Ijharul Islam
YouTube lets every account upload videos up to 15 minutes long. To upload anything longer, you verify your account with a phone number, after which the limit becomes 12 hours or 256 GB per file, whichever you reach first. YouTube Shorts have their own limit of 3 minutes.
More on this topic: Video specs by platform, every guide in one place.
Below are the exact rules from YouTube Help, how to verify, which of the two caps you'll hit first at common bitrates, and what to do with a recording that's still too long or too big.
The short answer
Unverified YouTube accounts can upload videos up to 15 minutes. Verify the account (youtube.com/verify, or when the app prompts you during an upload) to upload longer videos, up to 12 hours or 256 GB, whichever is less. At YouTube's recommended 1080p bitrate (8 Mbps), 12 hours is only about 44 GB, so length is the limit; above about 47 Mbps (4K at 60 fps), the 256 GB cap comes first. Shorts can be up to 3 minutes.
Key takeaways
- Default limit: 15 minutes per video, for any account.
- Verified accounts: up to 12 hours or 256 GB per upload, whichever is less.
- Verification uses a code sent by text message or an automated voice call.
- 256 GB over 12 hours averages about 47 Mbps, so only high-bitrate 4K hits the size cap first.
- Shorts are a separate format with a 3-minute limit; longer vertical videos post as regular videos.
What is the YouTube video length limit?
The YouTube video length limit is 15 minutes for unverified accounts and 12 hours for verified ones. YouTube's help page on long uploads says that by default you can upload videos up to 15 minutes long, that verified accounts can upload longer videos, and that the maximum upload is 256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less.
| Account or format | Maximum length | Maximum file size |
|---|---|---|
| Any account (default) | 15 minutes | 256 GB (in practice, a 15-minute file is far smaller) |
| Verified account | 12 hours | 256 GB |
| YouTube Shorts | 3 minutes | Same upload rules; must be square or vertical |
YouTube adds that some older videos run longer than 12 hours because the limits have changed over the years. If you see a 15-hour video on the site, it was uploaded under older rules.
How do you upload videos longer than 15 minutes?
You upload videos longer than 15 minutes by verifying your YouTube account with a phone number. It's free and takes a minute:
- On a computer, go to youtube.com/verify while signed in to the channel's Google Account. In the YouTube app, start uploading a video longer than 15 minutes and follow the prompt.
- Choose to get the code by text message or by an automated voice call, and enter your phone number.
- Type the 6-digit code you receive. The page confirms the account is verified.
- Upload again, or, if a long video was blocked before you verified, find it in YouTube Studio's Content list and publish it.
If you've verified and still can't upload past 15 minutes, YouTube's help page points to your channel's standing: check YouTube Studio for copyright strikes or Community Guidelines issues, which can restrict features including long uploads.
Will you hit the 12-hour or the 256 GB limit first?
You'll hit the 12-hour limit first unless your file averages more than about 47 Mbps. 256 GB is 2,048,000 megabits; spread over 43,200 seconds (12 hours) that's 47.4 Mbps. Here's how long a 256 GB file lasts at common bitrates, including YouTube's own recommended upload rates:
| Video type (YouTube's SDR recommendation) | Bitrate | Size of 1 hour | Time to reach 256 GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p at 24-30 fps | 8 Mbps | 3.6 GB | 71 hours (12-hour cap first) |
| 1080p at 48-60 fps | 12 Mbps | 5.4 GB | 47 hours (12-hour cap first) |
| 4K at 24-30 fps | 35-45 Mbps | 16-20 GB | 13-16 hours (12-hour cap first) |
| 4K at 48-60 fps | 53-68 Mbps | 24-31 GB | 8.4-10.7 hours (256 GB first) |
| Phone recording, 4K at 60 fps (typical camera bitrate) | 60-100 Mbps | 27-45 GB | 5.7-9.5 hours |
Recommended bitrates are from YouTube's upload encoding page. Camera and phone bitrates vary by model, so read yours from the file's properties, or work it out from size and length with the free video bitrate calculator. Most people uploading 12-hour streams or lectures are recording 1080p, so the 12-hour rule is the one that matters.
