IGTV

Uploading Videos to IGTV

Video Length

Videos must be at least one minute long. The maximum length your video can be is:

  • 15 minutes when uploading from a mobile device.
  • 60 minutes when uploading from the web.

Video File Type

Videos must be in MP4 file format.

Video Resolution and Size

  • You can upload a vertical video with an aspect ratio of 9:16 or a horizontal video with an aspect ratio of 16:9.
  • Videos should have a minimum frame rate of 30 FPS (frames per second) and minimum resolution of 720 pixels.
  • The maximum file size for videos that are 10 minutes or less is 650MB. The maximum file size for videos up to 60 minutes is 3.6GB.

Video Content

We want to create the best possible experience for everyone on Instagram. That means videos that don't follow our Community Guidelines may be removed from Instagram. If you see something that you think may go against our guidelines, you can report it.

Cover Photo Size

The recommended size for cover photos is 420px by 654px (or 1:1.55 ratio). Right now, you can't edit your cover photo after you've uploaded it.

Learn how to upload a video to IGTV.

Additional technical details

The requirements listed above should work for most people who are uploading a video to IGTV. However, if you need more technical detail to help you upload, please follow the requirements listed below.

Video codec

  • Progressive scan (no interlacing).
  • High profile.
  • 2 consecutive B frames.
  • Closed GOP. GOP of half the frame rate.
  • CABAC.
  • Chroma subsampling: 4:2:0.

Audio codec

  • Channels: Stereo or Stereo + 5.1.
  • Sample rate 96khz or 48khz.

Cover photo file format

  • png or jpg.
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To upload a video that’s at least 60 seconds to IGTV:

From the Instagram app for Android or iPhone

  1. Tap instagram-user-profile or your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile.
  2. Tap in the top right, then select IGTV Video and choose the video you want to upload. Tap Next in the top right.
  3. Tap and slide the image at the bottom to select a cover image or tap Add from Camera Roll (iPhone) or Add from Gallery (Android). Tap Next.
  4. Enter a title and an optional description.
  5. Tap Post to IGTV at the bottom.

Before posting your IGTV video, you can also:

  • Tap Add to Series if you want to add your video to an IGTV series. To create a new series, tap New Series, enter a series name, then tap Create. Tap Done in the top right.
  • Tap next to Post a Preview to show a preview of your video in Feed and on your profile.
    • Previews will automatically be the first 15 seconds of your video.
    • Tap Edit Preview to adjust your preview (you’ll only have this option if your video is 9:16. If your video is 16:9, it will show in full.) Tap Save in the top right.
    • Tap Edit Profile Cover to adjust how your IGTV cover photo shows up on your profile grid. Tap Save in the top right
  • Tap next to Make Visible on Facebook to share your video to Facebook and Watch. You must connect a Facebook Page to your Instagram. Tap Done in the top right.
  • Tap Advanced Settings, then tap next to Captions to turn on automatic video captions. Tap Done in the top right.
From the IGTV app
  1. Tap in the top right, then tap the square in the bottom left to choose the video you want to upload. You can also tap to record a video directly on the app.
  2. Tap in the bottom right.
  3. Follow steps 3 - 5 above.
From Instagram.com
  1. From a computer, open your web browser and go to Instagram.com.
  2. Click your profile picture in the top right corner, then click Profile.
  3. Click IGTV.
  4. Click Upload.
  5. Click and choose a video, or drag and drop a video file.
  6. Add a title and description. You can also choose to share a preview of your video to Instagram feed and your profile or share your video to a Facebook Page.
  7. Click Post.

Sharing a preview of your IGTV video to feed and your profile

When you share a video to feed and your profile, it appears as a preview, which is the first section of your video. Once the preview is finished, the video pauses, and viewers will need to tap Keep Watching to continue watching the full video. Keep in mind that if you share a preview of your IGTV video to feed and your profile:

  • Tapping the video on your profile opens a preview of your IGTV video with a link to the full video.
  • Tapping the video in feed will turn sound on and off.
  • Tapping the link will open the full IGTV video and allow you to keep watching from where you left off in feed.
  • Removing the preview from your profile and from feed won't affect the availability of the video on IGTV.
  • Previews will show a 4:5 center crop of your IGTV video.

Learn more about video upload requirements for IGTV.

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To edit your IGTV video's title or description:

On the Instagram app

  1. Tap instagram-user-profile or your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile.
  2. Tap IGTV below your profile information or story highlights.
  3. Tap the IGTV video you want to edit.
  4. Tap (iPhone) or (Android) and then select Edit.
  5. Once you've made edits to the title or description, tap Done (iPhone) or (Android).

