# How long can Threads videos be in 2026?

> Threads videos run up to 5 minutes, in the app and through schedulers. The API takes MP4 or MOV up to 1 GB at 23 to 60 fps, and 9:16 is recommended.

Page: https://omnisocials.com/threads-video-lengths
Checked: October 17, 2026

Up to 5 minutes, whether you post in the app or schedule through the API. Scheduled videos must also fit 1 GB, MP4 or MOV, and 23 to 60 frames per second.

## The short answer: Up to 5 minutes, in the app and when scheduled.

Threads for Creators says you can share "photos and videos, up to 5 minutes long." The Threads API, which every scheduler uses, has the same cap: 300 seconds, and longer than 0 seconds.

Scheduled videos must also be MP4 or MOV, up to 1 GB, 23 to 60 frames per second and at most 1,920 px wide, with H.264 or HEVC video and AAC audio. Meta recommends 9:16. Threads publishes no ideal length, and we found no study of Threads video length.

- **Longest video**: 5 min (In the app and through the API)
- **File size**: 1 GB (Through the API)
- **Per carousel**: 20 items (Photos and videos mixed, via the API)

## Drag to your video's length and see where it fits

| Format | Shortest | Longest | Length most studies point to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Video (app) | 0:01 | 5:00 |  | Up to 5 minutes, per Threads for Creators. |
| Video (scheduled) | 0:01 | 5:00 |  | Through the Threads API, as every scheduler posts: longer than 0 seconds, up to 5 minutes and 1 GB. |
| Carousel video | 0:01 | 5:00 |  | A video in a carousel of 2 to 20 items; the API's video specs apply to it. |

## Every Threads video limit in one table. In the app and when scheduled.

| Limit | Threads app | Schedulers (the API) |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Up to 5 minutes | Longer than 0 seconds, up to 5 minutes |
| File size | Not published | Up to 1 GB |
| File type | Not published | MP4 or MOV, moov atom at the front |
| Codecs | Not published | H.264 or HEVC video, AAC audio |
| Frame rate | Not published | 23 to 60 fps |
| Width | Not published | Up to 1,920 px |
| Aspect ratio | Not published | 0.01:1 to 10:1, 9:16 recommended |
| Bitrate | Not published | Video up to 100 Mbps, audio 128 kbps |
| Videos per post | Not published | 1, or up to 20 items in a carousel |

From Threads for Creators and Meta's Threads API documentation, read on October 17, 2026.

## Do videos and photos get more views? Not on their own, in one 2026 dataset.

| Post type | Posts | Average views | Engagement rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text only | 37,360 | 7,096 | 3.56% |
| With media | 939 | 1,446 | 6.41% |

BlackTwist, August 2026, English posts from 541 creators who use BlackTwist; long-form threads lift the text-only average. Threads' own finding: video, photo and carousel posts that include text performed significantly better than those without.

## What changed for video. Same 5 minutes, more around it.

- **Oct 2025: Spoilers on videos** The API added spoilers for text, image and video posts, so a scheduled video can be marked as one. (https://developers.facebook.com/docs/threads/changelog)
- **Mar 2025: A new video player** Threads added play, pause and skip controls and a pinned progress bar to videos (reported by Social Samosa). (https://www.socialsamosa.com/news-2/meta-introduces-topic-tags-reply-controls-video-updates-threads-8875520)
- **Sep 2024: Carousels of up to 20** The API began to take carousels of up to 20 images, videos, or a mix of the two. (https://developers.facebook.com/docs/threads/changelog)
- **Aug 2024: Alt text on videos** Images and videos posted through the API can carry alt text, up to 1,000 characters. (https://developers.facebook.com/docs/threads/changelog)

## Get your video through. Five minutes, one gigabyte.

1. **Stay under 5 minutes** It is the cap in the app and through the API. Trim longer videos or split them across a carousel.
2. **Export 1080 × 1920 at 30 fps** Meta recommends 9:16, and the API takes 23 to 60 fps at up to 1,920 px wide.
3. **Keep files under 1 GB** The API refuses bigger files. A 5-minute 1080p video at a normal bitrate fits easily.
4. **Use MP4 with H.264 and AAC** Put the moov atom at the front (often called fast start) and avoid edit lists, as Meta's specs ask.
5. **Always add text** Threads found video, photo and carousel posts with text did significantly better than posts without it.
6. **Add alt text** Describe the video for screen readers. Through the API, alt text takes up to 1,000 characters.

