Uploading Media & Format Requirements

This article explains how to upload photos and videos to your Later Media Library, plus the file size, format, aspect ratio, and resolution requirements for Later and each supported social platform.

You can use this article as a reference when preparing content for Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube Shorts, Threads, and Snapchat.

If you're running into trouble, or receiving an error message when uploading media, please see  Troubleshooting Media Uploads & Quality Issues.

Later’s Upload Limits

Later has its own upload limits, and each social platform also has its own publishing requirements. Your media must meet Later’s upload limits first, then meet the requirements for the social platform you’re publishing to. See Social Platform Media Requirements below for specific details. 

*Large files may be compressed by social platforms. To avoid compression, keep videos under 100 MB and photos under 8 MB where possible.

Later does not support HEIC files, Apple ProRes files, or transparent PNGs. HEVC files aren’t supported for Auto Publish. If you’re having trouble uploading or publishing a MOV file, convert it to MP4 and try again.

For Auto Publish, videos must be between 23–60 FPS. Your internet upload speed should also be at least 10 Mbps when uploading videos to Later.

Recommended universal media formats

If you want to create one version of your content and publish it across multiple platforms, use the recommendations below. These formats work well across most supported social platforms and can help reduce the number of platform-specific exports you need to create.

These recommendations don’t replace the platform-specific requirements later in this article. Use them as a practical starting point, then check the individual platform requirements if you’re publishing to a specific channel or seeing a publishing error.

Recommended universal video format

For the best cross-platform compatibility, export videos using:

A vertical 9:16 MP4 works especially well for Instagram Reels, TikTok, Facebook Reels, YouTube Shorts, Threads, Snapchat, and Pinterest. It’s also the simplest format if your content strategy is focused on short-form vertical video.

Recommended universal photo format

For feed-style image posts, export photos using:

A 4:5 image works well for Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest because it takes up more vertical space than a square image while still feeling natural in feed placements.

If your strategy is mostly focused on vertical-first platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, or full-screen content placements, you may prefer to use 1080 × 1920 and a 9:16 aspect ratio for both photos and videos.

Quick recommendation

Uploading Photos & Videos

Once your media meets Later’s upload requirements, you can upload it to your Media Library from desktop, mobile, Dropbox, or Canva.

Photos and videos don’t count toward your post count limit until you schedule or publish them.

Once your media is uploaded to Later, you can keep it organized with our built-in tools such as Labels, Media Notes, and Starred Media. See Access & Organize Your Media Library to learn more. 

Upload from desktop

1. From app.later.com, go to your Calendar or Media Library.
2. Select Upload Media near the top left of the screen
3. Choose the file(s) from your computer
4. Wait for the green confirmation banner letting you know the upload is complete

You can continue to work in Later while your media processes. You can also drag media directly into your Media Library, or into the Side Library from the Calendar.

Upload from the mobile app

1. From Later’s iOS or Android app, tap Media in the lower-left corner
2. Tap the blue plus sign symbol (+) in the lower-right corner
3. Choose whether you’d like to take a new photo or video, or select media from your Photo Library
4. Select your media item(s)
5. Tap Add on iOS, or Open on Android

Upload from Dropbox 

1. From app.later.com, go to your Calendar or Media Library
2. Click the Dropbox logo next to Upload Media:
   
    
3. Sign in to your account if prompted
4. Select the media item(s) you want to upload
5. Select Choose

If you’re signed in to the wrong Dropbox account, log out of Dropbox, then sign in to the correct account before uploading to Later.

Export from Canva

You can export Canva designs directly to Later after connecting Canva to Later. See Integrate Canva with Later for full setup instructions. 

1. From Canva, select Later from the left-hand navigation menu
2. Select the Access Group Media Library you'd like to export to
3. Select Export To Later
4. Configure your export options
5. Select Export

Social Platform Media Requirements

Each social platform has its own set of media and size requirements, in addition to Later’s own requirements outlined above. 

If you schedule a post for notification publishing, Later may not show an error for platform-specific requirements. However, your media may still be compressed, cropped, or rejected when uploaded directly to the social platform.

Instagram Requirements

Instagram images

Images over 8 MB may be compressed, which can reduce quality.

Instagram doesn’t support ProPhoto RGB, which is commonly used in Photoshop and Lightroom, or Apple HDR. Using these color settings may result in reduced quality when published.

Instagram videos

Videos exceeding the recommended maximum resolution may be scaled, which can affect quality.

TikTok requirements

TikTok images

PNG images are converted to JPG when published.

TikTok videos

Facebook requirements

Facebook images

Images over 10 MB may be compressed, which can reduce quality.

Facebook videos

LinkedIn requirements

LinkedIn images

LinkedIn videos

Pinterest requirements

Pinterest images

Pinterest doesn’t have additional image requirements in Later, but an aspect ratio of 2:3, or 1000 × 1500 px, is recommended.

Pinterest doesn’t support GIFs.

Pinterest videos

YouTube Shorts requirements

YouTube Shorts only supports videos in Later. Photos and GIFs aren’t supported.

Long-form YouTube videos aren’t currently supported.

Threads requirements

Threads images

Threads videos

Snapchat requirements

Snapchat images

Snapchat videos

Check media size and resolution in Later

You can check a media item’s file size and resolution directly from your Media Library on desktop.

1. From app.later.com, go to your Media Library.
2. In the top-right corner, select the list view icon.
3. Review the Size column to see each media item’s file size and resolution.
4. Review the Name column to confirm the file type, such as .jpg, .png, or .mp4.

You can switch back to grid view at any time after checking your media details.

Troubleshooting media quality

If your media looks blurry, cropped, or lower quality after publishing, check the following:

• Your video is MP4 with H.264 codec.
• Your video is under 100 MB where possible.
• Your photo is under 8 MB where possible.
• Your media uses the recommended aspect ratio for the platform.
• Your image uses the sRGB color profile.
• Important text or logos aren’t too close to the top or bottom of vertical videos.
• Your video frame rate meets the platform’s requirements.
• Your file type is supported by both Later and the social platform.

For more help, see Troubleshooting Media Uploads & Quality Issues.