How Long Can a YouTube Video Be? Limits for 2026
The 15-minute cap catches many new channels out, but removing it takes one phone verification. Here are the rest of the limits that matter.
Aditya Challa2 min read
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By default, YouTube lets you upload videos up to 15 minutes long. Once you verify your Google account, the limit becomes 12 hours or 256 GB, whichever you reach first.
The default 15-minute limit
YouTube Help states that, by default, you can upload videos up to 15 minutes long, and only verified accounts can upload longer ones. Many new channels hit this the first time they upload a full tutorial or livestream recording.
How to unlock longer uploads
- In the YouTube mobile app, tap Create, then Upload a video, and pick a video longer than 15 minutes.
- Add the title, description and settings, tap Next, and follow the steps to verify your account.
- You can get the verification code by text message or by automated voice call.
The maximum: 12 hours or 256 GB
After verification, the maximum upload is 256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less. YouTube notes that its limits have changed over time, so you may see older videos longer than 12 hours. For long, high-bitrate footage, the 256 GB cap can be reached before 12 hours, so compress before uploading.
Shorts follow different rules
A Short is a square or vertical video up to three minutes long, for uploads on or after 15 October 2024. Anything longer is treated as a regular video. Shorts over one minute that have an active Content ID claim are blocked.
Picking a length that works
The limit is a ceiling, not a goal. Match length to the job: Shorts for single tips and reveals, regular videos for walkthroughs, and chapters for anything long enough that viewers will want to skip around. Packaging matters as much as length, so see do YouTube thumbnails still matter (Open shoppercove.com) and our product page video checklist (Open shoppercove.com).
FAQ
Why can't I upload a video longer than 15 minutes?
Your account isn't verified yet. Verify by text or voice call, and the 15-minute cap is lifted.
What is the maximum length of a YouTube video?
12 hours or 256 GB, whichever is less, for verified accounts.
How long can a YouTube Short be?
Up to three minutes, for square or vertical videos uploaded on or after 15 October 2024.
Sources
Lab evidence
What I found running this
Read YouTube Help's 'Upload videos longer than 15 minutes' page and its three-minute Shorts page on 10 Oct 2026. The length limits, file-size cap and verification step come from those pages. These are platform rules, not results from our own channel experiments, so check YouTube Studio for your account's current limit.
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