes in the app, and at 15 minutes through Instagram's API, which schedulers use. Trim it, or cut a highlight and link the rest. ### The file is too large for your scheduler Instagram's API caps Reels at 300 MB. Re-export at a lower bitrate, or shorten the video. Instagram's API reference also asks for MP4 or MOV with no edit lists and the moov atom at the front of the file, so if a tool rejects a file that's under 300 MB, re-export it as a fresh MP4. ### It looks blurry Start from the original file, not a 720p or 360p download, and turn on Upload at highest quality. Our guide on [why Instagram Stories look blurry](/blog/why-is-my-instagram-story-blurry) covers the other settings that soften uploads, and most apply to Reels too. ### It has black bars That's a horizontal video placed in a vertical frame. Reframe to 9:16, or accept that bordered Reels are less likely to be recommended. ### YouTube only offers a 360p download YouTube Help says the download is 720p or 360p depending on the video's size. A 360p file is below the 720-pixel minimum Instagram's Reels help article asks for. Re-export from your editing project, or check old drives and cloud storage for the original file before posting the low-resolution copy. ### Instagram removed the video for copyright If the removal is about someone else's music or footage in your video, the fix is to post a version without it. If you believe the removal is a mistake, for example because the whole video is yours, Instagram's help center has an article on appealing a removal made for copyright reasons. Don't repost the same file and hope it stays up. ### The Reel isn't reaching anyone new Check the list Instagram gives: under 3 minutes, no watermark, no borders, not mostly text, not muted, and not a video you've already posted on Instagram. Then look at timing in our guide to the [best time to post on Instagram](/blog/best-time-to-post-on-instagram). ## What to do next **Before you post a YouTube video to Instagram** - [ ] Confirm you made it or have written permission - [ ] Use your original export, not a download, when you can - [ ] Cut it to 3 minutes or less if you want new viewers - [ ] Reframe to 1080 x 1920 at 30 fps, without borders - [ ] Remove other apps' watermarks - [ ] Check the music license covers Instagram - [ ] Add the full YouTube link to your profile *Each item comes from Instagram's or YouTube's help pages and terms.* Write the caption with the free [Instagram caption generator](/tools/instagram-caption-generator), check its length with the [Instagram caption counter](/tools/instagram-caption-character-counter), and if the video is also getting a fresh YouTube title, test it with the [YouTube title checker](/tools/youtube-title-checker). For the size of the Reel itself, our [Instagram Reel size guide](/blog/instagram-reel-size) has every number in one place. ## Questions ### Can I share a YouTube video directly to Instagram? There's no import button. You post the video file as a Reel, or share the YouTube link in your profile or on a Story link sticker. ### Is it legal to post someone else's YouTube video on Instagram if I credit them? Credit isn't permission. Instagram's copyright help says giving credit doesn't stop a post from infringing, and recommends getting written permission first. ### What quality is a video downloaded from YouTube Studio? YouTube says downloads are MP4 files in 720p or 360p, depending on the video's size. If you exported above 720p, your original file is sharper. ### Why can't I download my own YouTube video? YouTube blocks downloads for removed videos, videos with a strike, videos using a preapproved audio track, and videos you've already downloaded five times in 24 hours. ### How long can a YouTube video be on Instagram? Reels can be up to 20 minutes, but Instagram says Reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences. ### Can I post a horizontal YouTube video as a Reel? Yes. Reels accept ratios from 1.91:1 to 9:16, which includes 16:9. Bordered Reels are less likely to be recommended, so reframe to vertical for reach. ### Can I put a clickable YouTube link on Instagram? Yes, in the websites on your profile (up to five) or on a link sticker in a Story. ### Can I post my YouTube Shorts as Instagram Reels? Yes, if they're yours. Shorts are up to 3 minutes and vertical or square, which fits Reels well. Avoid copies with another app's watermark. ### Will reposting the same video hurt its reach on Instagram? Instagram says it aims to make Reels that have already been posted on Instagram less visible. Moving a video from YouTube is fine; posting the same Reel twice isn't. ### Can PostMesh post one video to YouTube and Instagram together? Yes. It uploads to YouTube through YouTube's API and sends the video to Instagram as a Reel, as long as it's MP4 or MOV, 3 seconds to 15 minutes, and up to 300 MB. ## Sources - [YouTube Help: download YouTube videos that you've uploaded](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/56100) - [YouTube Help: upload YouTube Shorts](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/12779649) - [YouTube Terms of Service](https://www.youtube.com/t/terms) - [Instagram Help: making sure content you post doesn't violate copyright](https://help.instagram.com/354736791367645) - [Instagram Help: record a reel](https://help.instagram.com/2720958398006062) - [Instagram Help: reel size and aspect ratios](https://help.instagram.com/1038071743007909) - [Instagram Help: share a photo or video to your story](https://help.instagram.com/1257341144298972) - [Instagram Help: create and manage scheduled posts and reels](https://help.instagram.com/439971288310029) - [Instagram Help: add a website to your profile](https://help.instagram.com/362497417173378) - [Meta Business Help: about the link sticker for Instagram Stories](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/529979981436890) - [Instagram blog (Adam Mosseri, 2023): Instagram ranking explained](https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/instagram-ranking-explained) - [Instagram API reference: IG User Media](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/instagram-platform/instagram-graph-api/reference/ig-user/media)