Uploading videos can often be a slow and frustrating process. With large file sizes and variability in internet speeds, it’s common for uploads to take much longer than we’d like. In this article, we’ll look at the main factors that affect video upload times and some tips to hopefully speed things up.
Video File Size
The most important factor that affects upload time is the size of the video file itself. Video files are much larger than images or documents. A short 1 minute video can easily be 30-50MB, while a 20 minute gameplay video could be 500MB or more. The larger the file, the longer it will take to fully upload.
High resolution and high bitrate videos will have much larger file sizes. 4K or 1080p videos will be much larger than 720p or 480p versions of the same clip. Videos recorded at higher quality settings or bitrates will also be larger. While they may look better, the tradeoff is hugely increased file sizes and upload times.
Before uploading, try to reduce the video file size as much as possible without destroying quality:
- Record at 720p instead of 1080p or 4K if acceptable.
- Use a lower bitrate setting when exporting the final video.
- Use video compression tools to reduce file size.
The lower you can get the file size, the faster uploads will be.
Internet Upload Speed
Your internet connection’s upload speed is a major limiting factor for how fast videos can be uploaded. Most home internet plans are asymmetric, meaning they have faster download speeds than upload.
For example, you may have a “100Mbps” internet plan. But this is usually 100Mbps download, and only 10Mbps upload. When uploading videos, you are limited by the much lower upload speed.
| Connection Type | Typical Upload Speed |
|---|---|
| DSL | 1-10 Mbps |
| Cable | 5-10 Mbps |
| Fiber | Up to 1 Gbps |
| Cellular LTE | 5-50 Mbps |
| Cellular 5G | 50-100 Mbps |
Faster internet connections will upload videos much quicker. For extremely large videos, the upload time difference between 10Mbps and 100Mbps connections can be hours vs minutes.
If you are able to, try upgrading to a faster internet plan with higher upload speeds. This is one of the best ways to slash video upload times. Though keep in mind upload speeds are usually still lower than download.
WiFi vs Wired Connection
How your device is connected to the internet also affects speeds. WiFi is convenient but comes with limitations. The further you are from the router and the more physical objects in between, the weaker the signal will be. Interference from other nearby WiFi networks can also slow your connection.
For faster and more reliable speeds, upload videos using a wired ethernet connection if possible. Ethernet cables eliminate wireless signal issues, giving you the full speed potential of your internet plan.
Server Upload Speed Limits
The website or service you are uploading to may also limit upload speeds. Many sites enforce upload speed limits and data caps to prevent their servers from being overloaded.
For example, YouTube may throttle your upload to 10Mbps max, even if your home internet connection is faster. Social media sites often have quite low upload limits in place. This is another bottleneck out of your control.
Check the upload policies of the site you are using. See if they publish info on speed limits or data caps. If your uploads are being throttled, there’s unfortunately not much you can do besides choosing a different service.
Server Capacity and Traffic
Upload speeds can also vary depending on the current traffic and load on the servers you are uploading to. If many other people are also uploading to the same servers at once, your upload may be slowed down during peak times.
Try scheduling large video uploads during off peak times like late at night when server traffic is lower. Avoid uploading right when a major event just ended that everyone is trying to upload videos of.
Services may also intentionally throttle speeds if their servers are slammed with an abnormally high load. This prevents crashes but results in slow uploads for all users when capacity is stretched thin.
WiFi Router QoS Settings
Your WiFi router may have Quality of Service (QoS) settings that prioritize certain devices over others. For example, gaming devices may get priority bandwidth allocation over mobile phones.
Check your router admin console and make sure the device you are uploading from does not have artificially capped speeds or secondary priority compared to others. Give it high priority if the option exists.
Browser and Hardware Limitations
Some older computers, laptops and browsers may impose their own speed limits during uploads, even if your internet connection is faster. Try using a modern device and browser if able to.
Browser extensions and antivirus software can also potentially interfere with upload speeds. Try disabling them as a test.
Upload Accelerators
There are various software tools and browser extensions available that claim to accelerate uploads by splitting the video into multiple parts and uploading them simultaneously across multiple connections.
In theory this works, but results can vary wildly. Some upload accelerators may indeed provide a noticeable speed boost, but others are ineffective or buggy. It’s worth experimenting with a few to see if they help.
Conclusion
Uploading large video files will always require some patience. But hopefully understanding the main limiting factors can help you speed up the process as much as possible.
The two things that will make the biggest difference are:
- Reducing your video file size before uploading as much as possible.
- Using the fastest internet connection available, ideally with high upload speeds.
Beyond that, optimizing your WiFi network, server traffic, hardware and software can eke out some marginal gains. Don’t expect instant uploads with large videos, but some tweaks can mean the difference between waiting many hours or just one.
