How to fix facebook video quality
Why do Videos Look Bad on Facebook? – Meredith Marsh (VidProMom)
Share this article
61 shares
Why do videos look bad on Facebook, to begin with? It’s all about compression, but let’s look more into ways to improve Facebook video quality.
So you upload your crystal clear, beautiful videos to Facebook… and they look like garbage compared to what they look like on your phone or your desktop. Frustrating, right?
Videos Look Bad or Blurry on Facebook
Cameras are pretty amazing these days. The quality is sharp, they’re affordable, and most of us have an Ultra High Definition video camera in our pocket. It’s not hard to create a great-looking, high-quality video that our friends and family, or Facebook fans will love to watch.
But uploading your video to Facebook isn’t always what you were hoping it would be. Sometimes the video looks bad on Facebook, or blurry, pixellated, or fuzzy. It’s so frustrating due to the time you took to make this video look amazing.
Make sure it’s not your camera or lens
There are reasons for blurry or pixelated videos on Facebook, but to keep it simple, make sure you’re using an high definition camera like this one. In fact, for the best look in your Facebook videos, I highly recommend the combination of a good camera and an affordable, high quality lens.
✅ This specific camera is the most popular with my readers.
It’s also highly rated on Amazon and is a best seller. If you can get it for under $699, grab it! Check availability here.
Compression Causes Videos to Look “Bad”
The first thing you should know is that when you upload a video anywhere, to Facebook, YouTube, where ever, the platform you upload to has to compress the video to save space on their own servers. That’s just the way the Internet works.
We’ll talk more about that compression in just a second but there are three important things I want you to look at right off the bat. Be sure to watch my YouTube video (above) for a better explanation.
#1 It takes time for Facebook to process your high definition videos
A lot of times I see people say they uploaded a 1080 video, and Facebook only lets them view it in 720. Well, give Facebook some time to process the 1080 version of that video. Go make a cup of coffee, come back, and see if you can view the 1080 version. It shouldn’t take that long but the longer your video, the longer this takes.
#2 Set your mobile upload settings to HD in the Facebook app
Within the mobile Facebook app on iPhone and Android devices, if you’re going to upload videos from your mobile device, there are some settings within the apps themselves that you can change to upload videos and photos in HD. On my iPhone, we come down to the menu in the bottom right, scroll all the way down to settings then account settings, and then go to videos and photos, and turn on the Upload HD setting under video, and also under Photo.
For uploading from your desktop, I can’t find any actual upload settings.
Of course, you know FB will change how to get to these settings and where to find them. Click here for the instructions from Facebook (current as of the time of this writing).
#3 Adjust your video viewing settings
Don’t forget to check your video viewing settings. I set mine to always view videos in HD when available. That should cover my Facebook account as a whole, including when I’m on mobile. But for sure, make sure you are viewing your videos in HD either by changing your settings or hitting the little gear icon and choosing the highest res and HD.
Can you improve Facebook Video Quality when you Upload?
I know you’re wanting to know is there anything we do to improve our video quality on Facebook videos. Unfortunately, Facebook’s help center doesn’t appear to give any recommended upload settings. I looked all over the Facebook help section!
The only Facebook video quality recommendations I found were for videos that would be used as ads. If you’re uploading a Facebook Ad, they do recommend some settings:
- Video Ratio: 9:16 to 16:9
- Video File Size: 4GB Max
- Video Length Minimum: 1 second
- Video Length Maximum: 240 Minutes
- Video Captions: Optional but recommended
- Video Sound: Optional but recommended
- Text: 125 characters
- Bitrate: If your file is under 1GB and uses 2-pass encoding there is no bitrate limit.
Otherwise, the limit is 8 megabits per second for 1080p and 4 megabits per second for 720p. - Video thumbnail images that consist of more than 20% text may experience reduced delivery. Learn more about text in images.
- Vertical videos (with aspect ratio taller than 2:3) may be masked to 2:3
But does this apply to regular videos that aren’t ads? I don’t know because Facebook doesn’t say.
Resolution and Bitrate for Facebook Videos
I’m not the best person to explain this super technical side of things, but to make sure we’re on the same page, the resolution of your video is the dimensions like 1080 is 1920px wide by 1080 high. Or you might have a resolution of 720 or 4K.
But the resolution alone doesn’t dictate the quality of your video, there’s a little thing called bitrate. Bitrate is a compression setting. It does a lot of the heavy lifting to determine the quality of the videos we view online.
Generally speaking, a 1080 resolution video with a high bitrate is probably going to look great but the file size is going to be pretty big, and it’s going to be really hefty to stream over the internet.
