> Source: https://www.trackmedia.app/blog/how-to-upload-a-video-to-youtube · Last updated: 2026-11-02 # How to upload a video to YouTube, step by step To upload a video to YouTube, sign in to YouTube Studio, click CREATE, then Upload videos, and pick your file. Phone steps and limits are below. *Guides · Published 2026-11-02* To upload a video to YouTube from a computer, sign in to YouTube Studio, click **CREATE** in the top-right corner, then **Upload videos**, and select your file. On a phone, open the YouTube app, tap **Create**, then **Video**, and select the file. These steps come from YouTube Help's "Upload YouTube videos" page (Computer, Android and iPhone versions) and its "Upload videos longer than 15 minutes" page, both read on October 22, 2026. This guide also covers limits, what happens if you close the window, and how to go from upload to schedule to tracking. ## How to upload a video to YouTube on a computer YouTube Help gives these steps for the Computer tab: 1. **Sign in to YouTube Studio.** 2. **Click CREATE** in the top-right corner, then **Upload videos**. 3. **Select the file** you want to upload. You can upload up to 15 videos at a time. 4. **Click Edit** on each file to set its details. The page says to be sure to do this for every video. 5. **Choose your Visibility settings** before you close the upload window. The page also gives a warning: if you close the upload window before you finish choosing your Visibility settings, your video is saved as private on your Content page in YouTube Studio. And it notes that the video is converted to the highest resolution available for playback on different devices and networks. ![Table of how to upload a video to YouTube. Computer: YouTube Studio, CREATE, Upload videos, select the file, click Edit, choose Visibility; up to 15 videos at a time. YouTube app: Create, Video, select the file, NEXT, add details, upload; closing early saves a draft. YouTube Studio app: Create, select the file, add details with a title up to 100 characters, Next, choose audience, Upload video. Limits: up to 15 minutes by default, longer needs a verified account, maximum 256 GB or 12 hours.](https://www.trackmedia.app/assets/img/blog/how-to-upload-a-video-to-youtube-fig1.svg) *Uploading a video to YouTube by device, with the labels on YouTube Help. Read October 22, 2026.* ## How to upload a video to YouTube on iPhone and Android YouTube Help describes two apps, and both work on iPhone, iPad and Android. ### Use the YouTube app 1. **Open the YouTube app.** 2. **Tap Create**, then **Video**. 3. **Select the file** and tap **Next** (NEXT on Android). 4. **Add your details and settings** and finish the upload. The page says if you close the upload experience before you finish choosing your settings, the video is saved as a draft on your Content page. ### Use the YouTube Studio app 1. **Open the YouTube Studio app** and tap **Create** at the top. 2. **Select the file.** 3. **Add details**, such as a title (max 100 characters), privacy settings and monetization settings. Tap **Show more** for additional details. 4. **Tap Next** and choose your audience: "Yes, it's made for kids" or "No, it's not made for kids". 5. **Tap Upload video** to publish. The Studio app has one difference noted on the page: you can't self-certify your video ratings through it. ## When does an upload become a Short? On mobile, YouTube Help says a video of 3 minutes or less with a square or vertical aspect ratio is uploaded as a Short. If it is longer than 3 minutes and square or vertical, you can tap "Edit into a Short" to trim it. Our guide to [posting a YouTube Short](https://www.trackmedia.app/blog/how-to-post-a-youtube-short) covers the Shorts side in more detail. ## What are the limits on a YouTube upload? YouTube Help's page "Upload videos longer than 15 minutes" states these limits: - **Length:** by default you can upload videos up to 15 minutes long, and verified accounts can upload longer videos. - **Size:** the maximum file size is 256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less. - **Batch:** up to 15 videos at a time in YouTube Studio on a computer. To verify your Google Account, the page says to go to youtube.com/verify on a computer and follow the steps. You can get a verification code by text message or an automated voice call. It also says to use an up-to-date browser for files over 20 GB. Uploading may also not be available on supervised accounts, according to a note at the top of the upload page. ## Why won't my video upload to YouTube? Check these before anything else. They come straight from YouTube Help: - **Supervised account.** The page says uploading may not be available. - **Over 15 minutes.** Verify your account first, then try again. - **Closed too early.** On a computer, your video may be waiting as private on the Content page, and on mobile as a draft. - **Still processing.** The page says higher qualities such as 4K or HD may take more time to process, and that verifying your YouTube account helps processing time. YouTube also links a "common uploading errors" guide from the upload page if none of these applies. ## After you upload: schedule and track Uploading is only the first step. The decisions that matter next are when it goes public and how you will know it worked. Our guides on [scheduling YouTube Shorts](https://www.trackmedia.app/blog/how-to-schedule-youtube-shorts), [the best time to post on YouTube](https://www.trackmedia.app/blog/best-time-to-post-on-youtube) and [how often to post on YouTube](https://www.trackmedia.app/blog/how-often-to-post-on-youtube) help you plan it. If you want to edit the video itself after upload, read [how to edit YouTube videos](https://www.trackmedia.app/blog/how-to-edit-youtube-videos). ## How to upload and schedule YouTube videos with TrackMedia TrackMedia connects your YouTube channel and uploads the file for you, so the video can go out on schedule alongside your other networks. YouTube is available on every plan, including the free one. - **One composer.** Add the video, write the title and description, add tags, and TrackMedia checks them before publishing. Files up to YouTube's own 256 GB or 12-hour limit are supported. - **Schedule it.** Pick a time in the calendar or send it to a posting queue, and a vertical video under the Shorts length is published as a Short automatically. - **Share it everywhere.** Post the announcement to Bluesky, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Threads and the rest of the 21 networks, with a version fitted to each. - **Track the result.** See views, likes and comments for each YouTube video, including videos you uploaded in YouTube Studio, plus UTM-tagged link clicks per post and per network. The flow is upload, schedule, then track, in one place. [Start free with TrackMedia](https://go.trackmedia.app/signup), with 15 posts a month and no card. ## Questions people also ask ### How do you upload a video to YouTube? On a computer, sign in to YouTube Studio, click CREATE, then Upload videos, and select your file. On a phone, open the YouTube app, tap Create, then Video, and select the file. ### How do I upload a video to YouTube from my phone? Use the YouTube app (Create, then Video) or the YouTube Studio app (Create at the top, then your file). Add details, choose an audience and tap Upload video. ### How long can a YouTube video be? By default up to 15 minutes. A verified Google Account can upload longer videos, up to 256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less. ### Can I upload more than one video at a time? Yes, on a computer in YouTube Studio you can upload up to 15 videos at a time and click Edit on each one for its details. ## How we checked this We opened each page in a browser on October 22, 2026 and read the Computer, Android and iPhone versions. YouTube changes these pages, so check the live page if a label looks different. - [Upload YouTube videos](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/57407) (YouTube Help): steps on each device, the 15-video batch, drafts and private saves, Shorts rule. - [Upload videos longer than 15 minutes](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/71673) (YouTube Help): the 15-minute default, verification, the 256 GB or 12-hour maximum.