This post explains how to fix the “couldn’t upload video” error on TikTok by clearing the app or browser cache, updating the app, converting the video, reinstalling the app, etc. It also lists the main cause of the error and TikTok video file requirements.
TikTok is a popular short-video platform where people post and watch videos daily. You can record directly in the app, upload from your camera roll, or use the website to upload from a PC.
Some users have received error messages saying “Couldn’t upload video saved to drafts TikTok” or “Couldn’t upload video. Try again later” when they uploaded a video to TikTok. Why does this happen, and how can you fix it? Let’s begin.
Why Can’t I Upload Videos on TikTok
Quick answer:
- Poor Internet connection
- Temporary glitches
- Video file format or size issues
- Errors in TikTok servers
- Video file corruption
Cause 1. Poor Internet connection: Errors will occur if your Internet connection is unavailable, slow, or unstable while you’re trying to upload a video to TikTok. This is a common reason for most issues with TikTok.
Cause 2. A temporary TikTok glitch: Sometimes, TikTok may malfunction for no reason. This will also prevent you from uploading videos.
Cause 3: Unsupported video format, file size, or length: You can’t upload a video on TikTok if the format is not supported, exceeds the maximum file size limit, or the video is too long. Your video should meet the following requirements.
TikTok video specs on the app version:
- Video format: MP4 or MOV
- Video resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels recommended; minimum 720 x 1280
- Video length: Up to 10 minutes for in-app recording; up to 60 minutes for uploads; up to 15 seconds for TikTok Stories
- Video file size: Approximately 72MB on Android, 287.6MB on iOS
- Aspect ratio: 9:16 recommended
TikTok video specs on the web version:
- Format: MP4, WebM, MKV, MOV, AVI, MPEG, MPG, WMV, OGV, M4V, MPE, OGM, ASX
- Video resolution: High-resolution recommended: 1080p, 1440p, 4K.
- Maximum video length: 60 minutes
- Maximum video file size: 30GB
- Aspect ratio: 16:9 for landscape, 9:16 for vertical.
Cause 4. A phone or browser issue: If you're having trouble uploading videos to TikTok on your phone or computer, there may be a problem with your device.
Cause 5. Errors in TikTok servers: Any errors on TikTok's servers will prevent you from uploading a video on this platform. If this is the case, you have no choice but to wait until the server returns to normal. You can contact TikTok for assistance.
Cause 6. Broken video file: TikTok checks your video as you upload it. If the video is corrupted or broken, TikTok will detect this and won't let you upload it.
How to Fix TikTok “Couldn’t Upload Video” on Android/iOS
Quick answer:
- Restart the TikTok app
- Restart your device
- Check TikTok servers
- Check the internet connection
- Clear app cache
- Check your video
- Update the TikTok app
- Reinstall TikTok
- Upload a video via TikTok.com
Try the following tips when you encounter the “couldn’t upload video” error on TikTok when uploading a video from your phone gallery.
Method 1: Restart the TikTok App
Restarting is a general fix when you have trouble with any apps on your device. If TikTok fails to upload a video, try restarting the app to fix the issue.
Close the TikTok app and open it again. Then, upload your video as usual and see if it works properly this time.
Method 2: Restart Your Device
Restarting your phone can fix glitches, delete temporary files, and close all open applications and processes. This is a common fix for most errors on your device. If you can't upload videos to TikTok, restart your phone to solve the problem.
Method 3: Check TikTok Servers
As mentioned above, if the TikTok servers are not working properly or encounter any issues, you will not be able to successfully upload videos to this app.
To check the status of TikTok servers, you need third-party tools like Downdetector. After you open the website, type “tiktok” and click on the search button, then you can view TikTok’s current status.
If there’s no problem with TikTok servers, continue to try the following methods. If so, you can only wait for the problem to be resolved or contact TikTok for help.
Method 4: Check the Internet Connection
An available and stable Internet connection is a prerequisite to do anything in the TikTok app. If TikTok can't upload videos, check and reconnect to the Internet.
If you’re on Wi-Fi, disconnect and then reconnect it. Also, reboot your router to fix your Wi-Fi. Alternatively, you can turn on cellular data on your phone, open the TikTok app, and try uploading the video again.
If you’re using a VPN, you’re recommended to turn it off and try uploading the video again. That's because some VPNs can trigger TikTok's security blocks, causing upload failures. However, you can use MiniTool VPN for a smoother experience. It offers stable servers that help avoid this issue while keeping your connection secure.
Method 5: Clear the TikTok App Cache
TikTok’s cache will accumulate while you’re using it. When it gets too large, it will affect the app’s performance. In this case, issues like the “TikTok couldn't upload video” error can occur. To fix this, clear the TikTok app cache. Luckily, you can do this directly in the app:
- Tap Profile at the bottom, then click the Menu button at the top.
