Upload Video from Google Drive to Facebook: Guide

This guide walks you through getting a video from Google Drive onto your Facebook Page or Profile. It covers downloading the file, uploading it to Facebook, and what to do when things don’t go smoothly. You’ll need access to the Google Drive file and a Facebook account with permission to post to the intended Page or group.

What You’ll Need

A Google account with access to the video file in Google Drive.
A Facebook account (personal profile or Page admin access).
A stable internet connection with enough bandwidth to handle a large upload.
Enough storage space on your computer or phone for the video file, if you plan to download it first.

Step-by-Step

Locate the video in Google Drive. Go to drive.google.com and sign in. Navigate to the folder containing your video file. Make sure you have permission to view and download it.
Download the video to your device. Right-click (or long-press on mobile) the video file. Select “Download.” The video will save to your computer’s default Downloads folder or your phone’s storage. Wait for the download to finish completely before proceeding.
Find the downloaded file. Open your file manager or Downloads folder on your computer, or your phone’s gallery/files app. Confirm the video file is there and that it plays correctly. Note the file size and format (e.g., .mp4, .mov).
Open Facebook and start a new post. Go to facebook.com and log in. On your News Feed, click “What’s on your mind?” at the top of the page. If you’re posting to a Page, switch to that Page’s view first.
Add the video. Click “Photo/Video” below the post composer. A file picker will open. Navigate to where you saved the video file, select it, and click “Open.” On mobile, tap the photo icon and choose the video from your gallery.
Wait for the upload to process. Facebook will upload the video to its servers. You’ll see a progress bar. For large files, this can take several minutes. Do not close the browser tab or the app during this time.
Add details to your post. While the video uploads (or after it finishes), you can write a caption, add a location, tag friends, or create a thumbnail. Use the tools provided to select a custom thumbnail from the video’s frames.
Choose your audience and publish. Use the audience selector (Public, Friends, Only Me, etc.) to choose who can see the post. Click the blue “Post” button. Facebook will continue processing the video in the background, and it will become visible to your chosen audience once ready.

Common Mistakes

Uploading the Google Drive link instead of the file. Facebook cannot directly embed a video from Google Drive. You must download the file and then upload it. Posting a link only creates a text link, not a playable video post.
Not waiting for the download to finish. Starting the Facebook upload with a partially downloaded file will result in a corrupted or unplayable video. Always confirm the download is 100% complete.
Closing the page during upload. If you close the browser tab or navigate away before the upload finishes, the upload will be cancelled. Keep the tab active until the progress bar reaches 100%.
Uploading a file format Facebook doesn’t support. Facebook supports common formats like MP4, MOV, and AVI. If your video is in an unusual format, it may fail to process. Convert it to MP4 first using a free converter.
Forgetting about file size limits. Facebook allows videos up to 10 GB in size on Pages, but the upload time can be very long. For personal profiles, the limit is typically 4 GB. Check the file size before you start.

Tips

Optimize your video for Facebook. Facebook recommends using MP4 format with H.264 video codec and AAC audio codec. This ensures the fastest processing and best playback quality.
Use a wired internet connection. For large files, a wired Ethernet connection is more stable than Wi-Fi. If you’re on Wi-Fi, move closer to the router to avoid interruptions.
Compress large videos. If your video is over 1 GB, consider compressing it with a free tool like HandBrake. This reduces upload time without a significant loss in quality for most viewers.
Upload during off-peak hours. Uploading late at night or early in the morning can be faster than during peak evening hours when many people are online.
Use the “Share” feature for Google Drive links. If you don’t need a native video post, you can make the file public in Google Drive and share the link in a Facebook post. This is faster but offers a worse viewing experience.

Troubleshooting

Upload stalls or fails. Check your internet connection. Restart your router if needed. Try uploading a smaller video to see if the issue is with the file size. If the problem persists, try a different browser or the Facebook mobile app.
Video is stuck on “Processing.” Facebook processes videos after upload. This can take a few minutes to a few hours, depending on length, resolution, and server load. Wait a while and refresh the page. If it’s stuck for more than 24 hours, delete the post and re-upload.
Video plays but has no sound. This usually means the audio codec is not supported. Re-encode the video using H.264 and AAC codecs (HandBrake can do this easily) and upload again.
“Something went wrong” error. This is often a temporary Facebook glitch. Clear your browser cache and cookies, log out and back in, and try again. If it continues, try uploading from a different device.
Video is too long. Facebook has a 240-minute (4-hour) limit for uploads. If your video is longer, you’ll need to trim it or split it into parts.
Can’t find the downloaded file. On Windows, check the Downloads folder. On Mac, check the Downloads folder in Finder. On iPhone, check the Files app under “Downloads” or “Recents.” On Android, check the “Download” folder in your file manager.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I upload directly from Google Drive to Facebook without downloading?
No, Facebook does not support direct import from Google Drive. You must download the file to your device first, then upload it to Facebook as a new post.

What is the maximum video size for Facebook?
For personal profiles, the limit is 4 GB. For Pages, it’s 10 GB. However, very large files take a long time to upload and may time out on slower connections.

What video formats does Facebook support?
Facebook supports MP4, MOV, AVI, and WMV. MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio is the recommended format for best compatibility.

Why is my video uploading so slowly?
Upload speed depends on your internet connection’s upload bandwidth. Check your connection speed, close other programs that use the internet, and try uploading during off-peak hours.

Can I schedule a video upload to Facebook?
Yes, Facebook allows you to schedule posts, including videos. When creating your post, click the arrow next to the “Post” button and select “Schedule.” Choose the date and time, then confirm.

What should I do if my video is too long for Facebook?
You’ll need to trim the video to under 240 minutes (4 hours). Use a video editor to cut it down, or split it into multiple shorter videos and upload them as separate posts.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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