How Long Can Videos Be on IG (Instagram) in 2025? Reels, Stories, Feed, and Live Limits Explained

Instagram’s video lengths can be confusing in 2025, with different caps by format and frequent tests that vary by account and region. This guide compiles the current limits, explains exceptions you might see, and helps you choose the best format for your goals. You’ll also find tech specs, editing workflows, and quick troubleshooting so your uploads look great and post reliably.

How Long Can Videos Be on IG (Instagram) in 2025? Reels, Stories, Feed, and Live Limits Explained

If you’ve ever asked “how long can videos be on IG?” you’re not alone. Instagram’s video options have evolved quickly, and the limits vary by format and sometimes even by account. This 2025 cheat sheet clarifies the current caps, what’s being tested, and how to choose and optimize the right format for your goal.

The quick answer (as of 2025)

Below is a snapshot of current length limits and behaviors. Availability can vary by region, account type, and ongoing tests, so always verify inside your app.

Tip: Instagram frequently runs limited tests. If your friend has a 3‑minute Reel cap and you don’t, it’s not you—it’s a test or a staggered rollout.

---

Reels length and best practices

• Default cap: Most accounts can publish Reels up to 90 seconds.
• Tests: Some creators may see options beyond 90 seconds (e.g., 3 minutes, sometimes longer). These are not universal. Look for the duration picker in the Reels camera to see what you have.
• If you exceed your cap: Uploads longer than your account’s Reel limit may:
• Post as a regular “video” (feed) instead,
• Be trimmed by Instagram, or
• Fail to upload if the format doesn’t match requirements.

Best practices for Reels:

• Ideal duration: 6–30 seconds tends to maximize completion rate and replays. Go up to 60–90 seconds for tutorials and narratives.
• Hook early: Use a strong visual hook and on-screen text in the first 3 seconds.
• Pacing: Tight cuts, purposeful movement, and clear structure.
• Captions and stickers: Add captions for sound‑off viewing; use trending audio thoughtfully.
• Call to action: Drive comments, saves, or profile taps.

How to check if you have extended Reels:

1. Open Instagram > Create > Reel.
2. In the left toolbar, look for the duration selector (e.g., 15, 30, 60, 90, 180).
3. If longer options appear, you’re in a test or rollout bucket.

---

Stories length in depth

• Segment length: Each Story segment can run up to 60 seconds without auto-splits (longer clips are broken into consecutive 60s segments).
• Daily cap: You can post roughly 100 Story segments per day before you hit the soft limit.
• Sequencing tips:
• Outline a 3–5 segment arc (hook, context, value, CTA).
• Use “Add Yours,” polls, quizzes, or link stickers to keep viewers tapping.
• Pace your posts: drop segments in groups rather than one long burst to avoid fatigue.
• Keep text concise; aim for one idea per segment.

If you need more time than 60 seconds, plan and shoot with natural “chapter” breaks every 45–55 seconds to maintain flow across segments.

---

Feed (Instagram Video) and what replaced IGTV

IGTV has been sunset, and Instagram consolidated video into Reels and standard feed videos.

• Under-15-minute videos: Many accounts see these routed into Reels by default (especially if vertical). This helps with reach but may affect editing features and monetization options depending on your account.
• Long-form (up to ~60 minutes): Some accounts—often via desktop upload—can publish longer videos up to 60 minutes. This echoes the old IGTV limit but isn’t universal.
• How the app decides Reel vs. Video:
• Orientation: Vertical (9:16) under 15 minutes often becomes a Reel.
• Length: If it exceeds your account’s Reel cap, the app may switch it to a “video” post.
• Upload surface: Desktop uploads may allow longer durations than mobile.

Pros and cons of long-form on Instagram:

• Pros: Keeps audiences in-app, compiles evergreen content, supports deeper narratives/product demos.
• Cons: Algorithmic boost is generally strongest for Reels; long videos may see lower completion rates and slower discovery unless strategically segmented or previewed.

Pro tip: Publish a 30–60 second “teaser” Reel that directs viewers to the full video on your profile, or split long content into a Reel series.

---

Instagram Live

• Limit: Up to 4 hours per session.
• Co-hosting: Invite guests to go Live together, stacking audiences for discovery.
• Replays:
• After ending a Live, you can save it to your device and repost highlights as a Reel or feed video.
• Replays do not inherit the 4‑hour limit; they’ll follow the posting format’s limit (e.g., Reel vs. Video).
• Discoverability: Schedule Lives, promote with countdown stickers, and pin comments with key links or CTAs.

---

Choose the right format for your goal

• Quick reach and trends: Reels
• Use cases: Trending audio, hooks, snackable tips.
• KPI focus: Reach, plays, replays, watch time to 3s/10s, shares.
• Behind-the-scenes and updates: Stories
• Use cases: Day-in-the-life, limited-time offers, Q&A.
• KPI focus: Forward taps vs. exits, sticker taps, link clicks.
• Deep dives and product demos: Long-form Feed/Instagram Video
• Use cases: Tutorials, product walkthroughs, interviews.
• KPI focus: Average watch time, saves, comments, profile visits.
• Community Q&A and launches: Live
• Use cases: AMA, announcements, collaborations.
• KPI focus: Peak concurrents, comments/min, replay views.

