6 Hacks to Upload Clear Videos on Instagram Reels

Actual steps that work to make your Instagram Reels high-definition.

Breadnbeyond
4 min readJul 17, 2023
Image by Sourabh Shinde on Canva

What a frustrating moment when your video Reel comes out blurry, pixel-y, and out of focus.

While you can’t stop wondering what has gone wrong, perhaps you’re missing out on some hacks!

In fact, uploading crisp, clear, high-quality video Reels on Instagram requires some specific tricks.

From video production to exporting and uploading, we’ve curated some best practices you can try right away.

Buckle up! Let’s break down the details.

First, update your Instagram app

Before delving deeper into the discussions, ensure you have the latest update on Instagram.

Go to Google Store or App Store and look for the Instagram app.

If you haven’t updated the app to the latest version, continue by clicking the update button.

The latest version offers new features and supports that may affect your content quality.

Read: How Can Instagram Story Videos Help Your Business Growth

Record and edit videos professionally

When you record videos, use a smartphone that supports a high-quality camera.

Consider using a tripod and stabilizer to minimize shaky and blurry footage.

Well-shot videos generate more buzz and help you increase audience engagement.

Export your video in the highest resolution

Exporting your video from editing software or tool is one of the trickiest parts.

Follow these recommended technical specifications for high-quality Instagram videos:

  • Format: Save your videos in the .mp4 format.
  • Audio: Utilize the AAC audio codec for optimal sound quality.
  • Bitrate: Aim for a bitrate of 3500 kbps to maintain a balance between quality and file size.
  • Frame Rate: Set your videos to 30 frames per second (fps) for smooth playback.
  • Duration: Keep your videos within a maximum length of 60 seconds to captivate viewers’ attention.
  • Resolution: Maintain a width of 1080 pixels (maximum) and a height of 1920 pixels for optimal visual clarity.
  • Codec: Encode your videos using the H.264 codec, a widely supported and efficient compression standard.

You may find another tip to export your edited video on 4K resolution.

While this tip sounds like a good idea, unfortunately, Instagram doesn’t support that superior resolution.

If you insist on uploading a video in 4K, Instagram will downgrade the video quality to its maximum resolution.

Read: 10 Facts Of Social Media Videos +Infographic

Save on Google Drive or Cloud

Another crucial hack is never to send your finished video via message, WhatsApp, or email to your smartphone.

If you edit your video on a desktop, upload the final version on Google Drive or Apple Cloud.

Download the file through your mobile drive or cloud to retain the original video quality.

You can also AirDrop the file from Mac to Apple for a quicker transfer.

Tuck on ‘high-quality upload’ option

Before launching your video online, go to your Instagram account and enable high-quality upload.

To enable this option, visit your Instagram account setting, and continue following these steps.

  • Access your profile setting and tap on the “more options” button.
  • Select ‘Settings & Privacy’ in the top right corner.
  • Tap on ‘Account,’ followed by ‘Data Usage.’
  • Enable the ‘Upload at highest quality’ option.

This setting will turn off the data-saving mode and may extend the uploading process.

So ensure you have a fast internet connection while processing the upload.

Let the video preview plays through

Some content creators do this secret trick where they let the video preview plays through before finally uploading it.

While Instagram has not officially addressed or endorsed this approach, many content creators find that this additional step enhances the quality of their content.

So there’s nothing to lose for trying this simple process.

Uploading high-definition Reels on Instagram can result in many benefits regarding your online presence.

Not only can you attract more viewers and followers, but well-made content also builds your credibility as a content creator.

Also, optimize your video by writing concise captions and adding relevant hashtags to boost visibility.

If you’re eager to learn more about social media practices, Breadnbeyond provides other valuable posts for you to explore!

--

--

Breadnbeyond
Breadnbeyond

Written by Breadnbeyond

Crafting animated explainer videos since 2009. Visit our website: https://breadnbeyond.com/

No responses yet