So Facebook will happily compress it for you by lowering the bitrate so your video is more accessible to its users… your friends and family. They’re kind of doing you favor… Not everyone is on blazing fast fiber networks!
So lowering the bitrate is like lowering the bar for users who are on mobile networks, or on shared wifi networks where they speed isn’t that great, for example. Facebook wants all users to be able to tap a video and have it just play, no loading, no buffering, nothing, just play.
I think we can all appreciate that.
Does Facebook Video Quality Even Matter?
So the resulting video you get from Facebook is ya know, not as great as it looked on your computer or your phone. But is it really that bad guys? You have to kinda weigh, ya know, what was your desired outcome in creating the video in the first place.
Did you want your friends and family to say “Wow, nice pixels! Lovin’ watchya did with the high def, buddy!” or did you want them to say “hey that was fun to watch, thanks for sharing!”
Chances are, your friends, family, and fellow human beings who genuinely want to watch a video that you create, are not going to notice or care.
They want to see what you created, re-live the experience, then they’re gonna give it a thumbs up and move on to the whatever stupid cat meme shows up in their feed after your video. It’s facebook guys!
Video Quality on YouTube
YouTube doesn’t compress your videos as much as Facebook, so if you’re more concerned with how the video looks, you could upload to YouTube and put a link to the video on Facebook. Generally, that’s not going to result in as many views or get as much engagement on Facebook as if you uploaded a video natively to Facebook, so you have to kinda decide what’s important to you there.
Now if you are looking to upload native videos to a Facebook page, like for a business or a blog, then if you really want to maximize engagement and reach, don’t drop a link to youtube. Facebook does NOT like that and you’ll basically be shunned by the algorithm.
Personally, I don’t concern myself with Facebook video quality much at all. If you have discovered the mystery of video export settings that result in crystal clear quality on Facebook, drop me some hints down in the comments! I’d love to know what settings you use and if you’re happy with how your videos look on Facebook.
Why Are My Facebook Videos Blurry
Imagine you’re watching a video of your family celebrating Christmas, only to realize that you can’t tell if the red and white mix of pixels in the center is the Santa or the red velvet/white choc-chip cookie. Or, you’ve posted a video of your gaming setup on Facebook only to realize your Facebook video is blurry. Trust me, we’ve been there too.
Whether it’s for entertainment, work, content creation, or more, if you’re looking for a more HD experience, we’re here to help!
Table of Contents
Common Causes of Blurry Videos
Video Compression
Facebook’s ideal video size is 720p (1280px wide and 720px high). Therefore it tries to fit all the videos within that specification, leading to video compressing. Think of it like stuffing a jacket into your bag, causing wrinkles. Makes sense, right? Facebook compresses videos higher than 720p into their frame, causing poor quality.
Video Quality Settings
Facebook sets the video quality according to your internet connection.
Higher quality videos require a better, fast speed internet connection. So, if you have a poor WiFi connection or you’re on data savings mode, chances are that your videos will be of lower quality but they will load much faster.
Insufficient Space on Device
If your device does not have sufficient space for Facebook to run, your videos will appear blurry and pixelated. Think of it as an athlete underperforming because they don’t have enough room to practice to their full potential! Luckily, these common problems can be fixed.
Troubleshooting and Fixes of Blurry Videos on Facebook
Video Compression
Try uploading videos that fit Facebook’s standard specifications. You can use a variety of online tools and applications like Adobe Spark to change the size of your video without losing its quality.
Change the Video Quality
Try changing the quality of the video from “Auto” to the highest available quality (“720p/840p/1080p”) from the video menu.
For Phone/App Users
- Tap on the video, go to Settings > Quality > 1080p.
- Tap on Settings > Quality > Change “SD” to “HD”.
Depending on the device and version you are using, your options can either be “1080p/720p/640p” or “SD” and “HD”.
For Desktop/Website Users
- Click on the Settings button.
- Click on Quality > 1080p.
- Click on Quality > HD.
Based on the quality of the uploaded video, the highest resolution can either be 1080p, or even 720p and lower. Just make sure your video isn’t in Auto mode.
Change the Video Settings
Changing the video quality manually every now and then can be really exhausting to some when the quality of the video differs from video to video. So, a permanent solution would be to set the video settings to the best quality possible!
- Click on the inverted triangle next to the Search icon for a drop down menu.
- Select Settings & Privacy > Settings.
- Scroll down for “Videos”.
- On ‘Video Default Settings”, change “Default” to “HD if possible”.
Now, your videos should be of the highest quality uploaded.
