How to Upload a Video to YouTube

Quick answer: prepare five things first

YouTube’s web and mobile menus change. The button names below follow the current official help; if you cannot find a control, use YouTube’s upload instructions.

Upload in YouTube Studio on a computer

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio and confirm that you are using the channel where the video should appear.
2. Open the create/upload flow, select the video file, and wait for the upload to begin.
3. Add the title, description, thumbnail, and other details; complete the audience and required fields in the current flow.
4. Review any copyright or policy notices and check processing status.
5. Choose the available visibility setting, such as private, unlisted, or public. If you want a later release, use the current scheduling option.
6. After publishing, open the watch page and review the video, sound, captions, thumbnail, and visibility.

Upload completion and processing of all available video qualities may not happen at the same time. Check processing in Studio and review the watch page before sharing.

Upload from a phone

1. Open the YouTube app and confirm the account and channel.
2. Use the create/upload flow and select a video stored on the device.
3. Add the video details and complete the audience and visibility options shown in the current interface.
4. Start the upload and watch the progress and network status.
5. After the upload, open the video page to review settings and processing.

Menus, duration or file limits, and available features can vary by account, device, region, or product updates. If you hit a restriction or error, check YouTube’s current help instead of following steps from an old screenshot.

Check the file before uploading

• Play it through locally and check the opening, ending, picture, and audio.
• Choose an aspect ratio for the intended format; preview a vertical video to make sure the subject is not cropped.
• Use YouTube’s current encoding recommendations. Do not treat an old tutorial’s preset as the only suitable export for every video.
• If a file will not upload, check YouTube’s current format, size, and duration requirements before re-exporting or compressing it.
• Keep the original if you compress the file, so you can export again if the result is not acceptable.

Review after uploading

1. Confirm that the visibility matches your release plan.
2. Check whether processing is complete and the preview plays as expected.
3. Review the title, description, thumbnail, and audience settings.
4. Review automatic captions; check proper nouns and numbers in particular.
5. Check whether copyright, restriction, or other notices need attention.
6. If you are sharing the video, copy the correct link and confirm the recipient can access it under the visibility setting.

Frequently asked questions

How can I upload my own video on YouTube?

On a computer, open YouTube Studio, use the create/upload flow to select your video, add details and audience settings, choose visibility, then publish or schedule it. On a phone, use the upload flow in the YouTube app. Follow the current official YouTube upload instructions for the exact controls and fields.

How do I load a video from my phone to YouTube?

Use the create/upload flow in the YouTube app, select a video stored on your phone, add the required details, and start the upload. If the file is missing from the picker, check that it is saved on the device, that the app has the relevant access, and that it meets YouTube’s current input requirements. See official help for current steps.

Is it free to upload videos to YouTube?

Check YouTube’s current terms and help for the rules that apply to your account and upload. Whether uploading has a fee is separate from the cost of creating a video, network data, asset licenses, or third-party tools; do not conflate them.

How do I upload a full video on YouTube?

Select a full video through the standard upload flow in YouTube Studio or the app, rather than a creation flow designed for short videos. If a duration or file limit affects the upload, use YouTube’s current account and upload requirements to check verification, file, and duration limits. Follow the current official rules.

Where Aixcut fits

Aixcut is a browser-based video editor and does not require a desktop client installation. Confirmed features related to YouTube publishing include choosing a confirmed aspect ratio or entering custom dimensions; exporting MP4 or MOV at a resolution available in the current panel, up to 4K; generating an image from a description for a cover; drafting a title or publish copy for the user to review; and working with captions on the timeline.

Exports use no credits and have no watermark. New accounts receive 2,000 credits; general tasks such as drafting titles and publish copy use credits according to task difficulty, and video-upload analysis is charged according to upload duration. Review the file and settings in YouTube before publishing. See the Aixcut video editor, AI image generation, and video compression tool.

Official sources

Capabilities, allowances and plans for the third-party products mentioned in this article follow their official pages. The notes below were checked against those pages in October 2026:

Each line comes from the vendor’s own page, checked in October 2026. Features, allowances and prices change; the vendor’s latest page always governs.