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Any Restrictions For Media Posts With Instagram Direct Publishing?

Article: 000054730
Updated: November 11, 2025

Introduction

Instagram has allowed direct publishing for its Business and Creator accounts while gatekeeping it from Personal profiles. However, there are some requirements that users must fulfill to ensure a smooth publishing experience. 

For easy understanding of what is required, we have separated the information into different media categories.

In This Article

  1. Image post requirements
  2. Video post requirements

1. Image Post Requirements

A single-image post is eligible for direct publishing on Instagram Business accounts when:

  • The maximum file size is 8MB
  • The aspect ratio is within a 4:5 to 1.91:1 range 
  • The minimum width is 320 
  • The maximum width is 1440
  • The condition of height will vary depending on width and aspect ratio
  • The image is in the format JPEG/JPG/PNG 

You can solve any size-related issues in image posts on Ready Social. You can use the image editor to crop or resize the image to fit the above criteria manually while scheduling the post. 

However, if the size of the image post exceeds the platform's allowed limits and you are unsure about the requirements, simply schedule the image post. Ready Social will optimize the image size internally to fit the platform's given limitations and get published without any problems. 

 

2. Video Post Requirements

Videos must meet the following specifications:

  • Container: MOV or MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14), no edit lists, moov atom at the front of the file.
  • Audio codec: AAC, 48khz sample rate maximum, 1 or 2 channels (mono or stereo).
  • Video codec: HEVC or H264, progressive scan, closed GOP, 4:2:0 chroma subsampling.
  • Frame rate: 23-60 FPS.
  • Picture size:
    • Maximum columns (horizontal pixels): 1920
    • Minimum aspect ratio [cols / rows]: 4 / 5
    • Maximum aspect ratio [cols / rows]: 16 / 9
  • Video bitrate: VBR, 25 Mbps maximum
  • Audio bitrate: 320 kbps
  • Duration: 15 minutes maximum, 3 seconds minimum
  • File size: 512MB maximum

Ready Social will be able to present errors for you to rectify when you have selected an Instagram business account and are trying to share an incompatible video. The errors will be as follows:

 

Error messageReasonWhat needs to be done?
The video size for an Instagram post should be less than 100 MB. Learn MoreWhen the file size is greater than 100 MBYou need to upload a video with a size less than 100 MB
The duration of the video for an Instagram post should be between 3 to 60 seconds. Learn MoreWhen the minimum duration for the video file is less than 3 secondsYou need to upload a video with a duration of more than 3 seconds and less than - 15 minutes
The duration of the video for an Instagram post should be between 3 to 60 seconds. Learn MoreWhen the maximum duration for the video file is greater than 60 secondsYou need to upload a video with a duration of more than 3 seconds and less than 60 seconds
Instagram: The audio codec of the video file should be AAC. Learn MoreWhen the audio codec of the video file is not AACYou need to ensure that the audio codec of the video is AAC
Instagram: The audio sample rate of the video file should be a maximum 48khz. Learn MoreWhen the audio sample rate of the video is more than 48khzYou will be required to keep the audio sample rate of the video under 48khz
Instagram: The video file should have a maximum of 2 audio channels. Learn MoreWhen the video file has more than 2 audio channelsYou need to ensure that the video file does not have more than 2 audio channels
Instagram: The video codec of the file should be HEVC or H264. Learn MoreWhen the video codec is not either HEVC or H264If the video codec is other than HEVC or H264 you will get this error. You need to ensure that the video codec is either HEVC or H264
Instagram: The video file should be a progressive scan video. Learn MoreWhen the video file is not progressive scan the videoEnsure that the video file is a progressive scan only.
Instagram: The chroma subsampling of the video should be 4:2:0. Learn MoreWhen the chroma subsampling of the video is not 4:2:0Instagram will allow publishing when the chroma subsampling of the video is 4:2:0, hence, you need to check this attribute of your video
Instagram: The video frame rate should be within 23-60 FPS range. Learn MoreWhen the video frame rate is not within the 23-60 FPS rangeMaintain the video frame rate within the 23-60 FPS range
Instagram: The aspect ratio of the video should be within the 4:5 to 16:9 range. Learn MoreWhen the aspect ratio of the video is not within the 4:5 to 16:9 rangeMaintain the aspect ratio within 4:5 to 16:9 range
Instagram: The video bitrate should be VBR. Learn MoreWhen the video bitrate is not VBRKeep the video bitrate as VBR
Instagram: The video bitrate should not be more than 25 Mbps. Learn MoreWhen the video bitrate is more than 25 MbpsKeep the video bitrate less than 25 Mbps
Instagram: The audio bitrate of the video file should be 320 kbps. Learn MoreWhen the audio bitrate is not 320 kbpsKeep the audio bitrate as 320 kbps

📋 Note: You can customize your Instagram video post by selecting the thumbnail of your choice for it. 

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