Turn Off Data Savings Mode
If you’re on data and you’re tired of blurry videos, turn off data-savings mode for the optimum video quality! You can do it right from the video menu. This version is, of course, only available for phone app users. So, on your phone:
- Tap on the video, click on Settings.
- Data Saver (off).
Insufficient Space on Device
Excess files like caches can slow down your apps and web experience. Try clearing them or use the good old method of installing and uninstalling.
For Phone/App Users
- Go to Settings > Apps.
- Tap on Facebook > Clear cache/Clear data.
Now all your excess and non-useful data will be removed and save you space.
Selecting “Clear data” will also log you out of Facebook and make room to start afresh with more space. You can skip this step and choose only “Clear Cache”.
For Chrome/Website Users
- Click on “⋮” for the menu.
- Go to Settings > Privacy and Security
- Clear browsing data > Cached images and files.
Now, your video quality should be a lot better.
How Do I Post High Quality Videos on Facebook?
Use High Speed Internet to Upload
Facebook has not only undergone a brand name change(Meta) but also a change in its settings and features. Instead of manual settings, your Facebook experience mostly relies on high-speed internet. So, try waiting for a stronger internet connection to post photos and videos.
Upload HD Sized Videos
HD sized videos refer to the 1080p (1920×1080) or 720p (1280×720) sizes as their ratios are 16:9. This helps avoid any video compression that will decrease your video quality to fit Facebook’s standards.
Upload on Youtube and Share the Link to Facebook
Another method that Facebook users often use is link sharing from YouTube. YouTube is another excellent social media platform to gain, grow and entertain audiences. So, content creators often post on YouTube and share the link to Facebook without the problem of video quality degradation.
Why Is My Facebook Live Video Quality Poor?
Whether you’re viewing live or streaming live, an internet connection makes a major difference. If your internet is unstable, the live might freeze, end or lag. Before you go live, check that your WiFi is working well and if you’re viewing someone’s live with bad WiFi, bookmark it. Or wait for the person/page to post it after the live has ended.
For Facebook live hosting
- Make sure that you’re using the right camera. You can check at the “camera controls” if you are connected to your phone camera or external camera (if using).
- Facebook also offers “Normal latency” and “Low latency”.
Latency, or lag, creates a delay in the live between you and your audience. In low latency, you will see your audience’s comments a lot later than they’re sent so you can interact with them better with low quality video. But in normal latency, there wont be a delay in the response time between you and your audience. Facebook recommends normal latency for live hosts who don’t plan on interacting with the audience. (For example, reading all their comments for answers, etc.)
Why Are My Facebook Videos Black and Pixelated?
The problem for most Facebook videos seems to be poor network connection. But sometimes, your device may be causing problems too. To fix this here are a few methods:
Disable Hardware AccelerationGo to Chrome on your computer, Settings > Advanced > Disable “use hardware acceleration when available”. Refresh
Clear Cache
On your phone, Click on Settings > Apps > Facebook > Clear Cache.
Re-install Facebook
Un-install and re-install Facebook to start afresh.
Why Are My Facebook Videos Blurry but Then Its Good?
If your videos are blurry initially, chances are that Facebook is adjusting to your internet. Make sure you have stable internet. And change your settings to the highest available resolution.
Or, choose “HD when available” as instructed in “How to fix blurry videos on Facebook > Change video settings” above.
How Do I Fix Blurry Videos on Messenger?
Facebook Messenger has a size limit on how much you can send. So if your video is closer to 25MB, then the quality will be much worse. Try sending a video that doesn’t have a large size.
Videos sent on Facebook are bound to be compressed. So if you want to send a video without losing its HD quality, try uploading them on your google drive and sharing the link instead!
Why are my Facebook stories so blurry?
If your Facebook stories are blurry, make sure your Data Savers is turned off.
Facebook reduces the quality of your video when you post it to story to save data.
- Click on ≡ for Menu. Scroll down for Settings & Privacy > Settings > Preference > Media
- Select “Optimized”.
- Another method Facebook users opt to post HD videos is using the website or desktop version on phone.
- On your phone, Tap on Chrome > Menu > Desktop site.
- Click on stories and start posting!
And you’re done!
Conclusion
Seems like most Facebook video problems are dependent on your internet connection. If you’re on data, make sure to turn off data saver. And if you’re worried about losing too much data, wait till you can find better Wi-Fi. Make sure to clear cache every so often as well. And enjoy!
5 Ways to Upload High-Quality Videos to Facebook - Updated (2022)
Posting your stories, sharing opinions, and watching what you like is one of the best forms of entertainment these days.
