Upload problems
TikTok video won't upload? Fix stuck and failed posts
Short answer
A TikTok that stalls at a percentage or fails and lands in drafts is usually a connection drop, a heavy file the app has to convert, or a post that can't go live (music not licensed for a business account, for example). Retry on Wi-Fi with the app open, then post a lighter 1080×1920 MP4. Save your drafts before you reinstall the app: TikTok removes drafts on uninstall.
Key takeaways
- TikTok accepts MP4, WebM and MOV, H.264 (recommended), H.265, VP8 or VP9, 23 to 60 fps, 360 to 4096 px per side and up to 4 GB (TikTok for Developers).
- All creators can post 3-minute videos, and some have 5 or 10 minutes; a longer clip is trimmed or refused.
- Business accounts can only use music licensed for commercial use, so a post with other music may not go through (TikTok Help).
- TikTok removes drafts when the app is uninstalled; post or save drafts before reinstalling.
- If the app keeps failing, upload the same file from a computer in TikTok Studio to separate a phone problem from a file problem.
TikTok's upload limits
TikTok publishes its video limits in its developer documentation. A file inside every row below can be posted from the app, the web and scheduling tools alike.
| Limit | TikTok's figure |
|---|---|
| Formats | MP4 (recommended), WebM, MOV |
| Video codecs | H.264 (recommended), H.265, VP8, VP9 |
| Frame rate | 23 to 60 fps |
| Picture size | 360 to 4096 px for both width and height |
| File size | Up to 4 GB |
| Length | 3 minutes for all creators; some have 5 or 10 minutes |
Free tools:Compress a video for TikTokTikTok video length checker
Find your case
| What you see | What it usually means | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| Stuck at the same percentage on mobile data | Connection dropped | Retry on Wi-Fi, app open (step 1) |
| "Failed to upload" and saved to drafts | Upload interrupted; the post is safe in drafts | Post again from Drafts (step 2) |
| Only one video fails | 4K/60, HDR, very long or odd-format file | Re-export as 1080p MP4 (step 3) |
| Business account, fails with music | Non-commercial music can't be used on business accounts | Use commercial sounds (step 4) |
| Posts, but nobody can see it | Not eligible for the For You feed | Check the notification and appeal (step 5) |
| Can't select the video | Format, size or length outside TikTok's limits | Re-export as a 1080 × 1920 H.264 MP4 |
| Trimmed in the editor | Longer than your account's limit | Cut it to 3 minutes or split it |
| Every upload fails, even small ones | App state, VPN or an outage | Update, turn off VPN, restart, try the web |
Fix it step by step
Retry on Wi-Fi with the app open
Switching apps or locking the phone can pause the upload. Stay on TikTok until the post appears on your profile.
Post again from Drafts
A failed upload is usually saved as a draft on your profile's videos tab. Open it and post again rather than re-editing from scratch.
Re-export a lighter file
Large 4K or 60 fps files and HDR clips take longest to convert on the phone. Post a 1080×1920, 30 fps H.264 MP4 copy.
Check music on business accounts
TikTok says business accounts cannot use music that is not licensed for commercial use. Choose a sound from the commercial library, or post from a personal account.
Read the eligibility notice
If a post goes live but is not eligible for For You, TikTok sends a notification with the reason and lets you appeal. Turn on analytics in TikTok Studio to see it.
Reinstall only after saving drafts
Before reinstalling TikTok, post or save your drafts: TikTok's help says drafts are removed when the app is uninstalled and reinstalled, or when the account moves to another device.
Export settings we recommend for TikTok
| Size | 1080 × 1920 px (9:16) |
|---|---|
| Frame rate | 30 fps, constant · or the rate you recorded, if constant |
| Codec / container | H.264 in MP4, AAC audio |
| Color | SDR |
| Source | the original export, never a downloaded copy |
Re-export a video TikTok will accept
- 1080 × 1920, 30 fps, H.264, AAC, fast start:
ffmpeg -i in.mov -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2,fps=30" -c:v libx264 -crf 20 -pix_fmt yuv420p -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 48000 -movflags +faststart out.mp4 - HDR iPhone clips, 120 fps slow motion and ProRes files are the ones phones struggle to convert; this command turns all of them into a plain file.
Phone settings that stop TikTok uploads
iPhone
- Settings → TikTok → Cellular Data: on, if uploads fail away from Wi-Fi.
- Settings → TikTok → Background App Refresh: on.
- Turn off Low Power Mode and any VPN while posting.
- Keep a few GB of free storage for the conversion.
Android
- Settings → Apps → TikTok → Mobile data: allow background data.