Note that you won't be able to edit your cover image once you upload a video to IGTV.

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To save a draft of your IGTV video:

  1. Upload your video and add a cover photo, title and description.
  2. Tap or click Save Draft.

To see your saved drafts:

From the Instagram app for Android or iPhone
  1. Tap instagram-user-profile or your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile.
  2. Tap below your profile information, then tap Drafts.
  3. To edit a draft, tap the video and then tap Update Draft. To post a draft, tap the video and then tap Post to IGTV.
From Instagram.com
  1. Click your profile picture in the top right corner, then click Profile.
  2. Click IGTV, then click View Drafts. To edit or delete a draft, click the video and then click Edit Video or Delete. To post a draft, click the video, click Edit Video, then click Post.
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You must be a Page admin to share an IGTV video to your Page.
From the Instagram app or IGTV app:
  1. Upload your video and add a cover photo, title and description.
  2. Tap next to Make Visible on Facebook. If your Instagram account is already connected to a Facebook Page, sharing will be turned on by default.
  3. If you haven't already, enter your Facebook login information.
  4. Click Post to IGTV. Your video will be posted to your IGTV channel and your Facebook Page.
From Instagram.com on a computer
  1. Upload your video and add a cover photo, title and description.
  2. Below Where Your Video Will Appear, click Connect Page if you haven't already connected your Instagram account to a Facebook Page. You may need to enter your Facebook login information.
  3. Once your Instagram account and your Facebook Page are connected, select IGTV and Facebook Page below Where Your Video Will Appear.
  4. Click Post. Your video will be posted to your IGTV channel and your Facebook Page.
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The visibility of your videos depends on your account's privacy setting:

  • For private accounts: Only your approved followers can see your videos.
  • For public accounts: Anyone on Instagram can see your videos.

If you don't want someone to see your photos or videos on Instagram, you can block them.

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Once you upload a video to IGTV, you can see insights such as likes, comments, view count, average percent of video watched, and an audience retention graph.

To see insights for a video you upload to IGTV:

  1. Tap to open the video.
  2. Tap (iPhone) or (Android) at the bottom of the video.
  3. Tap View Insights.

Note: Only you can see the average percent watched by viewers and the audience retention line graph. However, likes, comments and view count are visible to people who watch your video, just like they are in Feed.

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Watching Videos on IGTV

Make sure you install the latest version of the Instagram app. Note that at this time, you won’t be able to see a list of videos you liked or search for hashtags on IGTV.
Instagram app for Android and iPhone:
  1. Tap at the bottom.
  2. Tap IGTV in the top left to watch videos or scroll through Feed to find videos labeled IGTV.
  3. Tap at the top to search for a specific IGTV creators.
IGTV app for Android and iPhone:

You can scroll through Feed to see content from creators you follow: To search for a specific creator on IGTV:

  1. Tap Discover at the bottom.
  2. Tap at the top to search for specific IGTV creators.
Instagram.com from a computer:
  1. Go to a specific profile by typing their name in the search bar at the top.
  2. Click IGTV below their profile information or Story highlights.
  3. Click the play button to start the video.
Instagram.com from a mobile browser:
  1. Go to a specific profile by typing their name in the search bar at the top.
  2. Tap IGTV below their profile information or Story highlights.
  3. Tap the video, then tap play button to start the video.

Note that you won't see IGTV on someone's profile if they haven't uploaded any videos to IGTV. Keep in mind when you follow a channel on IGTV, you'll also follow the creator’s account on Instagram. You may also see live video replays on IGTV.

Tips for watching videos on IGTV

  • The next video will play automatically on the Instagram and IGTV apps. On Instagram.com, videos will replay on a loop.
  • Swipe right or left to skip between videos on the app.
  • Tap to pause a video, or tap and drag the scrubber at the bottom of the video to skip ahead.
  • To see a landscape video in full screen on the app, rotate your phone to its side or tap in the bottom right.
  • You can like, comment or send a video in a direct message.
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To send an IGTV video in a direct message:

  1. Tap to open the video.
  2. Tap at the bottom of the video you'd like to share.
  3. Select people you'd like to send it to and tap Send.

Similar to posts and stories, IGTV videos respect the account settings of the person who uploaded the video.

When someone shares an IGTV video with you, you'll see it in your Direct inbox.

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If you see a video on IGTV and think it goes against Instagram's Community Guidelines, you can report it.

To report an IGTV video:

  1. Tap to open the video.
  2. Tap (iPhone) or (Android) at the bottom of the video.
  3. Tap Report, then follow the on-screen instructions.
Keep in mind that your report is anonymous, except if you’re reporting an intellectual property infringement. The account you reported won’t see who reported them.
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