All of this is available on Facebook, the most infamous social network in the digital world. Now we can watch various videos and see incredible photos from our digital friends through this site. The site also has a feature where you can respond with likes, hearts, comments and shares. However, if your post is of good quality, there will be many reactions. So if you are planning to post a video on Facebook, make sure the quality is excellent. This post will help you learn 9 different methods0003 Uploading high quality videos to Facebook is easy.
In addition, we will introduce flexible learning tools such as AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate to make this process possible. In addition, we will also see how the Facebook app itself helps make this process possible. Let's start making your Facebook upload in high quality without further ado.
Improve video quality on Facebook
- Part 1: Why videos look bad on Facebook
- Part 2: How to improve video quality on Facebook
- Part 3: How to change the default video quality in the Facebook app
Part 1: Why Videos Look Bad on Facebook
There are various reasons why we get terrible video quality on Facebook.
The first one on the list is because you don't have a high pixel. That is why the output is in low-quality resolution. Another reason why we need to know the Facebook compression feature is one of the main reasons why we upload low quality videos. Like YouTube, they compress every footage to save space on their servers. This is how the internet has been working ever since. These are the two most common reasons why we get bad quality videos on Facebook after upload.
Part 2: How to improve the quality of your Facebook video
Set the ideal Facebook video settings
The first way we can use to improve the quality of your Facebook video is to change the settings in your Facebook account. Proper setup in our account is a huge help for quality Facebook video.
1Please log in to your Facebook account using a browser. Then, by clicking on the little icon of your DP, go to Settings and Privacy and find the setting button under that.
2Various options will then appear on your screen.
Then scroll down until you see the Video icon. Most often this is the last part of the option. Please click on it.
3You will now see a new set of options on the right side of the web page. You can see Video Settings. Please select Default Video Quality, then go to the drop down box, click the Default icon button and change it to HD if there is.
4Now you can scroll down on the same tab if you are ready to go. Find Save Changes to complete the process.
This is the right way to change the quality of your Facebook video. Please try downloading and see if it works.
Improve video quality before uploading
If one method isn't enough to provide the higher quality you need, now is the time to use a video enhancer. According to this, AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate can help us. It has amazing tools like 3D maker, GIF maker, color correction tool, etc. All of them are in the flexible toolset it offers.
However, its video enhancement tool is the handiest feature we need to improve the quality of your video for posting on Facebook.
The process is simple and smooth due to its artificial intelligence technology that we cannot find with other enhancement tools. Join us to see how it works.
1Open AnyMP4 Video Converter on your computer. Locate the toolbar icon at the top of the interface software.
2Now you will see various tools under it. Please find the Video Amplifier icon and click it.
3Now you see a collapsible tab where you can add the video you want to enhance for Facebook. Click the Plus icon to see the file tab. Select the video you want to upload to Facebook and click the Open button.
4A new tab will appear where you will see all the tools you need to improve your Facebook video. On the tab, check the box next to the High-End Resolution icon, and you can also use Reduce Video Shake. Then set the resolution to your preference.
5If you're ready to go, please click the Upgrade Now button to begin the upgrade process. Waiting for the save process.
It's an easy way to improve your Facebook video with this amazing tool.
We see how superior the tool is in terms of performance and gives us the flexible features we need. Besides, this powerful tool can do you a great favor by having much more editing features when you need Facebook Video Editor.
Disable traffic optimization and saver in mobile upload settings
One of the main reasons you upload low quality videos on Facebook is because it has a traffic optimizer and saver feature. Then we only need to disable them to eliminate the possibility of spoiling the quality of your downloads. We will see the process for iOS, Android and desktop.
1Open Facebook on your iOS or Android phone. Then notice the three dashes. You will see it in the top right corner for Android and mobile browsers. Then for iOS, you will see it in the bottom right corner.
2Now you will see different options and please see Settings and Privacy. Below it, see the icon for setting. You will then see other options for your settings. Below it, find the Media icon to continue.
3On the new tab, go to the Video Quality section. From there, uncheck the box for Optimize and save traffic.
Part 4: Frequently Asked Questions about CarPlay not working
What is the best ratio to upload videos to Facebook?
Facebook recommends 4:5 for your video's aspect ratio. This is the best way to grab the viewer's attention. As we all know, the ratio covers the entire screen. If the video aspect ratio is not suitable for Facebook, use the video aspect ratio converter to change the aspect ratio to what you need.
What is the best format for uploading videos to Facebook?
