This wikiHow teaches you how to format HD (high definition) videos for upload to YouTube so they can be played in full HD format. YouTube supports a variety of HD formats from 720p to 2160p (4K). When uploading HD videos, they will appear in low resolution at first. This is normal, and happens because HD videos take time to process. YouTube recommends marking the video as " Unlisted " so that no one will see the video in low quality. After processing, you can change the video setting to Public.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Making Videos
Step 1. Record video using HD or 4K resolution
Before uploading HD videos to YouTube, make sure to record the video in high definition. YouTube recommends recording videos using one of the HD resolutions below to match the default 16:9 aspect ratio that YouTube uses:
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720p:
1280 x 720 (HD)
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1080p:
1920 x 1080 (Full HD)
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1440p:
2560 x 1440 (Full HD)
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2160p:
3840 x 2160 (4K)
- If your mobile device can record HD video (like most iPhones or Androids), this setting can be found in the camera's Settings menu. For example, you can touch the gear icon on the Samsung Galaxy s10e which will display the camera settings to select the video recording resolution.
Step 2. Use the correct frame rate (number of picture frames displayed in one second)
The video must be encoded and uploaded at the same frame rate as when you recorded it. Commonly used frame rates are: 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, and 60 fps (frames per second / frames per second).
Step 3. Use the right bitrate
Video bitrate is the speed achieved when a video codec encodes video playback. The video must be optimized to match the resolution, framerate, and HDR (high dynamic range) of the video. YouTube recommends the following bitrates for standard framerates (in the 24-30 fps range) and high framerates (48-60 fps):
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2160p:
standard framerate: 35-45 Mbps, high framerate: 53-68 Mbps.
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2160p (HDR):
standard framerate: 44-56 Mbps, high framerate: 66-85 Mbps.
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1440p:
standard framerate: 16 Mbps, high framerate: 24 Mbps.
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1440p (HDR):
standard framerate: 20 Mbps, high framerate: 30 Mbps.
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1080p:
standard framerate: 8 Mbps, high framerate: 12 Mbps.
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1080p (HDR):
standard framerate: 10 Mbps, high framerate: 15 Mbps.
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720p:
standard framerate: 5 Mbps, high framerate: 7.5 Mbps.
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720p (HDR):
standard framerate: 6.5 Mbps, high framerate: 9.5 Mbps.
Step 4. Select the AAC-LC audio codec with a sample rate of 48khz or 96khz
This is the recommended audio format for YouTube videos. In addition, YouTube also supports mono, stereo, and 5.1 surround sound channels.
Step 5. Use the H.264 video codec
The H.264 compression format is most commonly used for HD video.
Step 6. Save the video to a supported format
YouTube recommends that videos be uploaded using the MP4 format. However, YouTube also supports almost all popular formats, such as MP4, MPEG4, MOV, AVI, FLV, and WMV.
Part 2 of 3: Uploading Videos Via Mobile Devices
Step 1. Launch YouTube
The icon is a red square with a white triangle pointing to the side. You can find it on your home screen, app list, or by doing a search.
If your YouTube account has not been verified, you can only upload videos with a maximum length of 15 minutes and a file size of up to 20GB. If you have verified, you can upload videos up to 12 hours in length with a size of 128 GB
Step 2. Touch +
It's in the bottom center of the screen. A menu will appear.
Step 3. Touch Upload a video in the menu
If it's your first time uploading a video to YouTube via the app, you'll need to give the app permission to access your phone, microphone, and camera. Follow the instructions given to do so. Next, touch the button again + and select Upload a video.
Step 4. Select the desired HD video
Select the video in the list. You can select a recorded video from the media list under the recording options. This will bring up the video preview.
Step 5. Edit the video (optional)
There are 2 tabs on the bottom side, which are in the form of scissors and a magic wand. Each tab contains crop and filter options.
- To trim a video, drag both ends of the slider to the start and end points of the video you want.
- To add an effect, touch the magic wand, then select the filter you want to use.
Step 6. Touch Next
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Step 7. Provide a title and description
Name the video by touching Create a title -This name will appear on YouTube videos. Add description by touching Add description and enter information about the video. The title is limited to a maximum of 100 characters, and you can enter up to 5,000 characters for the description.
Use relevant language and keywords for titles and descriptions to make your videos easy for people to search for
Step 8. Set the privacy level
By default, the privacy level is set to Public. Touch Public next to the globe icon to switch to Unlisted (viewers must have a link to view it) or Private (only you can see it), if you want.
Even if an HD video is uploaded, it will appear in a low resolution initially, until the HD processing is complete. To prevent visitors from seeing a low-quality version of the video, set the video to Unlisted first, then set again to Public later. Alternatively, you can touch Scheduled in the list of privacy options, then choose a time at least 2 hours ahead for the video to be set to Public automatically.