- Battery: set TikTok to Unrestricted while posting.
- In TikTok, Settings and privacy → Free up space → Cache: clear it (drafts are kept).
Upload from a computer instead
TikTok Studio on the web uploads the file as it is, without your phone converting it first. If a video fails on the phone but posts from the computer, the problem is the phone (storage, settings, app state). If it fails in both places, the file is the problem: re-export it with the command above.
When the upload is blocked rather than broken
- A video that breaks TikTok's Community Guidelines can be removed or restricted after posting; check your notifications and the post's analytics.
- Music not licensed for a business account can stop the post or remove the sound.
- If uploads fail on every video and every network, report it in the app: Settings and privacy → Report a problem.
Files that phones struggle to upload
| File | Why it fails | Convert to |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone HDR (Dolby Vision) clip | Needs conversion on the phone | SDR H.264 MP4 |
| 120 or 240 fps slow motion | Above TikTok's 60 fps | 30 fps |
| ProRes or very large export | Huge files, slow conversion | H.264 at 10 to 15 Mbps |
| Over 4096 px | Above TikTok's size limit | 1080 × 1920 |
Re-encode a clean TikTok file
If one file keeps failing while others upload, convert it to plain settings with ffmpeg:
ffmpeg -i input.mov -vf scale=1080:1920 -r 30 -c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -crf 20 -c:a aac -b:a 128k -movflags +faststart tiktok.mp4
Check your file
Extension and MIME type are labels, not proof of the container. Dimensions and duration come from this browser's media reader. This does not detect codecs, bitrate, corruption or platform upload compatibility. Files and measurements are not sent anywhere.
Common mix-ups
- “Clear cache or reinstall first”
Before reinstalling TikTok, post or save your drafts: TikTok's help says drafts are removed when the app is uninstalled and reinstalled, or when the account moves to another device. Clearing cache from TikTok's own settings is safer; reinstall last.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my TikTok say failed to upload and saved to drafts?
The upload was interrupted. Open Drafts on your profile and post it again, on Wi-Fi with the app open.
Why is my TikTok stuck at a percentage?
Usually the connection or a large file. Try Wi-Fi, keep the app open, and post a 1080p MP4 copy if the same file stalls again.
Will I lose drafts if I reinstall TikTok?
Yes. TikTok says drafts are removed when the app is uninstalled and reinstalled. Save them to your phone first.
Why won't TikTok let me upload videos?
Usually the file is outside TikTok's limits (format, length, size), the connection drops, or the app is in a bad state. Re-export a 1080 × 1920 H.264 MP4 under your length limit, retry on Wi-Fi, then try TikTok Studio on a computer.
Why won't my TikTok video finish uploading?
Leaving the app or a weak connection stops the upload. Keep TikTok open on Wi-Fi, turn off Low Power Mode and VPN, then post again from Drafts.
How do I fix a TikTok video stuck uploading?
Wait a minute with the app open, then switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data. If it stays stuck, save the draft, restart TikTok and post again; reinstall only after saving drafts.
Why is TikTok not letting me upload videos?
The file may be outside TikTok's limits (format, size, length), your account may have a posting restriction, or the app is in a bad state. Check notifications, re-export the video and update the app.
What is the maximum TikTok upload size and length?
TikTok's developer documentation allows files up to 4 GB; all creators can post 3-minute videos and some have 5 or 10 minutes.
What bitrate should I use for a TikTok upload?
TikTok does not publish one. For 1080 × 1920 at 30 fps, 10 to 15 Mbps H.264 keeps detail and stays far below the 4 GB limit.
Why does TikTok say my video is too long?
All creators can post 3-minute videos and some have 5 or 10 minutes. Trim the video to your account's limit or split it into parts.
What video formats does TikTok accept?
TikTok's developer documentation lists MP4 (recommended), WebM and MOV, with H.264 (recommended), H.265, VP8 or VP9, 23 to 60 fps and 360 to 4096 px per side.
Why does my TikTok upload fail on Wi-Fi?
A busy or unstable Wi-Fi network can drop the upload. Try mobile data or another network, keep TikTok open and turn off any VPN.
Sources
- TikTok Help: Editing, posting, and deleting (official, checked 2026-10-05)
- TikTok Help: Sounds (official, checked 2026-10-05)
- TikTok Help: For You feed eligibility (official, checked 2026-10-05)
- TikTok for Developers: Content Posting API, media transfer guide (video restrictions) (official, checked 2026-10-06)
Reviewed 2026-10-06. Steps not attributed to a source are general video practice or computed above.