When an Instagram Reel will not upload, check the file and the connection. Instagram's published Reel requirements are an aspect ratio between 1.91:1 and 9:16, at least 30 frames per second and at least 720 pixels of resolution, so compare the file with those. For the connection, switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data and see whether the upload moves. If both are fine, free up phone storage, turn off Upload at highest quality, update the app, clear the cache and, last, reinstall Instagram after saving your drafts.
Where the upload fails tells you where to look
We found no Instagram page that maps upload failures to causes, so treat this as a rough guide rather than a rule.
- The Reel never starts to upload, or fails straight away. Look at the file and your phone's free storage first (fixes 1 and 2).
- The upload starts and then stalls or crawls. Look at the connection and the upload quality setting (fixes 3 and 4).
- Nothing is wrong with the file or the connection, and other parts of Instagram misbehave too. Look at the app itself (fixes 5 to 7).
A quick test narrows it down. Record a short Reel directly in Instagram's camera instead of uploading a finished file. If that posts, compare the file you were using with the list in fix 1.
Fix 1: Check the video against Instagram's requirements
Instagram's Help Center page on Reel size and aspect ratios lists what a Reel should be:
- An aspect ratio between 1.91:1 and 9:16. 9:16 is the vertical end of that range.
- A minimum frame rate of 30 frames per second.
- A minimum resolution of 720 pixels.
The same page says these requirements should work for most people, and it lists more technical details for anyone who needs them to help with an upload:
- Video: progressive scan (no interlacing), High profile, 2 consecutive B frames, closed GOP with a GOP of half the frame rate, CABAC, chroma subsampling 4:2:0.
- Audio: stereo or stereo plus 5.1, with a sample rate of 96 kHz or 48 kHz.
Length is covered by Instagram's page on recording a Reel, which says you can record one clip or several clips that add up to 20 minutes. The same page notes that Reels over 3 minutes will not be recommended to new audiences, which affects reach, not whether the upload works. We found no Instagram page that lists a maximum file size for uploads, so we cannot give one.
What to do: open the clip's export settings in your editing app and compare them with the list above. If you can export it again at 30 frames per second or more, with an aspect ratio between 1.91:1 and 9:16 and a resolution of at least 720 pixels, do that and upload the new file. Instagram's page also says the cover photo can be png or jpg and that you cannot edit a cover photo after you have uploaded it, so check the cover before you share.
Fix 2: Free up storage on your phone
Low free space is worth ruling out. Instagram's pages do not give a storage requirement for uploads, but Apple ties low free space to slowdowns, and both phone makers describe how to free space.
iPhone: Apple's support page says iOS and iPadOS automatically manage storage and that, to avoid slowdowns, you should maintain at least 1 GB of free space. Check it at Settings, General, then iPhone Storage. Tap an app and Apple gives two options: Offload the app, which frees storage used by the app but keeps its documents and data, or Delete the app, which removes the app and its related data.
Android: Google's support page on clearing space lists removing apps and app data, removing photos you have already backed up to Google Photos, and removing downloaded media and files you no longer need.
Do not delete Instagram to free space yet. Deleting loses any drafts, as fix 7 explains.
Fix 3: Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data
Instagram's Troubleshooting page tells you to use the app both on Wi-Fi and on your mobile data connection, to see whether the problem is a weak Wi-Fi or mobile data connection. An upload sends the whole video from your phone, so a weak connection is worth ruling out.
- Turn Wi-Fi off, use mobile data and retry the upload. Then do the reverse.
- If one works, the other was the problem. On Wi-Fi, move closer to the router or restart it.
- Turn off any VPN while you upload.
- Check your phone is not in a data-saving mode that restricts Instagram. The name and location of that setting vary by phone.
Fix 4: Turn off Upload at highest quality
Instagram's page on Reel size says you can choose to always upload Reels at the highest quality, and that it may take longer to upload Reels of higher quality. If that setting is on, a slow connection can make an upload look stuck.
- Tap your profile picture in the bottom right.
- Tap Menu in the top right.
- Below Your app and media, tap Media quality.
- Next to Upload at highest quality, tap the toggle to turn it off.
The steps are the same on iPhone and Android. Try the upload again. If it completes now, the quality setting was involved, and you can turn it back on when you are on a faster network.