Step 9. Decide if the video is for kids or not
Now YouTube requires you to specify the type of video audience. By default, the options are No, it's not made for kids. If the video is made for children, touch the option and select Yes, it's made for kids. Once the options are set, you can also touch age restriction to select the age group that is allowed to watch the video.
Step 10. Upload the video by touching UPLOAD
This button is in the top right corner.
Once the video is uploaded, you can run the YT Studio app (search the App Store or Google Play Store if you don't have one) to change the privacy level to Public if you set it to Unlisted at first. Run the YT Studio app, touch the video, tap the pencil-shaped icon, change the privacy level, then tap SAVE.
Part 3 of 3: Uploading Videos Via Computer
Step 1. Launch a web browser and visit
This is a YouTube site.
- If you are not logged in yet, click Sign In in the upper right corner of the screen.
- If the account is not verified, you can only upload videos with a maximum length of 15 minutes and the file size cannot exceed 20GB. If it has been verified, you can upload videos up to a maximum duration of 12 hours with a size of 128 GB.
Step 2. Click the video camera-shaped icon with a plus sign in the middle
You can find it at the top right of the screen. This will bring up a menu.
Step 3. Click Upload video
This button is first in the drop-down menu.
Step 4. Click Select File
This blue button is in the center of the screen. A file browser on your computer will open.
You can also drag and drop videos to the center of the window
Step 5. Select the desired video and click Open
The video will be uploaded to YouTube.
Step 6. Give the video a title
By default, the filename will be the title of the video. If you want to give another title, type the desired title under the box that says "Title".
Step 7. Add video description
Enter a short description of the video in the box that says " Description ".
Step 8. Select the video thumbnail
When the video has finished processing, this step will appear. This is a still image taken from a video and shown as a thumbnail when the video appears in search results.
You can also click the box Upload thumbnails and choose a thumbnail of your own choice to upload.
Step 9. Decide if the video is for kids or not
Now YouTube requires you to specify the type of video audience. If the video is made for kids, check the "Yes, it's made for kids" option. If the video is not intended for kids, tick " No, it's not made for kids ".
- To comply with COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) rules, YouTube requires you to set an audience type for uploaded videos. If the video is marked as " Made for kids ", some features such as personalized ads, cards (any information related to the video), comments, and end screens (thumbnails that appear at the end of the video) become unavailable. YouTube can set audience settings on videos that are not tagged properly. YouTube can have consequences if you intentionally tag a video incorrectly.
- If the video content is inappropriate for children to watch, click Age Restriction (Advanced), then tick Yes, restrict my video to viewers over 18 only.
Step 10. Click More Options (optional)
More Options which is at the bottom of this page displays various video settings. Some of the options contained in the "More Options" menu include:
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Paid Promotions:
If the video has a paid promotion, check the "This video contains paid promotion like a product placement or endorsement" option. Next, you can tick the option that you want to include a message to notify the viewer about this paid promotion.
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Tags:
Tags are keywords that visitors enter in the search field so that your videos can appear in search results.
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Language, subtitles, closed captions (CC):
Once you've selected your language, you can choose a caption certification, and even upload a subtitle file, if you have one.
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Recording date and location:
If you want this information (recording date and location) to be made public, you can set it here.
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License and Distribution:
This can be used to select the Standard YouTube License or Creative Commons License options. You are also given the option to allow embedding and publish to a subscription feed.
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Category:
You can select a video category and add information related to the video.
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Comments and Ratings:
Decide whether you allow all comments, suspend comments that are not eligible for review first, suspend all comments for review first, or turn off comments. You can also set the order of comments.
Step 11. Click Next
It's a blue button in the lower-right corner of the page.
Step 12. Add an end screen or card (optional)
End screens and cards can be used to promote related content during and after the video is played. Add an end screen or card by clicking Add to the right of "Add an end screen" or "Add Cards". This will go to the video card editor.
You can return to YouTube Studio from the video card editor by clicking Return to YouTube Studio in the upper right corner of the page.
Step 13. Decide who can watch the video
This is to determine who is allowed to watch the video and how easy it is to find the video. You can change the settings at any time after the video is uploaded.
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Public:
This option allows anyone to find and watch your videos.
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Unlisted:
The video can only be seen by the person who has the link to the video.
We recommend that you don't set the video to Public in the first place as HD processing can take several hours. After processing the video, you can set the video to Public. By setting the video as Unlisted first and changing it to Public later, viewers will only see the video in HD resolution
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Private:
Only the people you choose can see the video.
Step 14. Schedule a date to convert the video as Public (optional)
You are given the option to set the date you want to use to convert the video to Public. To do so, click Schedule and use the drop-down box to select the desired date and time to make it Public. After that, click Schedule in the lower right corner.
Step 15. Click Done
It's a blue button in the lower right corner. The video settings you make will be saved. The video will be published immediately (public viewable), or can be watched according to the schedule you have specified. After that, you will be given the option to share the video on social media.
