Guide
How to Post a Video on Instagram: Step by Step
Here is how to post a video on Instagram. A video is posted as a Reel, and it has to go to a professional account. Get the file right, write the caption, then post it now or schedule it.
1. How to post a video on Instagram: switch to a professional account
Posting through a tool needs a professional account: Business or Creator. A personal account can’t be posted to this way.
2. Get the video into shape
Aim for vertical 9:16, up to 1920 pixels wide, as MP4 or MOV. H.264 or HEVC video and AAC audio are the safe combination.
Keep it between 3 seconds and 15 minutes and under 300 MB, at 23 to 60 frames per second.
These are the API’s rules. The app is more forgiving, which is why a file can work by hand and still be refused by a tool.
3. Write the caption
Instagram’s API takes a cover image as a JPEG up to 8 MB, 9:16 recommended. If you want a specific cover, set it in the Instagram app after the Reel is live.
Write the caption for the Reel. Dripost can put hashtags in the first comment, which keeps the caption clean.
4. Upload once in Dripost
Drop the video into Dripost and choose Instagram. The file is sent as you uploaded it, never re-encoded and with no watermark. A video can be up to 10 GB in the library, but Instagram’s limits above still apply.
To post to other places in the same go, tick them too. Each one gets the same file.
5. Check the preview and schedule it
The preview shows Instagram’s version of the post. If Instagram would refuse something, you are told why while you can still fix it.
Choose a date and time and schedule it, or post now.
6. Let it process
Instagram needs time to process a video. Dripost waits until it has, then reads back the real link. If Instagram refuses it, you get an email with Instagram’s own reason and a Retry button.
Free to start: 14 days of Pro, no card, then a Free plan.
Sources
Questions
How do I post a video on Instagram?
Post it as a Reel from a professional account. Dripost uploads it once and posts it for you.
Can I post to Instagram from a computer?
Yes. Upload the video in Dripost and schedule it; it works from the browser.
Do I need a Business account?
A professional account, either Business or Creator, is needed. Both work.
Does Dripost add a watermark?
No. The file goes to Instagram as you uploaded it.
How long a video can you post on Instagram?
A Reel posted through Instagram’s API can run from 3 seconds to 15 minutes, within 300 MB. Instagram’s own app may allow other lengths, and the app’s limit has changed more than once.
How to post videos on Instagram from a computer?
Upload the file in Dripost, write the caption and pick a time. It posts as a Reel at that time and shows you the live link.
How to post YouTube videos on Instagram?
Instagram cannot play a YouTube link as a video. Post the video file itself as a Reel. In Dripost, you can upload it once and send it to YouTube and Instagram together.
Is there a best Instagram video post time?
Your Insights show when your followers are most active. Post a video just before that hour, and keep the same slot for a few weeks before you judge it.