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Publishing Requirements for Images and Videos from Metricool

Social Media Publishing Requirements (via API)


In this article, you'll find the technical requirements to publish content on social media through Metricool, using the official APIs. Details are grouped by content type: images, videos, Reels, Stories, and documents.


To better understand what type of content can be scheduled or published on each network, we recommend this guide 👉 Scheduling and Publishing Options by Social Network


In this article:



👀General considerations ▪️We recommend using MP4 instead of MOV to avoid issues. During scheduling, MOV files will be automatically converted to MP4. ▪️We recommend an audio bitrate of 128 kbps and a video bitrate between 5000 and 25000 kbps, compatible with all networks.▪️HEVC files are not compatible with automatic publishing.▪️ HDR format (iPhone) is also not compatible with video publishing through the API. Learn how to disable it here. ▪️ From our Mobile App, the maximum file size you can import is 500 MB. ▪️ If your image or video doesn't meet the format, size, or aspect ratio requirements, you'll see a red warning and won't be able to save the post. More technical aspects, like codecs or bitrate, are validated directly by the social network when publishing. If you're having issues, check this guide: Video fails to publish? What to check


To adjust your content’s size or format, use our image and video editor from the planner. If you need to change codecs or bitrate, we recommend using an external editor like this free online converter.


💡 Don’t miss this visual guide to shine on each platform 👉 Image Sizes for Social Media


IMAGES


Social Network

Format

Max Size

Resolution / Aspect Ratio

Facebook [1]

JPEG/PNG

30 MB

Square: 1200x1200 px / Horizontal: 1200x900 px / Link: 479x246 px (desktop), min. 320 px (mobile)

Instagram [2]

JPEG/PNG

8 MB

Aspect ratio between 3:4 and 1.91:1

Threads [2]

JPEG/PNG

8 MB

Aspect ratio: up to 10:1 / Width: 320–1440 px

X (Twitter)

JPG/PNG/GIF

5 MB

Recommended: 1024x512 px

Bluesky [5]

JPG/PNG/WEBP/HEIC/HEIF

1 MB

Recommended resolution: 1200 × 627 px or 1280 × 760 px (≈ 1.91:1)

LinkedIn

JPEG/PNG

5 MB

Recommended: 552x276 px / Aspect ratio: 3:1 to 2:3

Pinterest

JPEG/PNG

20 MB

Recommended: 1000x1500 px / Aspect ratio: 2:3

TikTok [3]

JPEG/WebP

20 MB

Max resolution: 1080p

Google Business Profile [4]

JPG/PNG

5 MB

Min. resolution: 480x270 px


📝 Notes

[1] Facebook also supports publishing in 1080x1350 px, ideal if you're looking for a vertical format that works well on Instagram too.

[2] Instagram and Threads automatically convert images not in the sRGB color space, which may affect how they appear—especially if you're using ProPhoto RGB (e.g. from Photoshop or Lightroom).

[3] TikTok doesn't support PNG format. If you upload one, Metricool will convert it to JPEG or WebP.

[4] Google Business Profile images must have a minimum resolution of 250x250 px. 720x720 px is recommended.

[5] Bluesky has not published official resolutions. These values come from examples in the API documentation and common community recommendations.


VIDEOS


Social Network

Format

Max Size

Duration

Resolution / Aspect Ratio

Video Bitrate

Audio Bitrate (recommended)

Frame Rate

Facebook

MP4/MOV/GIF

500 MB

1 sec – 240 min

1:1 (desktop/mobile) or 4:5 (mobile only)

≥128 kbps (AAC)

(fixed)

Instagram [1] [2]

MOV/MP4

500 MB

3 sec – 15 min

Max 1920 px wide / 9:16

max. 25 Mbps (VBR)

128 kbps (AAC)

23–60

Threads [2]

MP4/MOV

1 GB

Up to 5 min

Recommended: 9:16

max. 25 Mbps (VBR)

128 kbps (AAC)

23–60

X (Twitter) [3]

MP4/MOV/GIF

512 MB

Up to 2 min 20 s

Recommended: 1280x720 (H), 720x1280 (V), 720x720 (S)

≥5000 kbps

128 kbps (AAC LC)

30–60

Bluesky [4]

MP4/MOV

50 MB

Up to 60 sec

LinkedIn

MP4/GIF

512 MB

3 sec – 15 min

256×144 px – 4096×2304 px / Aspect ratio: 1:2.4 – 2.4:1

192 kbps – 30 Mbps

128 kbps

10–60

Pinterest

MP4

500 MB

4 sec – 15 min

TikTok [5]

