How to Convert Videos for Social Media Platforms

Why Platform-Specific Conversion Matters

Upload a 4K, 60-frame-per-second video to Instagram and the platform will re-encode it aggressively, often producing worse quality than if you had uploaded an optimized file to begin with. Each platform has its own preferred codecs, aspect ratios, bitrates, and maximum file sizes.

By converting your video to match each platform's specifications before uploading, you maintain creative control over quality and ensure your content looks its best on every feed.

Platform Specifications

Instagram Feed: MP4, H.264 codec, 1080x1080 or 1080x1350, 30 fps, under 30 MB.

TikTok: MP4 or MOV, 1080x1920 (9:16), under 287 MB, under 10 minutes.

YouTube: MP4, H.264, 1920x1080 or higher, up to 128 GB, preferred frame rate matches source.

Twitter: MP4, H.264, 1280x720, 30 fps, under 512 MB, under 2 minutes 20 seconds for standard accounts.

LinkedIn: MP4, 1080x1080 or 1920x1080, under 5 GB, 3 seconds to 30 minutes.

The Conversion Workflow

Start with your highest-quality master file. Use our Video Converter to transcode to H.264 MP4, which is the most universally compatible format. Then use the Video Resizer to crop to the target aspect ratio — vertical for TikTok and Instagram Reels, square for feeds, and horizontal for YouTube and LinkedIn.

Next, compress intelligently. Social platforms apply their own compression, so uploading a slightly larger file gives their encoder more data to work with. But stay under platform limits. Finally, trim any unnecessary footage at the start or end to maximize engagement.