You're standing there with a three-minute masterpiece. It’s edited to perfection. You go to upload it, and suddenly, Instagram clips the wings off your creative bird. It’s frustrating. Truly. But the reality is that figuring out how to post a long video on Instagram isn't actually a technical mystery anymore; it's just a matter of knowing which door to walk through.
Instagram used to be a land of strict borders. You had the 60-second limit for feed posts and the whole IGTV era, which, let’s be honest, was a bit of a mess. Then Reels showed up and changed the math. Nowadays, Instagram has basically merged everything into a single video format, but the way you upload still dictates how much of your footage actually makes it to your followers' screens.
Most people mess this up. They try to cram a long video into the Stories tray or they don’t realize that the "Reels" interface behaves differently depending on whether you're using a professional account or a personal one.
The death of IGTV and the rise of the 60-minute limit
Let's clear the air. IGTV is dead. Gone. Buried in the tech graveyard next to Google Glass and Vine. In 2021, Instagram started merging "Feed Videos" and "IGTV" into one format simply called Instagram Video.
What does this mean for you?
It means you can technically upload videos up to 60 minutes long. Yes, an hour. But there is a massive "but" attached to that. You can't just record a 60-minute video in the Reels camera and expect it to work. That's for short-form, snappy content. If you have a long-form podcast episode, a documentary, or a deep-dive tutorial, you need to upload it as a pre-recorded file from your gallery.
Interestingly, while the app allows 60 minutes, the vast majority of users will never see more than the first 30 to 60 seconds unless they actively click "Keep Watching." This is the "Preview" mechanic. It’s the gatekeeper of your engagement. If your first ten seconds don't slap, nobody is staying for the other fifty-nine minutes.
How to post a long video on Instagram using the Reels interface
Everything is a Reel now. Seriously. If it's under 15 minutes, Instagram automatically categorizes it as a Reel. This is actually a good thing because it gives you access to the Reels discovery engine, which is much more aggressive than the old Feed algorithm.
To get your long video up there, you hit that plus icon at the bottom of your screen. Select "Reel." Now, instead of holding down the record button like a teenager making a dance video, swipe up or hit the gallery icon in the bottom left. Pick your long file.
Here is where it gets sticky.
Instagram might try to suggest "templates" or tell you to "sync to music." Ignore that. If your video is long, you want the original audio. Once you hit "Add," you can trim it, but if you want the whole thing, just keep moving. When you hit "Next," you’ll see the "Share" screen. Crucial tip: Always, always edit your cover photo. Since long videos usually get pushed to the Reels tab, a blurry frame of you mid-sentence will kill your view count. Use a high-quality still or an uploaded graphic with text that explains the value.
Aspect ratios will ruin your life if you aren't careful
If you’re trying to post a long video on Instagram that was originally filmed for YouTube (16:9 widescreen), you’re going to have a bad time. Instagram is a 9:16 world.
If you upload a horizontal video, Instagram will letterbox it. It looks small. It looks amateur. It looks like you didn't care enough to format it. Honestly, if you have a long horizontal video, use an editor like CapCut or Adobe Premiere Rush to stack it. Put the video in the middle, a title on top, and maybe captions on the bottom. This fills the 9:16 space and keeps people from scrolling past because they can't see what's happening.
Why your long videos keep getting cut to 90 seconds
I see this question every single day in creator forums. "Why does my video stop at 90 seconds?"
The answer is simple: The Reels Camera has a limit. If you are recording inside the Instagram app, you are capped. Depending on your region and account type, that cap is usually 90 seconds. If you want to go longer, you must record the video using your phone's native camera app (or a professional camera) and then upload it as a file.
- In-app recording: Good for quick updates. 90-second limit.
- File upload: Good for long-form. 60-minute limit.
It's a weird distinction, I know. It feels like a bug, but it’s actually a feature designed to keep the "Live" feel of Reels snappy while still allowing creators to host longer content.
The Story trick for long-form clips
Stories are a different beast. For a long time, Stories were capped at 15 seconds. Then 60. Now, if you upload a long video to your Stories, Instagram will automatically chop it into 60-second segments.
