Troubleshooting video uploads in Buffer

If you're having trouble uploading or publishing a video in Buffer, this guide will help you troubleshoot common issues like failed uploads, slow processing, or video posts not appearing as expected.

The most common issues come from using videos outside of the suggested requirements, so be sure to check the limits below before proceeding to other troubleshooting steps!

In this article:

  1. First: check video requirements
  2. Slow or stuck uploads
  3. Thumbnails or post appearance issues
  4. Helpful tools for optimizing video files
  5. Quick checklist

First: check video requirements

Before uploading, verify that your video matches the specifications below. A quick way to check your video's format, codec, resolution, and file size is to use a free tool like MediaInfoOnline.

Video specifications:
  • Format: MP4, MOV, AVI, or M4V
  • Codec: H.264
  • Max size:
    • 40MB (Mastodon)
    • 100 MB (Instagram)
    • 1 GB (Facebook, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, Threads)
    • 10GB (YouTube Shorts)
  • Max resolution: 1280×720
  • Frame rate: Ideally under 25 Mbps for best results (especially for Threads, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter).
    • Aim for 20–25 Mbps or lower for 720p.
  • Audio: AAC codec with bitrate between 128–192 kbps
  • Avoid raw or high-end camera formats (e.g., ProRes, RED)

💡Tip: If your video is too large, too long, or uses an unsupported format, it may fail to upload or process correctly.

Slow or stuck uploads

Buffer processes and transcodes videos when uploading, which can take longer for large files or slower connections.
  • Try uploading a smaller or lower-resolution version
  • Check your internet connection
  • Use standard MP4 (H.264) format for faster, more reliable uploads
If your video starts to upload but fails to save or publish (or you get the error “Buffer’s servers couldn’t be reached”), it may be caused by:
  • Ad blockers or browser extensions
  • Strict privacy settings in your browser
  • VPNs or network firewalls

👉 Try posting from an incognito/private window, disabling ad blockers and VPNs, and switching networks. Learn more about common upload issues here.

Thumbnails or post appearance issues

Sometimes your video publishes, but the visual result or metadata (thumbnail, title) isn’t what you expected. Here’s what to check:
  • Some networks (Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest) let you choose a thumbnail from your video via Buffer.
  • Other networks (Facebook, LinkedIn, Mastodon, Bluesky) may ignore custom thumbnails due to API or platform limitations.
  • Titles may appear differently (or not at all) depending on the network:
    • Facebook - the title will appear at the top of the video post
    • X/Twitter - A title will be used if the video is outside of X/Twitter's file limits and has to be displayed as a link to Buffer's video player
    • Pinterest - The title of the video will be shown at the bottom of the video in the feed.
Troubleshooting:
  • After uploading, check if the “Edit Thumbnail” option appears in Buffer (for the networks that support it).
  • If your custom thumbnail or title does not show after publishing, review the specific network’s limitations (see the “Sharing videos through Buffer” article).
  • Also check that your video meets the network’s aspect ratio/length/file requirements — incorrect specs may cause fallback behavior (e.g., link preview instead of native video).

💡Tip: If your post looks different than expected, check the social network’s limitations. A link preview often means the video didn’t meet the platform’s requirements.

Helpful tools for optimizing video files

Need to resize or convert your video? These tools can help:

  • HandBrake – Free desktop app for compressing and converting videos to H.264.
  • Clideo – Quick online compressor to reduce file size.
  • VEED.io and Kapwing – Easy editors for trimming, resizing, or formatting for social media.

👉 Tip: Smaller, well-formatted videos upload faster and are more likely to post without issues.

💡 Tip: Optimizing before upload speeds up processing and ensures compatibility with social platforms. To upload smoothly, keep your file under the size limits (1 GB max, 100 MB for Instagram), use MP4 format, and stick to 1280x720 resolution or lower.

Quick checklist

✅ Use MP4 (H.264)

✅ Stay within size and length limits for each social network

✅ Keep video bitrate under 25 Mbps and audio bitrate under 192 kbps

✅ Avoid VPNs/ad blockers while uploading

✅ Check for browser conflicts (try incognito mode)

✅ Try a test upload with a small video

✅ Review how each network handles videos

Still need help?

Contact Buffer support at hello@buffer.com with:
  • Your video’s format, size, and length
  • What happened vs what you expected
  • Any error messages or screenshots
We’ll help troubleshoot from there!
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