How to Convert Videos for YouTube – Your Complete Upload Guide

July 31, 2023

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As an online video maker, you need to know how to effectively convert and upload your video files to YouTube on your mobile phone, Mac, or PC. Let’s walk through the information you need to convert a video for YouTube like a pro.

How to convert a video file for YouTube with Movavi Video Converter

Movavi Video Converter allows you to convert any video file to a YouTube-friendly format in no time. The app supports almost all popular video formats, including AVI, MP4, FLV, 3GP, MOV, DVD, those of HD video, and many more. It also lets you do minor editing: trim and rotate video, adjust brightness, contrast, etc. Movavi Video Converter includes a set of specially tailored presets which can help you convert videos into just the right format for your purpose. The program has both a Windows and a Mac version.

To find out how to convert and upload your video clips to YouTube, follow the steps below.

Step 1. Download the video converter for YouTube

Download Movavi Video Converter – a powerful and easy-to-use YouTube converter. Run the downloaded file and install the program following the on-screen instructions.

Download for Free

Step 2. Launch the program and add videos for conversion

Run the software. Click the Add Media button and then Add Video to select videos for conversion. If the original video source is a DVD, choose Add DVD to add files.

Step 3. Select a YouTube preset

In the Video tab in the lower part of the program window, open the Online Video category and select the appropriate YouTube preset.

Step 4. Convert video to YouTube format

Click the Save to button and specify the folder where the program should place converted files. Finally, click Convert.

Step 5. Start uploading the video to YouTube

After the conversion is done, go to YouTube and log in. Click the Create a video or post icon in the top panel and select Upload video.

Before uploading, you should adjust the privacy settings. Open the Privacy drop-down list and select one of the options shown:

Privacy setting

Description

Public

The video will be available for viewing by all visitors to the website.

Unlisted

The video will be available for viewing only by those who follow a specific link generated by YouTube. Choose this option if you want to show the video only to specific people.

Private

The video will be available for viewing only by users you invite through an email invitation. Choose this option if you’re concerned that a link to your video may get into the wrong hands.

Scheduled

The video will be available for viewing at a specific time. Before that time, only select people will be able to see the video (just as with private access). Choose this option if you want to upload the video in advance.

Now click the icon in the center of the screen. In the window that opens, choose the files you want to upload and click Open.

Wait for the video to upload. This time, there should be no format problems. While the video is being processed, you can edit the title, description, and tags for your video in the corresponding fields and also change other parameters in the Advanced settings tab. When everything is ready, click Publish.

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The top upload settings for YouTube videos (format, size, resolution)

Before you choose a YouTube video format converter program, you’ll need to know about the settings that matter most for how to convert a video to a YouTube format. Understanding the settings below will enable you to create and convert YouTube-compatible files more easily.

Video format

YouTube supports numerous file formats, but it doesn’t support everything. You’ll first want to make sure that your video converter for YouTube upload supports the file formats that you want to use – and that those formats are supported by YouTube. Current formats include:

Supported

NOT supported

3GP, AVI, FLV, MOV, MP4, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MPEG-PS, MPG, WebM, WMV, CineForm, DNxHR, HEVC (h.265), ProRes

DVD files (such as VOB, IFO, and BUP files), M4V, MKV, MP3, MXF, OGV, VEG, VEP, VPJ, WFP

Video length

If you haven’t yet verified your YouTube account, you can add videos that are up to 15 minutes long. However, if you verify your account, you’ll be allowed to log into YouTube and upload up to 12 hours. The minimum length of any YouTube video – for either registered or unregistered users – is 12 seconds.

File size

When you convert a video to YouTube format, keep file size in mind. Unregistered users can upload files up to 2 GB, but registered users can upload files as large as 128 GB.

Resolution

The higher your video’s resolution, the clearer the picture will be, but the longer your video will take to load if you have limited bandwidth. The minimum recommended resolution is 426 × 240, and the recommended resolution for HD videos is 1080p (1920 × 1080).

Bitrate

Bitrate refers to how much data a video uses per second for upload and download speeds. HD videos will have higher bitrates, which are associated with clearer images and sharper sound.

Resolution

Dimensions

Bitrate SDR (Standart/High)

Bitrate HDR (Standart/High)

2160p (4K)

3840 × 2160

35–45 Mbps/53–68 Mbps

44–56 Mbps/66–85 Mbps

1440p (2K)

2560 × 1440

16 Mbps

24 Mbps

1080p

1920 × 1080

8 Mbps

12 Mbps

720p

1280 × 720

5 Mbps

7.5 Mbps

480p

640 × 480

2.5 Mbps

4 Mbps

360p

480 × 360

1 Mbps

1.5 Mbps

240p

320 × 240

400 Kbps

N/A

144p

256 × 144

80–100 Kbps

N/A

Aspect ratio

YouTube’s standard aspect ratio is 16:9. If your video is set to a different aspect ratio (e.g., if you forgot to rotate your phone sideways when recording), it will appear with black bars on the sides and/or top and bottom of the frame.

Frame rate

YouTube recommends uploading videos in the same frame rate that they were recorded. Popular frame rates include 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, and 60 frames per second. Faster frame rates create smoother, clearer looking videos.

Video container

Video container is another term for the file format. YouTube recommends using MP4 as your video container but supports multiple formats.

Video codec

Your video codec encodes your video’s data stream, which means it governs how much quality loss occurs in file compression. The best video codec for YouTube is H.264.

Audio codec

Like your video codec, your audio codec governs the audio quality that may be lost due to compression. YouTube recommends AAC-LC.

Summary

Now you should have the information you need for how to convert a video file for YouTube. Whether you’re uploading a short clip or a feature-length film, use the settings in this article to ensure that your conversion settings are appropriate and your media is properly formatted to share on YouTube. And, if you haven’t chosen the right video converter and uploader software for the job yet, why not put Movavi Video Converter on your list? With a free download option, you can take it for a test drive before you buy and see if it’s the right video converter for your needs.

Movavi Video Converter

The ideal way to get your media in the format you need!

Download for Free About the Windows version

Download for Free About the Mac version