- Select Settings and privacy, then choose Free up space, and scroll down.
- Tap Clear next to Cache, then tap Clear again to confirm.
From here, you can also delete downloads and drafts to free up some space.
Android users can also clear TikTok’s cache from the Settings app:
- Open the Settings app and choose Apps.
- Find and click TikTok.
- Select Storage & cache and click Clear cache.
Method 6: Check Your Video
Your video should adhere to TikTok file requirements and not contain any content against the community standards. When the “couldn't upload video” error occurs on TikTok, check your video format, file size, and length.
If your video is in an incompatible format or the file size exceeds the maximum limit, use a video converter and compressor to optimize the video for TikTok. Alternatively, trim unnecessary parts of the video using Google Photos on Android or Photos on iPhone to reduce the file size.
Method 7: Update the TikTok App
If your TikTok app is outdated, it may not be able to upload your videos. Then, go to the Play Store or App Store and search for TikTok. If there’s an available Update option, click it to install the latest version of the TikTok app. If there’s an Open option, it means that you’re running the latest version of TikTok.
Method 8: Reinstall the TikTok App
As a last resort, delete and reinstall the TikTok app. Reinstalling can resolve many app issues, so it's worth trying if TikTok can't upload your video.
Method 9: Visit TikTok.com to Upload Your Video
If you still can’t upload a video from your phone to TikTok, navigate to the TikTok website on your PC and upload your video:
- Visit TikTok.com in your browser and log in with your account.
- Select Upload on the left sidebar and click Videos.
- On TikTok Studio, click Select video to add a video from your computer.
- Add a description and set the settings.
- Click Post to share the video.
How to Fix TikTok “Couldn’t Upload Video” on PC
Quick answer:
- Refresh the TikTok Page
- Optimize the video for TikTok
- Clear the Cache and Cookies
If the “Couldn’t upload video. Try again later” error occurs on TikTok Studio, try these quick solutions.
Fix 1: Refresh the TikTok Page
The simplest and most direct solution is to refresh your TikTok page by pressing F5. In many cases, the error is caused by a minor issue or a server issue on TikTok's end. A quick refresh clears the temporary state. After that, upload the video again.
Fix 2: Optimize the Video for TikTok
While TikTok Studio supports multiple video file types and up to 4K resolution, the recommended format is MP4 encoded with the H.264 video codec and AAC audio codec, at 1080p resolution.
If you fail to upload a video to TikTok Studio on a PC, convert the video to the format mentioned above. For this, use a professional video converter. MiniTool Video Converter is one of the best video converters for Windows. It converts between a wide range of video and audio formats, downscales or increases video resolution, compresses videos, generates subtitles for videos, cuts and merges videos.
MiniTool Video Converter-
Batch convert video/audio files among 1000+ formats. - Quickly compress videos for easy storage and transfer.
- Accurately extract subtitles from video/audio files.
- Effectively enhance video quality.
Best of all, the software does not have a file size limit and does not add a watermark to the exported results. Here is how to optimize a video for TikTok.
Fast track steps:
- Install MiniTool Video Converter.
- Import the target video file.
- Set the output format to MP4 1080P.
- Start the conversion.
1. Install the video converter for TikTok
Download and install the video conversion software.
2. Add the desired video
Launch the application and switch to the Convert Video tab. Then, click Add Files or Add or drag files here to start conversion to upload a video.
3. Choose MP4 1080P as the output format
Click the Settings icon on the right side. From the pop-up window, go to the Video tab, select MP4 on the left panel, and choose HD 1080P as the output format.
4. Start optimization
Click the Output button at the bottom to change the folder to save the final result. Then, click Convert to start the process.
After that, try uploading the new video file to TikTok Studio.
Fix 3: Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
When you fail to upload a video to TikTok in a browser, clear browsing data to fix the issue. Here, we take Google Chrome as an example.
- Click the three-dot icon in the top-right corner.
- Select Delete browsing data from the dropdown menu.
- Choose a time range.
- Check the boxes for Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Conclusion
This post explores common causes of the TikTok video not uploading issue and offers practical solutions. If you're suddenly seeing the "Couldn't upload video. Try again later" error, hopefully these methods will help resolve it.
Finally, if you run into any issues with MiniTool Video Converter, contact the support team at support@minitool.com for assistance.
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About The Author
Position: Columnist
Cora is a tech writer specializing in digital media workflows, with over six years of hands-on experience in video post-production, media transcoding, and screen capture. Her writing is always clear and practical. Cora also produces in-depth software reviews for users across skill levels to help them find the right tool and enjoy video editing.
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