Ijharul Islam
Spotify recommends uploading video podcast episodes as MP4 files with H.264 or H.265 video at 1080p or higher, in 16:9, with AAC-LC stereo audio at 128 kbps or more. Files should be under 10 GB and episodes under 4 hours, though Spotify accepts up to 60 GB and 12 hours. You upload video in Spotify for Creators on the web, or through one of the podcast hosts that send video to Spotify.
Everything below comes from Spotify for Creators' support pages, read on 1 November 2026. Spotify's Video specs page and its Publishing videos page don't agree on every detail, so we show both and give an export setting that meets both. For other platforms, see our video specs by platform.
The short answer
Export an MP4 with H.264 (High Profile) video at 1080p, 16:9, at the frame rate you recorded (24, 25, 30, 50 or 60 fps), at no more than 25 Mbps, with AAC-LC stereo audio at 192 kbps. Keep it under 10 GB and 4 hours if you can (60 GB and 12 hours are the hard limits). Then upload it in Spotify for Creators on the web (New Episode, Select a file), or through your host if it distributes video to Spotify, or replace an existing audio episode with video in Spotify for Creators.
Key takeaways
- Recommended: MP4, H.264 or H.265, 1080p or higher, 16:9, Rec.709 SDR, progressive, one video and one audio track.
- Size and length: under 10 GB and 4 hours recommended; up to 60 GB and 12 hours accepted.
- Audio: AAC-LC (or PCM or FLAC), stereo; the specs page says 128 kbps or more, the publishing page 192 kbps or more, so use 192.
- Uploading video only works on Spotify for Creators web, and the account must be verified before your first video.
- Video plays only on Spotify; your RSS feed carries the audio to other apps.
What are Spotify's video podcast requirements?
Spotify's Video specs page splits each setting into recommended and also compatible. As read on 1 November 2026:
| Setting | Recommended | Also accepted |
|---|---|---|
| Container | MP4 | MOV (FLV and AVI discouraged) |
| Video codec | H.264 or H.265 (HEVC) | Other codecs |
| Resolution | 1080p or higher | 180p or higher |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 | Any; some Spotify apps add bars to fill 16:9 |
| Bitrate | 25 Mbps CBR for 1080p; 35 Mbps CBR for 4K | Any, within the file-size limit |
| Frame rate | 24, 25, 30, 50 or 60 fps | Not listed |
| Keyframes | About one per second | At least one every 60 seconds |
| Colour | Rec.709, SDR, 8 or 10-bit | Rec.2020 and HDR are converted to SDR Rec.709 |
| Scan | Progressive | Not listed |
| Tracks | One video, one audio, same duration | Not listed |
| Audio | AAC-LC, PCM or FLAC, stereo, 128 kbps or higher | Mono (made stereo) and 5.1 (mixed to stereo) |
| File size | Under 10 GB | Up to 60 GB |
| Duration | Under 4 hours | Up to 12 hours |
The Publishing videos page, which covers the upload itself, is slightly stricter: it lists MOV, MPG and MP4; H.264 High Profile at the source's native frame rate; a maximum of 25 Mbps for 1080p and 35 Mbps for 4K; and AAC-LC audio at 192 kbps or higher, stereo only. It sets no file-size limit, but warns that bigger files take longer to process and are more likely to fail if your connection drops. An export that meets the stricter page meets both.
The export settings to use
For a typical interview or talking-head show, these settings meet both of Spotify's pages:
- MP4, H.264 High Profile, 1920×1080, 16:9, progressive.
- The frame rate you recorded at, if it's 24, 25, 30, 50 or 60 fps.
- A keyframe about every second (for example, every 30 frames at 30 fps).
- Video bitrate up to 25 Mbps; for long episodes, lower it so the file stays under 10 GB.
- AAC-LC stereo audio at 192 kbps. Spotify doesn't list a sample rate; 48 kHz is the usual video default.
Watch the file size on long episodes. At 25 Mbps, an hour of video is about 11.25 GB (25 megabits a second × 3,600 seconds = 90,000 megabits), already over the recommended 10 GB. To stay under 10 GB, average about 22 Mbps for a 1-hour episode, 11 Mbps for 2 hours or 5.5 Mbps for 4 hours. The free video bitrate calculator does this sum for any length and size.
