YouTube Upload Stuck? What to Do (Resume and Error Fixes)

You've edited the video, filled in the title and hit upload, and the progress bar has sat still for twenty minutes. It's a horrible feeling, especially when the video is meant to go live for a launch or a client.

Before you cancel and start again, read this. YouTube's help centre says an upload that looks stuck is often just slow, and cancelling can make things worse. Here's what it says, in the order I'd work through it.

How long a YouTube upload should take before you call it stuck

YouTube's page on videos stuck during upload says uploads typically take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. That's a huge range, so a long wait alone isn't proof of a fault.

The page names four things that stretch the time:

• File type, size and format. A bigger or awkwardly encoded file takes longer to send.
• A slow or unstable internet connection, which YouTube names as a main cause.
• Peak-hour traffic. Uploading during busy times can slow things down.
• Video quality. Higher quality takes longer, so a 4K video takes longer than a 1080p one.

What to do first when your YouTube upload is stuck

1. Run a speed test on the connection you're uploading from.
2. If you can, leave the upload alone and let it finish. YouTube recommends this when the causes above apply.
3. Keep the computer awake and the browser tab open while it works.
4. If the file is huge, consider encoding it in a recommended format to reduce the file size, as YouTube suggests.

If you upload on a laptop, the lid closing or the machine sleeping is a classic way to interrupt the transfer. I'd check that before anything else.

Resuming a YouTube upload you quit

This is the part many people miss. If you stopped the upload, you don't necessarily have to begin from nothing. YouTube's steps are:

1. Go to youtube.com/upload.
2. Select the same file from your computer.
3. Let the upload carry on from where it stopped.

YouTube says you have up to 24 hours to resume an interrupted upload, so don't leave it a day or more. It has to be the same file, so don't re-export a new version first.

YouTube upload errors that look like a stuck upload

Sometimes the bar hasn't frozen. It's stopped and shown an error. YouTube's page on common uploading errors gives specific answers, and a few of them are easy to confuse with a stall:

Message	What YouTube says to do
We have encountered unexpected problems	Wait a few minutes, then upload again
The server has rejected the file	The file type is wrong, so convert it to a supported type
An error has occurred while sending data over the network	Update your browser and try again
A network error has occurred	Update your browser and try again
A security error has occurred	Firewall, antivirus or anti-spyware may be blocking it, so turn it off briefly and retry
Processing abandoned	File may be cut short or invalid, so play it back, check the type and re-upload

Processing abandoned on YouTube: the details

This one deserves its own section because it often shows up after a long upload. YouTube says the file may be cut short or invalid, or that your upload speed may be reduced. Play the video back on your own device from start to finish, confirm it's a supported file type, and upload again. If the error persists, YouTube suggests uploading from a different platform, for example from the phone app if you were using a computer.

Limits that can stop a YouTube upload

Not every stall is a speed issue. YouTube lists a few limits and account settings that block uploads outright:

• Daily upload limit reached. YouTube says you can upload more videos in 24 hours. The limit applies per channel across desktop, mobile and the API, varies by country or region and channel history, and strikes can lower it.
• Rejected (file too small). The file is under 2 KB, so check it finished exporting.
• Can't upload because your channel status or account settings don't support uploads. This can be a Community Guidelines strike, or a Google Workspace admin turning on Restricted mode.
• Failed (empty .mov file). A QuickTime file saved as a reference movie needs re-saving with the self-contained movie option.

For creators who publish regularly, the daily limit is the one to know about. If you batch upload for the week, spread the files across more than one day.

Video uploaded but stuck at processing on YouTube

After the file arrives, YouTube still has to process it. YouTube's page on stuck uploads notes that the video is first processed in low quality, and higher qualities such as 4K or 1080p can take more time. So a video that plays in low quality has finished uploading even if the HD version isn't ready. You don't need to re-upload.

Checking your YouTube upload settings and audio

If the upload works but the video comes out wrong, YouTube has a page on audio and video problems after upload and recommends double-checking that your video settings match its recommended upload settings. If you need the full process, my step-by-step guide to uploading a video to YouTube covers the basic route.

Getting the upload done for a small business on a deadline

If a campaign video has to go live at a set time, upload it early as unlisted or private, let processing finish, then publish when ready. That way a slow upload never becomes a missed launch. If you published something by mistake, my guide to deleting a YouTube video or hiding it instead has the options.

When a stuck YouTube upload needs more help

If you've tried the steps above and the same file keeps failing, try a different browser, a different network or the YouTube app. If errors continue, use the Help and feedback option in YouTube to report the details.

I keep every related walkthrough in the YouTube Help: 30 Guides to Channels, Subscribers, Monetisation, Thumbnails and Fixes.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a YouTube upload take?

YouTube says uploads typically take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on file size, connection, traffic and video quality.

Can I resume a YouTube upload I cancelled?

Yes. Go to youtube.com/upload and select the same file again. YouTube says you have up to 24 hours to resume.

Why is my YouTube video stuck at processing?

YouTube processes a video in low quality first, and higher qualities such as 4K or 1080p can take more time.

What does 'Processing abandoned' mean?

YouTube says the file may be cut short or invalid. Play it back, check it's a supported file type, and upload it again.

Is there a limit on how many videos I can upload?

YouTube says there's a daily upload limit per channel, and if you reach it you can upload more videos in 24 hours.