Fix 5: Update the app and restart the phone
Instagram's Help Center says the recommended step when something is not working is to update to the latest version, and its Troubleshooting page says to run the latest version of both the app and your phone's operating system. It also says to always try restarting your phone first.
- iPhone: update Instagram in the App Store and check Settings for an iOS update.
- Android: update Instagram in the Google Play Store and check for a system update.
Restart the phone, open Instagram and retry the upload.
Fix 6: Clear the cache
Clearing the cache is a device step. We found no Instagram page that recommends it for upload problems, so treat it as a test.
Android: Google's support page says that clearing an app's cache deletes temporary data, and that some apps may be slow the next time you open them. Open Settings, tap Apps, tap Instagram, tap Storage (some phones label it Storage & cache), then tap Clear cache. Do not pick Clear storage unless you are ready to log in again, because Google says it permanently deletes all app data.
iPhone: there is no cache button for a single app. Apple says Offload App keeps the app's documents and data, so it is not a clean reset. To clear the app, delete it and reinstall it, which is fix 7.
Fix 7: Save your drafts, then reinstall
If everything else failed, delete and reinstall Instagram. Instagram's Troubleshooting page describes it:
- iPhone: touch and hold the Instagram icon, tap Remove App, reinstall from the App Store and log in. Instagram says your photos and profile info are saved by Instagram.
- Android: open Settings, tap Apps, tap Instagram, tap Uninstall, reinstall from Google Play and log in.
Save the Reel first. Instagram's page on Reel drafts says drafts are saved onto your device, cannot be accessed from another device even if you log in, and are lost if you uninstall the app. It also says downloading a Reel will not save any music you added from the Instagram music library. To keep a draft before you reinstall, tap Next on the Reel, swipe up to edit, swipe left to right, then tap Save at the bottom; that saves it to your camera roll. After you reinstall, tap Create, scroll to Reel, and pick the video from your camera roll. Check whether your music is in the saved copy and add it again if it is not.
What we could not find: an account limit
We found no Instagram Help Center page that names an account limit or temporary block as a cause of Reel upload failures, and no page that gives thresholds, so we do not list it as a fix. If other actions are failing at the same time, such as following, liking or messaging, and Instagram shows a message about limited activity, read our guide on what to do when Instagram restricts certain activity.
If it still fails: report it
Instagram's page on reporting a technical problem says that if something is still not working after updating, you can report it. Tap your profile picture, then Menu, then Help below More info and support, then Report a Problem. Instagram says the kind of phone you use, what you were doing and a screenshot may help it address the problem. Say you are uploading a Reel, give the clip's length and frame rate if you know them, and say whether recording in the app works.
Make the next Reel worth uploading
While a Reel is stuck, you can still work on the caption. UpGrow's free Instagram post optimizer takes your caption and returns suggestions to improve it. Our Reels tutorial covers recording and editing Reels, and our guide to scheduling problems and fixes covers failed posts when you schedule from your phone.
If you want help growing the audience that watches your Reels, UpGrow's Instagram growth service targets people you choose and never needs your Instagram password.
FAQ
Why is my Instagram Reel stuck on uploading?
Two checks to start with are the connection and the file. Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data, and compare the video with Instagram's requirements: an aspect ratio between 1.91:1 and 9:16, at least 30 frames per second and at least 720 pixels. If Upload at highest quality is on, turn it off and retry.
What are the video requirements for an Instagram Reel?
Instagram's page says an aspect ratio between 1.91:1 and 9:16, a minimum frame rate of 30 frames per second and a minimum resolution of 720 pixels. It also lists technical video and audio details for people who need them, and says a Reel can be up to 20 minutes made of one or several clips.
Will I lose my Reel drafts if I reinstall Instagram?
Yes, unless you save them first. Instagram says drafts are saved on your device and are lost if you uninstall the app. Save the Reel to your camera roll, then upload it again after you reinstall. Instagram warns that downloading a Reel does not save music added from its library, so check the saved copy for your music.
Does a longer Reel take longer to upload?
Instagram's page says higher-quality uploads may take longer. We found no Instagram page that gives upload times by length, so we cannot say how long a given Reel should take.
Why does my Reel upload on Wi-Fi but not on mobile data, or the other way around?
That suggests a connection problem rather than a problem with the Reel. Instagram's Troubleshooting page suggests testing on both to see whether the connection is weak. Use whichever works, and if Wi-Fi is the weak one, move closer to the router or restart it.
