How to Post a Long Video on Instagram: Reels, Stories, Feed？

How long can videos be on Instagram

When it comes to Instagram, the length of videos varies depending on the format and the device used for posting. Videos posted to the Instagram Feed (Instagram Posts) can have a maximum duration of 60 minutes if posted from the desktop app. However, when using the Instagram mobile app, the limit for Feed videos is 15 minutes.

Instagram Reels typically have a maximum length of 90 seconds, although there are certain exceptions. Instagram Stories allow for videos of up to 60 seconds in length. For Instagram Live recordings, the maximum duration extends to 4 hours.

Currently, Threads, Instagram's companion app, also enables users to post videos. On Threads, videos can be as long as 5 minutes. Unlike Instagram, Threads doesn't differentiate between various "types" of video posts.

Why am I unable to post Instagram videos that are longer than 15 minutes

Numerous blog articles state that videos posted to the Instagram Feed can have a duration of up to 60 minutes. Nevertheless, when using the Instagram mobile application, we found ourselves unable to post videos exceeding 15 minutes in length.

Videos shared as Posts through the mobile app are automatically trimmed to 15 minutes and subsequently published as Reels. We verified this by uploading a highly compressed 16 - minute timer video; despite its compression, the Instagram mobile app still shortened it and shared it as a 15 - minute Reel.

On the other hand, we successfully posted 60 - minute videos via the desktop version of Instagram.com. As an illustration, we've embedded one of our YouTube videos, which runs for over 22 minutes, to demonstrate this capability.

Once more, the only way we could post videos longer than 15 minutes was by using Instagram's desktop site. Interestingly, the Instagram Help Center appears to mention video limits only on a specific page that details the eligible video formats for partnership ads.

Why are some Instagram Reels over 90 seconds

Over the years, the relationship between Instagram Reels and videos posted directly to the Instagram Feed has undergone several transformations. In 2022, Instagram declared that all videos with a duration of less than 15 minutes would henceforth be automatically shared as Reels, and this remains the standard today.

The 90 - second time limit for Reels is only applicable to videos recorded and posted directly through the Instagram camera. This implies that videos recorded outside of Instagram and subsequently uploaded to the platform will be published as Reels, even if they exceed 90 seconds in length.

Keeping track of these changes has proven somewhat bewildering. The majority of these alterations stem from Instagram's introduction of numerous distinct types of video posts over time, including separate apps like IGTV, which is no longer in operation. The platform aimed to consolidate video content to offer a more streamlined user experience.

How long can Instagram Stories be

Videos shared as Instagram Stories can have a maximum length of 60 seconds, whether you record them directly using the Instagram camera or upload them from your device. At last, some straightforward rules!

If you want to post a video as a Story but it's longer than 60 seconds, you can trim it within the Instagram app before posting. We'll go into more detail about this process later.

In our testing, when we tried to post videos longer than 60 seconds as Stories, we didn't get a notification to split the video into multiple Stories. This is different from the past, when Stories had a 15 - second limit and longer videos had to be divided.

How can I post long Instagram videos over the current limits

Apart from Instagram Live, which permits recordings of up to 4 hours, the “actual” maximum length for pre-recorded videos appears to be 1 hour for posts created through the desktop version of Instagram.com.

Naturally, there are also significantly shorter time restrictions that you need to be aware of. Videos posted via the mobile app are limited to 15 minutes, Reels recorded using the Instagram camera have a cap of 90 seconds, and all Instagram Stories are restricted to 60 seconds.

Option 1: Trim the overall length of your video

The initial option is to edit your video so that it can be posted as a single piece, adhering to the time limits: 60 minutes for videos posted on the desktop version, 15 minutes for those posted via the mobile app, or 90 seconds for Instagram Reels.

There are two methods to achieve this:

(1) Edit the video within the Instagram app after uploading it;

(2) Use a specialized video editing software to trim, divide, or cut the video before uploading it to Instagram. Now, let's explore both of these methods in detail:

Trim your content with Instagram

Both the Instagram mobile and desktop apps offer a built-in trimming feature, yet it has significant limitations. This tool doesn't allow you to split videos. Consequently, you'll need to identify a single desired segment within your video and then utilize the timeline markers to remove the remaining parts.