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But wait. There’s a catch.
If you post a 10-minute video to your Stories, it won't just keep going forever. It usually caps out at a certain number of segments (often 4 to 10 depending on the current update). This is generally a terrible way to share long content. People get "dot fatigue." You know those accounts where the dots at the top of the Story look like a grain of sand? Most people just swipe away.
Instead, if you have a long video, post it as a Reel/Video first. Then, share that post to your Story. This creates a bridge. It gives them a 15-second teaser and a "Watch Video" link that takes them to the full version where they can actually pause, rewind, and see the progress bar.
Making long content actually "rank" on the Explore page
Getting your video on Instagram is one thing. Getting people to see it is another. Because Instagram is moving toward a search-engine model (SEO), your captions and keywords matter more than they did three years ago.
Don't just put "New video!" as your caption. That tells the algorithm nothing.
You need to use "social SEO." If your long video is a tutorial on "How to bake sourdough," that exact phrase needs to be in the first line of your caption. It should probably be on the screen in the video as well. Instagram's AI "reads" the text on the screen and "listens" to the audio to categorize the content.
Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, has repeatedly mentioned that the platform is prioritizing "originality." If you're just reposting a TikTok with the watermark still on it, your long video will be suppressed. It’s a fact. Use a watermark remover or, better yet, export the raw file from your editor.
Common technical hurdles and how to jump them
Sometimes the upload just fails. You're sitting there at 99% and then—poof—"Could not upload. Try again."
This usually happens because of File Size or Bitrate.
Instagram is a mobile-first platform. If you try to upload a 4GB 4K 60fps file that you exported from a high-end PC, the app might choke. Even if your internet is fast, the app's processing engine has limits. For a long video on Instagram, aim for 1080p resolution. Honestly, on a phone screen, nobody can tell the difference between 1080p and 4K, but the app will handle the 1080p file much more reliably.
Also, check your "Data Usage" settings in the app. Go to Settings > Account > Data Usage > and toggle on "Upload at Highest Quality." If this is off, Instagram will compress your long video into a pixelated mess to save data. It’s a hidden setting that ruins a lot of good content.
Breaking the "Engagement Wall"
Long videos face a steep uphill battle. The average attention span on social media is somewhere between that of a goldfish and a caffeinated squirrel. If you're going to post a long video, you need "Retention Hooks."
Every 30 to 60 seconds, something needs to change. A new angle. A text overlay. A loud noise. A shift in the music. If you just have a "talking head" for ten minutes with no visual breaks, your retention graph will look like a cliff.
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Look at creators like MrBeast or even niche experts in the tech space. They never stay on one shot for more than five seconds. While that's extreme for a long Instagram video, the principle holds. Give the viewer a reason to stay for the next minute.
Practical steps for your next upload
Don't just wing it. If you're serious about this, follow a workflow.
- Record outside the app. Use your phone's camera at 1080p, 30fps or 60fps.
- Edit for 9:16. Use vertical framing or "stack" your horizontal footage with captions.
- Front-load the value. Put the most exciting part of the video in the first 3 seconds.
- Upload as a Reel. Don't worry about the "Reel" label; it’s just how Instagram handles video now.
- Optimize for SEO. Use keywords in your caption and add up to 3 relevant topics (Instagram's replacement for some hashtags) during the upload process.
- Toggle "Highest Quality." Make sure your settings allow for the best resolution.
The platform is constantly shifting, but the move toward unified video is a massive win for anyone wanting to share more than a snippet of their life or business. You have the tools to turn your Instagram profile into a mini-streaming channel. Use them.
Stop worrying about the "right" length and start worrying about the "right" hook. If the content is good, people will watch. If it's boring, sixty seconds will feel like an hour. Focus on the value, keep the technical specs within the 1080p vertical limit, and you'll find that posting long content is the best way to build a real connection with an audience that actually cares what you have to say.
Once the video is live, monitor the "Insights" tab. Look at the "Average Watch Time." If people are dropping off at the 20-second mark, you know your intro needs work. If they're making it to the 5-minute mark, you've found your rhythm. Adjust, iterate, and keep posting.