Fix Instagram Video Quality Loss & Upload HQ Videos to Instagram

Why Does Video Lose Quality After Uploading on Instagram?

The Instagram official site gives a minimum resolution of 720p but does not give a maximum. However, this doesn't mean that all the videos, including HD/UHD videos, will be successfully uploaded. Using a h.264 codec to produce an mp4 format video, the average video size of 1080p video per minute is 403 MB, and with the same video codec and format, the higher resolution begets larger video size.

One reason why Instagram reduces video quality a lot is that it strictly requires a 3-60 seconds video that cannot over 15 MB, otherwise the video will automatically be compressed while uploading. But videos are large in size nowadays and are likely to exceed the limitations because cell phones competitive for higher and higher resolution of their cameras.

How to Upload High Quality Videos to Instagram without Quality Loss

Method 1: Downscale Video to 720p or Lower to Reduce Video Size

Instagram only supports MP4 and MOV video format, and we cannot shrink video size by changing video format, so the alternative way to help is to downscale video. We all know Instagram does really bad in compression, but use a smart video compressor to downscale and reduce video size less than 15 MB so that the video does not need to be compressed by Instagram.

If you downscaled your video to 720p but still lost quality after uploading on Instagram, try to lower it to 480p or even 360p. Actually, the average video size of 720p video per minute is 265 MB, it still pretty much exceeds the limitation.

Tips: To reduce video size, you can also crop & trim video, adjust bit rate and frame rate to achieve.

Method 2: Upscale Video to 2K/4K or More

This method is the opposite of method 1, but do not do both downscale and then upscale to the same video at the same time. Even you've downscaled and compressed video before uploading, but if you cannot reduce video size less than 15 MB, Instagram will automatically compress it again to really bad quality. To upscale your video to 2k or 4k, although Instagram also will compress it but forced Instagram to use a much higher bit rate to giving this video a higher quality. Also, 4K can show us more details and sharper quality through ultra-high resolution will keep more details of your video, so it is said that the larger and more high quality your initial video, the better your post-compression video will look on Instagram.

Follow the method 1 and if you cannot reduce video size small enough, then try the accessible method 2.

Please also make sure your video meet requirements:

• Video format: MP4 or MOV.
• Video Codec: h.264 or VP8.
• Frame Rate 30 FPS.
• Use aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:5 or 1.9:1 for Instagram Feed Video.
• Use an aspect ratio of 9:16 for Stories, IGTV and Live videos.
• Feed Videos must be 3-60 seconds long, no larger than 15MB.
• Instagram Stories can be up to 15 seconds per Story, no larger than 15MB.
• IGTV video must be 1-15 minutes long, no larger than 650MB. Upload videos from the computer, in which case videos can be up to 60 minutes long, and no larger than 3.6GB.