The ideal video for FB is a video containing the H.264 codec. Also, it has AAC codec in terms of its audio part. You can now have a clear video upload to your Facebook account.
Can I upload a 3D video to Facebook?
Yes. It is possible to upload 3D videos to Facebook. However, it is important to set the default video setting on Facebook to HD. Also, make sure the video file size is within FB's requirements.
If the video is too big, don't worry. You can compress video for Facebook with video compressor.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can now have fantastic video quality on Facebook if we follow the above methods. We can see achievable quality download with AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate and Facebook app. Therefore, we can say that the problem of poor-quality mail has now subsided. Please share this article as we want to help other users upload high definition videos to their feeds. You can also visit this page for more valuable tips to improve your media.
Poor video/photo quality on Facebook - how to improve
A lot of social network users face this situation. They post a high-quality photo in their account or page, wanting to please their friends, but on the screen, the photo posted on Facebook looks much worse than the original. Alas, Facebook automatically degrades the quality of posted video or photo content without informing the user about it. This is called optimization.
How to deal with it?
Content:
- reasons for the deterioration of quality
- Improving quality on computer
- Improving quality on mobile devices
- Useful tips and cunning
- Video content
- Log in to your account and click on the "Three dashes" icon.
- Go to "Settings and privacy" - "Settings".
- Find the item "Media content and contacts" there.
- Activate the "Download HD Photos" and "Download HD Videos" options.
- After that, media content downloaded from a mobile device will be displayed with very little loss in quality.
- When posting images from someone else's post, the best option is not to take a screenshot or download the photo, but use the "Share" option. In this case, you will receive exactly the original image in the publication.
- If you want to publish content from other sites, it is better to do it not as a screenshot or downloaded material, but as a link inserted into the post.
- If you want to post an image where a lot depends on quality indicators (for example, an artistic photo or a photo reproduction of a painting), then it is advisable to first upload such an image to a photo hosting and place it in a post as a link.
- If you want to post an image, but you only have a low-quality image available, then use search engines: look for the same image in Google or Yandex. There is a search for images, and the result is issued in different resolutions.
- H.
264 video standard; - video format - MP4 or MOV;
- sound format - AAC;
- image width - no more than 1280 px, the number of pixels - a multiple of 16;
- frame rate - no more than 30 per second.
- Enter the "Settings and Privacy" menu item, from there to "Settings".
- In Settings, find Video.
Causes of quality deterioration
Social networks. videos and photos. Visual content dominates the modern Internet space. And the platforms on which this content is hosted strive to optimize it in every possible way in order to save space on their servers and ensure fast loading of photos and videos on any device. The mobile segment of the Internet is expanding every day. And social networks tend to follow the trend, that is, everything should be loaded as quickly as possible even with communication problems.
Of course, a simple user will not change the algorithm of the social network. However, there are tricks with which you still manage to publish high-quality photos and videos on Facebook. Let's start with the fact that a lot depends on the device from which the content is posted.
Improving the quality on the computer
During the latest Facebook updates, a lot of good innovations have appeared, and the media component of the social network is no exception. If a user has uploaded a photo or video in HD quality for publication or for an album, then this content will be saved in the system in the same quality.
The optimal resolution for page covers is 1920x1080. Then the system will compress the image to the desired size without any noticeable loss of quality. In this case, it is necessary to take into account that 95 pixels will be cropped from each side, therefore, in the picture, important details should be placed closer to the central part.
According to Facebook, the best avatars and covers come out if you use a photo with a .PNG extension for them.
Important! When reading recommendations on the web regarding the size of pictures for the profile picture and cover, keep in mind that photo parameters are often indicated there after displaying on the screen.
The required source image data is often different.
Improve quality on mobile devices
There is one setting that needs to be changed in the Facebook mobile app to ensure that only good quality visual content is saved in the future. This is done like this:
Tips & Tricks
Video content
Problems with video content are among the most common on Facebook. Videos may or may not open, or "freeze" during playback. The video can be uploaded in high quality, but the output will be with a fuzzy picture. In the vast majority of cases, the reasons are as follows: poor characteristics of the original file, problems with the device, problems with the speed of the Internet connection.
As for the source file, Facebook recommends the following parameters:
In other sources, you can read about Facebook's support for about 30 video formats. But for the best quality indicators, it is still desirable to adhere to the above parameters.
When running video ads, you need to set up detailed targeting by audience device type. In particular, high-quality videos are appropriate only for areas with a good level of Internet signal.
The quality of the photos and videos displayed on Facebook may also deteriorate due to individual settings in the user's account. To check and change these settings, do the following:
Step 1
Step 2