MP4/MOV

500 MB

3 sec – 10 min

>540 px

128 kbps (recommended)

23–60

Google Business Profile

MP4/MOV/GIF

75 MB

Up to 30 sec

Min. 720 px

128 kbps (recommended)

YouTube [6][7]

MP4/MOV

500 MB

Shorts: up to 3 min / Standard: >60 s

Shorts: Vertical or Square / Standard: Horizontal


Want to customize your video thumbnail? Here's how: How to add a thumbnail to your post


📝 Notes

[1] Instagram only allows publishing individual videos as Reels via its API. In carousels, videos are allowed if their aspect ratio is between 4:5 and 16:9.

[2] Although not officially documented by Meta, both Instagram and Threads tend to convert videos to sRGB, which may affect how they appear if using color profiles like ProPhoto RGB.

[3] X (Twitter) supports animated GIFs with specific limitations. See Technical Specifications for details.

[4] To publish videos on Bluesky, your email must be verified.

[5] TikTok automatically converts PNGs and supports videos up to 10 minutes.

[6] Shorts close to 3 minutes may be published as standard videos after YouTube processing.

[7] Unverified channels can't upload videos longer than 15 minutes. Verify your account at youtube.com/verify


REELS


Social Network

Format

Max Size

Duration

Resolution / Aspect Ratio

Audio Bitrate

Video Bitrate

Frames

Facebook [1]

MP4

4 – 60 seconds

540x960 px / Ratio: 9:16 (recommended)

128 kbps (AAC)

23–60

Instagram [2]

MOV/MP4

500 MB

3 seconds – 15 minutes

Max. 1920 px width / 9:16 (recommended)

128 kbps (AAC)

max. 25 Mbps (VBR)

23–60


📝 Notes

[1] On Facebook, a Reel published as a story cannot exceed 60 seconds.

[2] Although not officially documented by Meta, Instagram usually converts videos to sRGB, which may alter their appearance if color profiles such as ProPhoto RGB are used.


🔧 Additional technical specifications


Instagram

  • Container: MOV or MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14), no edit lists, moov atom at the beginning
  • Video codec: H264, progressive scan, closed GOP, chroma subsampling 4:2:0
  • Audio codec: AAC, maximum sampling rate of 48 kHz, 1 or 2 channels (mono or stereo)


STORIES


Images


Social Network

Format

Max Size

Resolution / Aspect Ratio

Facebook

JPEG/PNG/GIF

4 MB (PNG recommended ≤1 MB)

Recommended: 9:16

Instagram [1]

JPEG

8 MB

Recommended: 9:16


Videos


Social Network

Format

Max Size

Duration

Resolution / Aspect Ratio

Audio Bitrate

Video Bitrate

Frames

Facebook

MP4

Up to 60 seconds

Min: 540x960 px / Recommended: 1080x1920 px / Ratio: 9:16

≥128 kbps (AAC)

(fixed)

Instagram [1]

MP4/MOV

100 MB

3 – 60 seconds

Max. 1920 px width / Recommended: 9:16

128 kbps (AAC)

max. 25 Mbps (VBR)

23–60


📝 Notes

[1] Instagram automatically converts images to the sRGB color space. Although not officially documented for videos, in practice they are also adapted to this color space, which could affect their appearance if profiles like ProPhoto RGB are used.


🔧 Additional technical specifications (video)


Facebook

  • Video codec: H264 or H265, progressive scan, closed GOP (2 to 5 s), chroma subsampling 4:2:0
  • Audio codec: AAC LC, maximum sampling rate of 48 kHz, stereo channels


Instagram

  • Container: MP4 or MOV (MPEG-4 Part 14), no edit lists, moov atom at the beginning
  • Video codec: H264, progressive scan, closed GOP, chroma subsampling 4:2:0
  • Audio codec: AAC, maximum sampling rate of 48 kHz, mono or stereo


Documents on LinkedIn


  • Format: PDF, PPT, PPTX, DOC, DOCX
  • File size: 100 MB per item
  • Total storage limit: None
  • Character limit: 5,000,000 (five million) per file
  • Page size: must be the same throughout the document
  • Page limit: 300 pages
  • Aspect ratio: 4:3



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Updated on: 17/09/2025

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