Why does YouTube say my video is too long?
YouTube says a video is too long when it's over 15 minutes on an unverified account, over 12 hours on any account, or over 3 minutes when it's being treated as a Short. Work out which:
| Message or symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Upload rejected just over 15:00 | Account not verified | Verify at youtube.com/verify, then publish it from YouTube Studio |
| Still rejected after verifying | Channel restrictions (strikes) | Check YouTube Studio for strikes or warnings |
| Rejected over 12:00:00 | 12-hour maximum | Split the recording into parts |
| Vertical video won't post as a Short | Longer than 3 minutes | Trim it under 3 minutes, or post it as a regular video |
| Upload stalls near the end | File near 256 GB, or unstable connection | Re-encode at a lower bitrate, or upload over a wired connection |
Not sure how long the file really is, or how long several parts add up to? The free video duration calculator reads the length from video files (or from typed durations) and totals them, free, runs in your browser and never uploads your file.
How do you fit a long recording under the limit?
You fit a long recording under the limit by cutting what nobody needs, splitting what's left into parts, and lowering the bitrate if the file is huge.
- Cut dead air first. Waiting rooms, setup and breaks at the start and end of a stream are free savings. Trim them with the free video trimmer.
- Split into parts if it's still over 12 hours, or over 15 minutes before you can verify. Parts of 2 to 4 hours are easier to watch and to search than one giant upload.
- Add chapters so viewers can jump around a long video: the free YouTube chapter timestamp generator turns your notes into a timestamp list. See how to add chapters to a YouTube video.
- Re-encode only if the file is too big, not too long. YouTube re-encodes every upload anyway, so a file at its recommended bitrate loses nothing visible.
For export settings that upload cleanly, see the best export settings for YouTube and the video bitrate guide.
What about YouTube Shorts length?
YouTube Shorts can be up to 3 minutes long, and must be square or vertical. A vertical video longer than 3 minutes uploads as a regular video. Shorts have other rules too, like how claimed music limits them; YouTube Shorts size and length has the details, and how to turn a long video into Shorts covers cutting clips from a long upload.
| Regular video | Short | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum length | 15 min, or 12 h when verified | 3 minutes |
| Shape | Any; 16:9 recommended | Square or vertical |
| Where it appears | Home, search, subscriptions | Shorts feed, plus the channel's Shorts tab |
How long should a YouTube video be?
The limit tells you what YouTube allows, not what keeps viewers. A video should be as long as its content needs, with no padding. Two numbers from YouTube's own help pages are useful: mid-roll ads can only be placed in videos that are 8 minutes or longer, and YouTube Studio's Intro metric reports how many viewers are still watching after the first 30 seconds. Make the first 30 seconds count; how long a YouTube intro should be covers that.
If you're turning a script into a video, the free words to minutes calculator tells you how long it will run at your speaking pace, before you record anything.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum video length on YouTube?
12 hours for verified accounts and 15 minutes for unverified ones. Files are also capped at 256 GB.
How do I upload a video longer than 15 minutes on YouTube?
Verify your account with a phone number at youtube.com/verify, or when the app asks during an upload, then upload again.
Is YouTube verification free?
Yes. It only needs a phone number that can receive a text message or a voice call.
What is YouTube's maximum file size?
256 GB per upload, or 12 hours, whichever is less.
Can a YouTube Short be longer than 60 seconds?
Yes. Shorts can be up to 3 minutes long, as long as the video is square or vertical.
Why can't I upload long videos after verifying?
Check YouTube Studio for copyright strikes or Community Guidelines issues on the channel, which can restrict features.
Can I upload a 24-hour livestream recording?
Not as one file: uploads are limited to 12 hours. Split it into two parts or more.
Try it with your own video
Caption long uploads and translate them into 32 languages, or cut them into Shorts. Upload a recording, check the transcript, and export captions or clips. 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
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