Tech Reference

'Why won't my video upload to YouTube?': How to troubleshoot if your video won't upload to YouTube's site

Written by Steven John
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There are a few different things you can try if your YouTube video won't upload. Shutterstock
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So, you just took a hilarious video of your friends dancing at the beach? Or you had a chance encounter with a movie star or noted politician? Or maybe you digitized an old gem of a family movie you want to share to your YouTube Channel so your friends and family can share it?

Great, well uploading a video to YouTube is quick and easy! Except when the upload fails. 

How to troubleshoot if your video won't upload to YouTube

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If your YouTube video won't upload, there may be a few ways to fix it. Shutterstock

There could be many reasons your video won't upload, and the good news is that most of them are in your control and fixable.

Check your internet connection

Why won’t my YouTube video upload
You can check your computer's internet connection speed by searching "internet test speed" via Google. Steven John/Business Insider

If your video won't upload to YouTube, first check the basics. Make sure your phone is connected to a reliable wi-fi network or has a strong cell signal when you're on the move, and make sure your computer has a fast enough internet connection for uploading video files.

To test the speed of your internet connection, you can simply search  "internet test speed" on Google and click "Run Speed Test" in the search box featured at the top. A window will open that will give you an estimate of the megabits per second your connection is currently operating at, and give you a qualitative evaluation of the metric it calculates. 

Check the size of your video

Why won’t my YouTube video upload
If your video is too large or long for an upload for your given account type, the upload will be cancelled and you will be informed of the file size issue. Steven John/Business Insider

Assuming your connection is strong enough for uploads, next check the size and length of the video that you're having trouble uploading. YouTubers with basic accounts cannot upload videos larger than 2 GB or longer than 15 minutes (or both, of course).

You can increase the size of the videos that you can upload to YouTube by verifying your YouTube account. Your phone will be sent a one-time code you can use to verify the account and increase your video size limit.

Give the upload time

Why won’t my YouTube video upload
YouTube will save your partial upload for 24 hours, allowing you to continue the video uploading process where you left off within that time frame. Steven John/Business Insider

There are times when you simply won't be able to upload a YouTube video and the only solution is patience. 

This is the case when there is a surge of user traffic crowding the site. Evenings tend to be crowded, as well as times following events that lead to lots of uploads, like New Years' Eve or major social or political events.

If your YouTube upload isn't working right now, just try it again at another time of day.

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Steven John
Steven John has been a freelance writer for more than a dozen years and has been a regular contributor to Business Insider since 2017. His work includes a focus on the tech world, covering companies including Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Google, and others. He also reviews restaurants, shares how-to cooking articles, and writes general interest pieces.Steven also writes for publications including Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, Forbes, and more. In the past, he also wrote for New York Magazine, Mashed, U.S. News & World Report and other outlets. He runs his own outdoor lifestyle site, Dad Gear Review, and co-hosts the Fact Trekkers podcast with his son. He has had two novels published, Three A.M. and Outrider. He graduated from Emerson College with a degree in communications focused on filmmaking.He is an avid outdoorsman and can be frequently found in a kayak or on a mountain trail, often with his family along for the adventure.Expertise:Tech industryTech hardwareOutdoorsCookingRestaurantsDIYPopular articles:Microsoft: A history of the software giant co-founded by Bill Gates, its products and services, jobs, layoffs, and moreYouTube is a major entertainment force. Here's the platform's history, plus how to create a channel and upload videos.Inside the life and career of Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, billionaire, and philanthropistTim Cook net worth: How the Apple leader earns and spends his moneyBecoming an Amazon seller is a simple process. Here's what's involved, plus how you make money and get paid.