If you’re having issues getting a video from your camera roll to show up properly in Snapchat, there are a few potential reasons why this might happen and some troubleshooting steps you can try.
Common Reasons Why Camera Roll Videos Won’t Show in Snapchat
Here are some of the most common reasons why a video from your camera roll may not properly show up when you try to send or post it on Snapchat:
- The video file is too large or the wrong file format – Snapchat has file size and format limitations for videos. If your video exceeds those limits, it won’t be accepted.
- Connectivity issues – Poor internet connection when trying to upload the video can lead to errors and prevent it from posting.
- Corrupted or problematic video file – If the video file itself is corrupted, damaged, or otherwise problematic, Snapchat may not be able to properly process it.
- App issues or bugs – Like any app, Snapchat can sometimes have glitches that affect its ability to handle videos from your camera roll.
- Permissions not enabled – Snapchat requires access to your camera roll in order to upload videos. If that permission is disabled, it can’t access the videos.
Troubleshooting Steps to Try
If your camera roll videos aren’t working as expected in Snapchat, here are some troubleshooting steps you can attempt:
- Check the video file size and format – Snapchat has a file size limit of 16MB and supports MP4 and MOV formats. If your file is too large or another format, compress it or convert it to MP4.
- Make sure you have a strong internet connection – Use WiFi if possible and move closer to your router if on a weaker connection. Reset your network devices if needed.
- Re-export or re-save the video file – Try processing the original video again and re-exporting it to get a clean file. Corrupted files may need to be re-created.
- Force quit and re-launch the Snapchat app – Close Snapchat entirely and re-open it to clear any app issues.
- Check app permissions – Go into your phone’s settings and make sure Snapchat has permission to access photos and videos.
- Update the Snapchat app – Go to your app store, search for Snapchat, and install any available updates.
- Restart your phone – Sometimes a device restart can clear up temporary glitches.
Further Troubleshooting Tips
If you still can’t get your camera roll video working in Snapchat, here are some additional troubleshooting tips:
- Try uploading the video while connected to a different WiFi network or cellular data.
- Test uploading a different video from your camera roll to isolate the issue.
- Check if the issue is isolated to just one device or is happening across multiple devices.
- Try uploading the video while logged into a different Snapchat account.
- Contact Snapchat support through the app for additional help troubleshooting.
- Back up your device and try factory resetting if no other fixes resolve the problem.
Why Snapchat Has Video Restrictions
There are some technical reasons why Snapchat has restrictions and limitations on video files from your camera roll:
- File size limits accommodate different network speeds – With users on different connections, smaller file sizes ensure more reliable uploading and sharing.
- Specific video formats reduce compatibility issues – Supporting just MP4 and MOV prevents errors caused by uncommon or problematic formats.
- Limiting length makes uploading and sharing faster – Shorter videos can be quickly processed and transmitted.
- Smaller files use less storage space on users’ devices – Snapchat caches data, so smaller files take up less local storage.
- Reduced video quality decreases bandwidth requirements – Compressed, lower-quality videos use less data.
While the limitations can be inconvenient if your video doesn’t conform, they are designed to provide the best experience across Snapchat’s wide user base.
Video Specifications for Snapchat
Here are the key video specifications and limits to be aware of for Snapchat:
| Video Spec | Snapchat Limit |
|---|---|
| Maximum file size | 16MB |
| Maximum length | 60 seconds |
| Minimum length | 1 second |
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 or 16:9 |
| Formats supported | MP4, MOV |
| Maximum FPS | 60 |
| Recommended resolution | 720p HD (1280 x 720) |
Meeting these specifications when preparing your video will give you the best chance of being able to upload it successfully to Snapchat.
How to Compress Large Videos for Snapchat
If your video exceeds Snapchat’s file size limit, you’ll need to compress it before uploading. Here are some tips for compressing video files:
- Use video compressor software or apps – These will allow you to quickly customize compression to meet file size needs. Some options include Video Compress, AVidecompressor, and Handbrake.
- Lower the resolution – 720p HD is sufficient, but you can go lower. This greatly reduces file size.
- Adjust the bitrate – Lowering the video bitrate will also compress the file.
- Shorten long videos – Trim videos to 60 seconds or less to meet Snapchat’s length limit.
- Re-encode the video – Export and save the video again using more efficient codecs to shrink the file.
- Remove audio channels – Mono audio takes up half the space of stereo audio.
With the right compression tweaks, you can shrink almost any large video to meet Snapchat’s requirements.
How to Convert Video Formats for Snapchat
If your video is an unsupported format like AVI, MKV, FLV, etc., you’ll need to convert it to MP4 or MOV for Snapchat. Here are some format conversion tips:
- Use free video converter tools – Applications like Any Video Converter, Handbrake, and FFmpeg provide quick format conversion.
- Convert in a video editor – Video editors like Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, or iMovie can export videos in different formats.
- Use online converters – Websites like Online-Convert.com and Convertio.co allow format conversion right in your browser.
- Change file extension – You can sometimes just change the video file extension and rename it from .avi to .mp4 for example. This doesn’t always work though.
- Re-export the original source – If you have the original source video file, re-exporting it in the correct format is the best option.
Converting formats before uploading eliminates issues caused by unsupported video types. Be sure to use MP4 or MOV when possible.
Common Video Errors in Snapchat and How to Fix Them
If your video still won’t upload even after troubleshooting, here are some common Snapchat errors and potential fixes:
| Error Message | Possible Fix |
|---|---|
| “Video Upload Failed” | Retry, check internet connection, restart app, ensure 16MB limit not exceeded |
| “Unable to send Snap” | Force quit and reopen Snapchat, ensure app updated, restart device |
| “Could not process this video” | Re-export video file, try different format, reduce length under 60 seconds |
| “Unsupported File” | Convert to MP4 or MOV format |
| “Media upload failed” | Ensure strong WiFi/cellular connection, check video file integrity |
Addressing the specific error message can help identify the exact issue and appropriate fix.
How to Report Video Uploading Issues to Snapchat
If you continue having trouble getting videos to upload from your camera roll, you can report the issues directly to Snapchat for additional support:
- Open Snapchat and go to your profile page
- Tap the Settings (gear) icon in the top-right corner
- Select “Support” near the bottom
- Choose the option for “My Camera Roll”
- Select “Contact Support” and complete the steps to describe your video uploading problem
Snapchat’s support team may be able to provide specialized troubleshooting tips or identify potential bugs contributing to the issue.
Best Practices for Snapchat Camera Roll Videos
To avoid issues getting videos to upload from your camera roll, keep these best practices in mind:
- Use MP4 or MOV formats at 720p resolution or lower
- Compress videos over 16MB to meet the file size limit
- Trim longer videos to 60 seconds max
- Upload over strong WiFi if possible
- Re-export problematic source videos
- Update Snapchat app regularly
- Allow Snapchat access to your photos and videos
- Contact support if issues persist
Following Snapchat’s guidelines for video specs and troubleshooting upload problems quickly can help ensure your camera roll videos make it to your Snapchat stories and posts.
Conclusion
Uploading videos from your camera roll into Snapchat can sometimes result in errors or failed uploads.
The most common problems are related to file size limits, formats, app issues, and network connectivity.
You can troubleshoot by adjusting video specs, converting formats, re-exporting files, updating Snapchat, checking permissions, and contacting support if needed. Following best practices for sizing, formats, and specs can help avoid many uploading issues in the first place. With the right preparation and troubleshooting, you can get your camera roll videos showing properly in Snapchat.