Uploading long videos from your camera roll to Snapchat can be a great way to share memories and moments with friends. However, Snapchat has a time limit of 60 seconds for videos uploaded directly to Stories. So how can you upload videos longer than 60 seconds from your camera roll to Snapchat?
Why does Snapchat limit video lengths?
Snapchat introduced the 60 second limit as a way to keep content quick and ephemeral. Videos that are too long can lose viewer engagement. The limit forces creativity within a tight constraint, which is part of what makes Snapchat fun and challenging to use.
You may have a long video from your camera roll that you want to share with friends on Snapchat. But with the 60 second limit, you won’t be able to upload it directly to your Story. Read on to find out the workarounds that let you upload long-form videos from your camera roll to Snapchat.
Trim the video in your camera roll
The simplest option is to trim your long video down before uploading it. Open the video in your camera roll and use the editing tools to trim it down to 60 seconds or less. Then you can upload the shortened version directly to Snapchat.
Here are the basic steps:
- Open the video in your Photos app
- Tap ‘Edit’ in the upper right corner
- Drag the trim handles at the edges of the timeline to shorten the video
- Tap ‘Done’ when finished trimming
- Open Snapchat and upload the trimmed video as you normally would
Trimming before uploading lets you share a tight 60 second snippet that captures the essence of the longer video. However, you lose the ability to share the full length original.
Upload the video in 10 second segments
If you want to share more than 60 seconds, another option is to split your video into multiple parts under 60 seconds each. For example, a 5 minute video could be split into 10 segments of 30 seconds each.
To do this:
- Open the video in your Photos app
- Use the editing tools to trim and export the first 60 second segment
- Trim and export the next 60 second segment
- Repeat until you have extracted all segments of the full video
- Upload each 60 second segment to Snapchat as a separate Story post
The drawback here is that viewers have to tap through multiple Snapchat Stories to see the full video. It interrupts the viewing experience. But it does allow you to share the entire long video within the constraints of Snapchat’s 60 second limit.
Use video editing apps to stitch segments together
A third option is to use a separate video editing app to stitch your long video segments together into one cohesive Story. Apps like InShot, Videoleap, and Splice make it easy to combine multiple video clips with transitions.
Here is the process:
- In your video editor, import each 60 second segment of your long video
- Arrange the segments in order on the timeline
- Add transitions between each clip (crossfade, zoom, spin, etc.)
- Export the full assembled video
- Upload the edited long video to Snapchat as one continuous Story
This method lets you share the entire video as one seamless Story, while working within the 60 second constraints. The transitions between segments mask the fact that it’s composed of multiple clips. Your viewers simply see one long video.
Upload video to Memories, then post to My Story
The Snapchat Memories feature allows you to upload longer videos beyond the 60 second limit. You can upload videos up to 60 minutes long to Memories.
To use Memories:
- Open Memories in Snapchat by swiping up from Camera or tapping the Memories icon
- Tap the + icon to import a video from your camera roll
- Select your long video and confirm the upload
- Go to your Snapchat Story and tap the Memories icon
- Select your long video from Memories to share it to your Story
The video will now post to your Story as one continuous clip, rather than 60 second segments.
Do keep in mind that videos posted to Stories from Memories still disappear after 24 hours like normal Stories. The video won’t be permanently saved in Memories itself. So download the video if you want to keep a copy after sharing to Story.
Save video as a Camera Roll in Memories
If you want your long video to be permanently saved in Snapchat, you can upload it directly to Camera Roll in Memories instead of Story. Videos saved in Camera Roll remain available for you to view and share later.
To use Camera Roll:
- Open Memories and tap the Camera Roll icon
- Tap the + icon to import your long video from your phone’s camera roll
- Tap ‘Save’ to upload the video to Memories Camera Roll
- When you want to share the video, open Camera Roll and select the video
- Tap ‘Send to’ and choose ‘My Story’ to post the video
This saves your long video indefinitely so you can view it or share it multiple times. Camera Roll also lets you upload videos up to 60 minutes long.
Consider YouTube or IGTV for long videos
If your video exceeds even the 60 minute Memories limit, you may want to consider uploading it to YouTube or Instagram instead. Both of these platforms support long-form video content with no length restrictions.
YouTube is designed specifically for long videos like vlogs, tutorials, documentaries, and more. IGTV supports up to 60 minute videos. Either of these can accommodate very long videos that wouldn’t work even in Snapchat Memories.
You can still cross-promote the video on Snapchat by sharing the YouTube or IGTV link to your Story. Viewers can tap through to watch the full-length video.
Download a third party app
Some third party apps claim to let you extend the 60 second limit specifically for Snapchat. However, many upload videos externally instead of directly within Snapchat.
For example, UpSnap has you save your Snapchat video to your camera roll first. You then open UpSnap to combine videos and re-upload the longer video to Snapchat Memories or Story. This works around the limit but isn’t a true direct Snapchat upload.
Before using a third party tool, research reviews and check Snapchat’s latest Terms of Service. Improper use of third party apps could potentially result in a locked account.
Why Snapchat limits video length
Understanding why Snapchat introduced the video time limit can help guide your approach to uploading long videos:
- Encourages creativity – 60 seconds forces you to get straight to the point
- Quick, ephemeral content – aligns with Snapchat’s transient ethos
- Smaller file sizes – faster uploads and downloads
- Prevents really long boring videos – keeps engagement up
- Inspired by Vine (RIP) – short videos with big impact
Finding workarounds like segmenting or the Memories Camera Roll lets you share longer videos when needed. But in general, embrace the 60 second creative constraint when using Snapchat.
Conclusion
Uploading videos longer than 60 seconds from your camera roll to Snapchat requires some workarounds like trimming, segmenting, or using Memories. The 60 second limit promotes thoughtfulness in sharing quick video moments that capture attention.
Some key points covered include:
- Trimming long videos to 60 seconds before uploading
- Splitting into multiple 60 second parts to post as a series
- Using video editors to combine segments with transitions
- Uploading long videos to Memories then posting to Story
- Saving long videos permanently in Memories Camera Roll
Look for the solution that makes sense for each long video you want to share. Getting creative with Snapchat’s limit allows you to work within their community guidelines while still sharing meaningful moments with friends.