Example scenarios:

• Launch week cadence: Daily Stories for updates, 2–3 Reels as teasers, one long-form demo (video), and a Live on launch day.
• Evergreen education: Break a 10‑minute tutorial into a 60–90s Reel series with a full version archived as a feed video.

---

Tech specs that impact length

Even if your content fits time caps, file specs can block uploads or trigger heavy compression. Use these guidelines.

Notes:

• Keep your vertical safe zone: Important text and CTAs should sit within the central 1080×1420 “safe” area to avoid UI overlap.
• Bitrate vs. size: Higher bitrates improve quality but increase file size and processing time—watch the ~4 GB limit.
• HEVC can provide better quality per bit but may increase processing time on older devices.

---

Editing to fit time caps

• Trim decisively: Remove redundancies; aim for one idea per clip.
• Jump cuts and J‑cuts: Keep audio flowing across cuts to maintain pace.
• Chaptering: For longer topics, create a mini‑series of Reels (Part 1/2/3) or split into Story segments with clear headers.
• Hook in 3 seconds: Use motion, a bold claim, or a problem statement.
• Use on-screen timers: A subtle progress bar or “Step 1 of 3” aids completion.
• Always add captions: Many viewers watch without sound; captions also boost accessibility.
• Repurpose smartly: Slice podcasts, webinars, or Lives into multiple Reels and Story highlights.

Export examples (FFmpeg):

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -ss 0 -t 90 -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2,subtitles=captions.srt:force_style='Fontsize=24,PrimaryColour=&H00FFFFFF&,OutlineColour=&H00000000&,BorderStyle=4,Outline=0,Shadow=0'" -c:v libx264 -profile:v high -pix_fmt yuv420p -r 30 -b:v 8M -c:a aac -b:a 192k output_reel.mp4

ffmpeg -i input4k.mp4 -vf "crop=in_h*9/16:in_h,scale=1080:1920" -r 30 -c:v libx264 -b:v 8M -c:a aac -b:a 160k story_segment.mp4

ffmpeg -i long_clip.mp4 -c copy -map 0 -segment_time 60 -f segment -reset_timestamps 1 story_%02d.mp4

---

Workflow and scheduling

• Shoot vertical-first: Compose for 9:16; leave headroom for captions and UI.
• Presets per format: Save export presets (Reels 1080×1920@30–60fps, 8 Mbps; Stories 1080×1920@30fps, 6 Mbps).
• Scheduling tools: Use Instagram’s built-in scheduler or Meta Business Suite to queue Reels, feed videos, and Stories (Stories scheduling availability can vary).
• Test variants: Publish A/B versions at 15s, 30s, and 60–90s to find your account’s retention sweet spot.
• Read retention graphs:
• Look for early dips (weak hook).
• Spikes often indicate rewatches—study why.
• Adjust pacing, overlays, and CTAs accordingly.

Content calendar tip: Pair each long-form video with 3–5 short derivatives (Reels + Stories) distributed over 1–2 weeks.

---

Troubleshooting and FAQs

Why won’t my video post at the expected length?

• You’re over your account’s cap (e.g., Reels > 90s without extended access).
• File specs mismatch (wrong codec, excessive bitrate, huge file size).
• Aspect ratio conflicts; very wide videos may need cropping/padding.
• Network timeouts or backgrounding the app during processing.

Why does my friend have 3–10 minute Reels but I don’t?

• Instagram runs staggered tests/rollouts by region, device, and account type. No action is needed except updating your app and checking periodically.

Are desktop and mobile different?

• Sometimes. Some accounts can upload up to 60‑minute videos from desktop, while mobile options are often stricter. Desktop can be better for long-form publishing.

Why is music/audio blocked on longer clips?

• Licensing restrictions vary by account type (business vs. creator) and region. Some tracks are unavailable for commercial use, especially on long-form posts.

How do I quickly verify current limits inside the app?

• Reels: Create > Reel > look for the duration options (e.g., 15/30/60/90+).
• Stories: Create > Story > import a clip > see if the app segments beyond 60s.
• Feed video: Try uploading from desktop; check if durations beyond 15 minutes are allowed.
• Live: Create > Live > settings will show time and collab features.

My video quality looks soft after upload. What can I do?

• Enable “Upload at highest quality” in Instagram settings.
• Keep bitrate reasonable (8–12 Mbps max for 1080p) to reduce transcoding artifacts.
• Avoid multiple recompressions; export once from your editor in final specs.
• Use good lighting and higher shutter speeds to reduce motion blur.

Does under-15-minute always post as a Reel?

• Often, yes for vertical videos, but behavior can vary by account and ongoing experiments. Always preview before publishing.

---

Bottom line

• Reels: Usually up to 90 seconds, with occasional tests for longer.
• Stories: 60 seconds per segment; plan chapters and pacing.
• Feed/Instagram Video: Under-15-minute videos often route as Reels; some accounts can upload up to 60 minutes from desktop.
• Live: Up to 4 hours per session, with replay options.

When you ask “how long can videos be on IG,” the practical follow-up is: what are you trying to achieve? Choose the format that matches your goals, optimize for the first 3 seconds, and use data (retention, replays, saves) to tune length over time.

Summary

Match format to intent: use Reels for reach and trends, Stories for serial updates, longer feed videos for depth, and Live for real-time connection. Verify your account’s caps in-app because tests vary, and stick to recommended specs while front-loading strong hooks to maximize delivery, retention, and engagement.