How to get a video podcast on Spotify
There are three routes, and which one you use depends on where your podcast is hosted.
1. Your show is hosted on Spotify for Creators
- Log in to Spotify for Creators on the web (video uploads aren't possible in the mobile app) and verify your account if you haven't; Spotify requires it before your first video.
- Click New Episode, choose Select a file and upload the video.
- On the Details page, add the title and description and complete Content checks. Optionally add season and episode numbers and episode artwork.
- Under Publish date, pick Now or Schedule. Spotify emails you when processing starts and when it finishes.
The video plays only on Spotify. Your RSS feed carries the episode's audio to Apple Podcasts and other apps.
2. Your host sends video to Spotify
Some hosts upload video to Spotify for you through Spotify's distribution API. Spotify announced on 14 May 2026 that Libsyn, Podigee, Audioboom, Audiomeans and Podspace are live. With one of these, you upload the video in your host's dashboard, not in Spotify for Creators. Spotify says hosts may support this for some or all of their creators, so ask yours.
3. Your host doesn't send video: replace an audio episode
- Log in to Spotify for Creators on the web and, if you have more than one show, pick it in the sidebar. Open Episodes.
- Click the three dots next to an existing audio episode and choose Upload video.
- Choose the video file, wait for it to upload fully, preview it and click Publish.
Spotify says you can't use this if you already send video through a partner host, that video added this way plays only on Spotify's apps and web player, and that it can't be monetized through the partner monetization options.
Does a Spotify video podcast show up on other apps?
No. Spotify video stays on Spotify; other podcast apps get the audio through your RSS feed. Spotify's May 2026 announcement says Spotify for Creators and Megaphone will support Apple Podcasts' HLS video, marked "coming soon" with no date. To reach YouTube as well, upload the full episode there too: how to upload a podcast to YouTube covers the three ways.
Promote each episode with short clips
A full video episode is something people choose to watch; short clips are how new listeners find it. Cut 30 to 60 second vertical clips from each episode for Shorts, Reels and TikTok, and point them back to the full show. How to turn a podcast into clips walks through it, and how long a podcast clip should be covers length.
QuickVeed's Podcast to Clips does this from the video file: upload an episode of up to 3 hours, and it suggests up to 10 moments of 15 to 90 seconds, cuts them to 9:16 with the frame following the speaker, and burns in word-by-word captions. An hour-long episode costs 90 credits for the transcript, a small AI charge to find the moments, and 3 credits per clip. It doesn't import links, so upload the file. Starting from scratch? See how to start a video podcast.
Frequently asked questions
What format does Spotify want for video podcasts?
MP4 is recommended and MOV is accepted, with H.264 or H.265 video and AAC-LC audio. The Publishing videos page asks for H.264 High Profile and AAC at 192 kbps or more.
What is the maximum file size for a Spotify video podcast?
Spotify recommends under 10 GB and accepts up to 60 GB. Episodes can be up to 12 hours, with under 4 hours recommended.
Can I upload a video podcast to Spotify from my phone?
No. Spotify says video can only be uploaded on Spotify for Creators web. You can save a draft on the web and publish it later from the app.
Does Spotify support vertical video podcasts?
Spotify recommends 16:9 and accepts any aspect ratio, but some of its apps letterbox or pillarbox video to fill a 16:9 frame, so horizontal is the safe choice for full episodes.
Does Spotify accept 4K video?
Yes. Spotify recommends 1080p or higher and gives a 35 Mbps bitrate for 4K sources. A 4K file is bigger, so check it stays within the size limits.
Will my Spotify video appear on Apple Podcasts?
Not yet. Video uploaded to Spotify stays on Spotify, and other apps get the audio from your RSS feed. Spotify says Apple Podcasts video support is coming but gives no date.
Try it with your own video
Turn each video episode into a week of captioned vertical clips. Upload an episode and let it suggest the moments, with the trial credits. QuickVeed plans start at $18/month, and new accounts get a 14-day trial with 250 credits, no card needed. Sign up or see pricing.
Sources
Competitor details in this post were checked against these public pages in November 2026. Products and prices change, so confirm with each vendor before you decide.