## Schedule it with OmniSocials

Schedule Threads videos up to 5 minutes, alone or mixed into a carousel. OmniSocials schedules posts to Threads and 11 more networks from one calendar, and AI agents (Claude, ChatGPT and others) can plan and schedule through its MCP server. $10 per seat a month billed yearly, $12 monthly; 14-day free trial, a card is needed to start it. https://omnisocials.com/pricing

## Sources and method

The limits come from Threads for Creators and Meta's Threads API documentation, read on October 17, 2026. Threads publishes no ideal video length and we found no study of one, so the ruler shows only what is allowed. The media versus text numbers come from BlackTwist's August 2026 report and are labelled as one tool's data.

- Instagram for Creators, [Threads for creators](https://creators.instagram.com/threads), Read Oct 2026. "Photos and videos, up to 5 minutes long."
- Meta for Developers, [Threads posts (media specs)](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/threads/posts), Read Oct 2026. Video: MOV or MP4, 23 to 60 fps, up to 1,920 px wide, 300 seconds, 1 GB.
- Meta for Developers, [Threads API overview](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/threads/overview), Read Oct 2026. Carousels of 2 to 20 items; 9:16 recommended.
- Meta for Developers, [Threads publishing reference](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/threads/reference/publishing), Read Oct 2026. Alt text up to 1,000 characters.
- Meta for Developers, [Threads API changelog](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/threads/changelog), Read Oct 2026
- Social Samosa, [Meta introduces topic tags, reply controls and video updates on Threads](https://www.socialsamosa.com/news-2/meta-introduces-topic-tags-reply-controls-video-updates-threads-8875520), Mar 21, 2025
- BlackTwist, [State of Threads, August 2026](https://blacktwist.app/report/august-2026), Sep 2026. 145,042 posts from 541 creators; BlackTwist users only.

## Related guides

- [Best time to post on Threads](https://omnisocials.com/best-time-to-post-on-threads)
- [How often to post on Threads](https://omnisocials.com/how-often-to-post-on-threads)
- [Threads image sizes](https://omnisocials.com/threads-image-sizes)
- [Threads character limits](https://omnisocials.com/threads-character-limits)
- [Threads hashtag limits](https://omnisocials.com/threads-hashtag-limits)
- [Schedule Threads posts](https://omnisocials.com/threads)
- [Connect Threads](https://omnisocials.com/help-center/integrations/threads)
- [Create a post](https://omnisocials.com/help-center/creating-content/create-post)
- [MCP server](https://omnisocials.com/mcp)
- [REST API](https://omnisocials.com/api)
- [API reference](https://docs.omnisocials.com)

## FAQ

### How long can a Threads video be?

Up to 5 minutes. That is the limit in the app, per Threads for Creators, and through the API that schedulers use.

### Can I post a 10 minute video on Threads?

Not as one video. Trim it to 5 minutes, or split it into two videos and post them in one carousel.

### What is the Threads video size limit?

1 GB per video through the API. Threads publishes no file size limit for the app.

### What is the best video size for Threads?

1080 × 1920 (9:16), the ratio Meta recommends. The API accepts widths up to 1,920 px and shapes from 0.01:1 to 10:1.

### What video formats does Threads accept?

MP4 or MOV through the API, with H.264 or HEVC video and AAC audio. Threads publishes no format list for the app.

### Can a Threads carousel include videos?

Yes. Through the API a carousel takes 2 to 20 items, and photos and videos can be mixed.

### What frame rate should a Threads video use?

Anything from 23 to 60 frames per second through the API. 30 fps is a safe choice.

### Is there a best length for a Threads video?

Threads publishes none, and we found no study of Threads video length. Threads does say posts with text do better than media alone, so always write a line.

### Can OmniSocials schedule Threads videos?

Yes, up to 5 minutes and 1 GB, alone or in a carousel of up to 20 items. OmniSocials checks the length before a post is scheduled.