This is a good choice if you have a fairly short video that's just over the limit you need to hit, and if you don't plan on making any substantial edits to the video.

Trim your content with a video editor

Trimming your content using a video editor enables you to divide the video into its most crucial sections and then assemble those segments, resulting in a shorter video with less unnecessary content. This is the optimal approach for trimming a video when you aim to preserve the core message or content of the original.

To begin, navigate to Kapwing's Video Trimmer tool or directly access the Kapwing editor. Next, upload your video file or paste the link of an already - published video. Your video footage will be automatically loaded into the Kapwing editor.

Once your video is imported into the Kapwing editor, you have two options for trimming: you can directly edit the video on the timeline or use the "Trim with Transcript" feature, which allows you to edit the video as if it were a text document. Let's start by taking a look at the timeline editor.

When your video appears in the editor, two timeline markers will be positioned at the beginning and end of the footage. Similar to the trimming tool on Instagram, you can manipulate these markers to cut your video down to a specific segment or clip. This method is particularly effective when you only want to share one particular part of your video.

The split feature proves invaluable when you aim to combine multiple segments of your video into one continuous clip. It enables you to select the most engaging parts of your footage and assemble them into a unified, coherent video. This approach is especially ideal for trimming when you need to retain several sections of a long video to convey the complete narrative.

To utilize this feature, activate the Split Video tool at the exact point where you wish to divide the video into two parts. Once split, timeline markers will be visible on both newly created sections. You can then drag these markers to trim each individual segment separately, rather than adjusting the entire video at once.

At this stage, you have the ability to reorder the sections, and naturally, split and trim your footage to create a single video that complies with Instagram's time restrictions. Keep in mind that you can always undo any changes you make, so feel free to make as many edits as necessary without hesitation.

The alternative method for trimming a video is by using the "Trim with Transcript" feature. When you employ this feature, Kapwing will rapidly generate a detailed, word - for - word transcript of the dialogue or narration within your video in mere seconds. Once the transcript is ready, you can modify the text, which in turn trims or removes the corresponding sections from the video, much like editing a regular text document.

The "Trim with Transcript" feature is an excellent option for trimming videos and making initial cuts, especially if you're a beginner in video editing or dealing with a video that has a lot of dialogue. The best part is that even when using this feature, you can still utilize the timeline editor to perform more complex and precise edits.

Once you've completed trimming your video, simply click on "Export Project" to transform it into an MP4 file, which is then ready to be uploaded and posted on Instagram.

Option 2: Cut out clips from your long-form video

If you produce long - form videos such as podcasts or webinars that often exceed Instagram's video time limits, another viable approach is to extract clips or highlights from these videos and post those instead.

However, there is a drawback. Creating multiple clips from a single long - form video can be extremely time - consuming. This is particularly true when it comes to identifying the highlights and then applying (and reapplying as needed) the same edits to ensure each clip is suitable for social media sharing. Whether it's resizing the clips, keeping the focus on the speakers, or adding attention - grabbing subtitles, every step demands time and effort.

Thankfully, Kapwing offers an AI - driven tool called Repurpose Studio. This innovative feature automatically detects clips within your long - form videos. It then proceeds to resize the video footage, incorporate animated subtitles, and center the speakers, streamlining the entire process.

When you stand to gain more by posting multiple independent clips from a video rather than condensing it into one single clip, Repurpose Studio is an excellent choice. It enables you to stay within Instagram's time constraints while maximizing the potential of your long - form content.

Long videos have a home on Instagram

Let’s face it: making long - form videos work on Instagram requires navigating several challenges. Given the diverse video formats, time restrictions, and other factors, it’s not as straightforward as just selecting a video and clicking the upload button.

However, it’s evident that long - form videos do have a place on Instagram. Once you understand the platform’s guidelines, with some expertise and the appropriate tools, you can adapt nearly any long - form video to fit seamlessly.