Reddit didn’t support direct video uploads before 2017. If you wanted to share a video, you had to link it through a third-party site like YouTube. Thankfully, that’s changed. Now, you can upload videos directly to Reddit from your phone or computer if your video meets the platform’s guidelines. This improvement has made Reddit useful and conversations more vibrant, as users can directly access videos without clicking on links.
Notably, Reddit is a social media platform that operates a bit differently from others. It’s organized into countless communities called “subreddits,” each focused on a specific topic where discussions, questions, and content sharing happen around that theme. When you’re ready to create a new Reddit post, it’s essential to find the right subreddit for your video content.
For instance, if you’ve used Zight to create a travel vlog or video and want to share it, you’d want to post in a relevant subreddit like /r/travel or /r/travelpartners. This ensures your new post reaches an interested audience, increasing engagement while avoiding potential removal by moderators for being off-topic. So, do you want to know how to add a video on Reddit? This post is for you.
Reddit’s Video Requirements
To learn how to post videos on Reddit, you must understand the guidelines.
- File Size: Videos can be up to 1 GB.
- Video Length: The maximum video length is 15 minutes.
- File Formats: The supported formats include MP4 and MOV. Supported video codec: H.264/AVC
- Supported aspect ratio: 1:1, 4:5, 16:9, 4:3
- Resolution: Reddit allows a wide range of resolutions, but for best results, use HD (720p or higher).
- Audio: Your video can include audio, but Reddit doesn’t allow separate audio uploads.
- Mobile vs. Desktop: You can upload videos from both, but ensure you have the latest version of the Reddit app for smooth uploads.
If your video cannot be uploaded to Reddit due to the compatibility problem, you can create a GIF from your online videos and record part of a full video clip being played on your screen. Whether it’s a live stream or a recording on your screen, you can turn a snippet of it into a 1-minute animated GIF.
How to Upload Videos to Reddit
Now that you know the requirements of Reddit, it’s time to post videos on Reddit. Here’s a detailed guide on how to post videos on Reddit, along with some tips to enhance your content.
Step 1: Create or Record Your Video Content
Before you dive into uploading videos to Reddit, it’s important to create something engaging that fits the needs of your audience.
If you’re crafting a tutorial, walkthrough, or demo, the Zight screen recorder will be ideal for capturing on-screen content as it captures everything on your screen with clarity.
You can also screen record gameplay footage or even funny glitches relevant to your chosen subreddit.
However, if you prefer a more personal approach, like a YouTube video style, Zight’s webcam recorder is perfect for recording yourself in high quality. This is because it allows you to add that face-to-face connection to your video post, ideal for reviews or direct messages.
Step 2: Edit your Video
Once your video is recorded, it’s time to finetune it. Reddit users appreciate concise content. Whether it’s removing unnecessary sections or adding text annotations, a polished video is more likely to get attention and upvotes. Fortunately, Zight can significantly improve your Reddit videos before you upload them. Here are some ways to leverage Zight’s features:
- Trim and Cut: If your video exceeds the 15-minute limit, use Zight’s editing tools to trim it down to the most relevant parts.
- Add Text Overlays and Captions: Zight allows you to add text overlays or captions, making your video more accessible and informative for viewers.
- Apply Video Effects and Filters: Zight offers various effects and filters to enhance the visual appeal of your video and match the tone of your content.
Step 3: Upload Videos to Reddit
Reddit allows direct uploads from both mobile and desktop as long as the video meets their requirements. However, keep in mind that some communities don’t allow posting videos. Therefore, you’ll see a red circle with a line through it when clicking the Image & Video tab.
a). Posting Videos from a Computer
You can post videos to Reddit communities from your PC.
1. Open the Reddit website in your web browser on your PC and log into your account.
2. Click the + icon at the top that says Create Post at the top of the web page, next to the Search Reddit bar.
3. Move to the Image & Video tab, and click on Upload to import a video from your local disk. If your video exceeds Reddit’s size limits, you can always share a video link from a platform like YouTube. Click on Link and paste the video URL into the box.
Notably, Zight makes it easy to share videos by generating quick links, making it easy to share videos that exceed the limit. These links can be posted in comments or discussions, allowing users to view your video without needing to download anything.
4. Upload the video and add an interesting title in the Title field since Reddit thrives on compelling titles. Mention any key points or highlights from your video to entice viewers.
5. Move to the Post tab to add the body caption as preferred.
6. Click on the downward pointing arrow next to Choose a community to expand the Subreddits list you have subscribed to and search for the one in which you want to post videos. It’s located near the top-left corner of the new post form. Select the one that you want to post videos to. You can also input the name to search for it.
You also have the option to add tags like Flair, Spoiler, OC, and NSFW to your video post.
- OC (Original Content): Use this to let the community know the video is your own creation.
- Spoiler: Mark this if your video contains key plot points or important elements.
- NSFW (Not Safe for Work): Apply this tag if the content is explicit or inappropriate for a work environment.
- Flair: This is essentially a tag or category. Whether you need to use it depends on the specific rules of the subreddit you’re posting in.
- The final step is to click on Post and upload video to the Subreddit community.
b). Posting Videos via the Reddit Mobile Application
1. Open Reddit on your phone. Both Android and iOS are supported. Then tap the + Create icon at the bottom.
2. Tap on the video icon at the bottom to load a video from your camera roll or library.
3. Choose the video you want to post and tap on Add at the top-right corner. Alternatively, you can select the first Link option and paste the URL of the video to share an online video from other platforms.
4. Select the video you want to post or the one you already recorded and tap on Next.
5. Add the title & the body caption, and tap on Next.
6. In the Post to page, search for the community to which you want to post the video.
7. Tap on Post at the top-right corner to upload it.
Troubleshoot Reddit Video Upload Problems
1. Can’t Upload Videos to Reddit
Although uploading videos to Reddit is generally straightforward, some users encounter errors. You might see messages like, “Sorry, we only accept images (.png, .jpeg, .gif) and videos (.mp4, .mov)” or “Failed to upload media.” Here’s how to troubleshoot:
- Ensure your video meets Reddit’s requirements for format, codec, file size, and length. If not, you may need to edit it using a tool like Zight.
- If your network goes offline or Reddit is down, try reconnecting and uploading again.
- If you’re using the Reddit app, ensure your phone has enough storage and is running the latest version. Clear your cached files or update the app if needed.
- If video posts aren’t permitted, try another subreddit.
- Reddit doesn’t natively support NSFW or private subreddit videos. For these, upload the video to a third-party site and share the link.
- You can’t post videos directly in Reddit comments, but you can add a link to a video hosted elsewhere.
2. No Sound When Videos Are Uploaded to Reddit
Reddit supports videos with sound, so if your video has no audio, double-check that the original file has an audio track and you didn’t mute it during playback. Some users experience this issue when converting videos to MP4 using VLC, which may disable the soundtrack.
3. Videos Look Blurry After Uploading
Reddit compresses videos to save server space, which can reduce video quality. Before blaming Reddit, try changing the playback resolution to HD. If the video still appears blurry, consider uploading it to Zight or YouTube and posting the link on Reddit to preserve the quality.
Conclusion
That’s all we have for how to post videos on Reddit. Follow the guides above to post your videos to Reddit to get views, likes, and discussions. If your video doesn’t meet the upload requirements, don’t forget to sign up and use Zight.