How to post videos on Pinterest from mobile or desktop

<p>Cooper is a Senior Content Strategist at Vimeo. Her current fave rewatch is "Compartment No. 6."</p>
Cooper Savage
Feeling inspired? Here’s everything you need to know about Pinterest ad specs, video ad formats, and how to make Pinterest videos for your business.

You can post videos to Pinterest from its mobile app or any desktop browser, publishing an existing file as a video Pin in just a few steps. The platform makes it easy for teams to add Pinterest to their video content marketing strategy and adapt existing campaign content for Pinterest.

This guide explains how to post videos on Pinterest, improve your Pins, and troubleshoot common upload problems.

What to know before posting a video on Pinterest

Before posting a video on Pinterest, make sure your file meets the platform’s format, length, and aspect ratio requirements.

This table shows Pinterest video specs for organic Pins.

RequirementPinterest video Pin specs
File typeWeb: MP4 or M4V Android and iOS: MP4, MOV, or M4V
EncodingH.264 or H.265
Video length4 seconds to 5 minutes
Aspect ratio9:16 is recommended for full-screen video. Pinterest also supports 1:2, 2:3, 3:4, 4:5, and 1:1.
Full-screen size1080 × 1920 pixels recommended
TitleUp to 100 characters
DescriptionUp to 800 characters

Edit your next social media video with Vimeo →

How to post a video on Pinterest

How you add videos on Pinterest differs slightly depending on whether you use the mobile app or a desktop browser.

How to post a video on Pinterest from mobile

If your video file is already on your phone or tablet, you can upload it directly from your camera roll. You can also record a new video while creating the Pin. Here’s the step-by-step process:

  1. Launch and sign in to the Pinterest app.
  2. Near the bottom of the screen, tap the “+” icon and choose “Pin.”
  3. Choose a video from your device or use the camera to record one.
  4. Tap “Next” and edit the video as needed, adding text or other effects.
  5. Tap “Next” again, choose a cover image, and add the details for your Pin. You can also select a board and add a destination link when relevant.
  6. Review the Pin and tap “Create” to publish it.

How to post a video on Pinterest from desktop

You can upload videos on Pinterest from your computer by creating a video Pin in your desktop browser:

  1. Log in to Pinterest and select “Create.” If you’re using a business account, open the menu and choose “Create Pin.”
  2. Upload your video file or drag it into the upload area.
  3. Choose “Edit Cover,” then pick the image you want to use for the video's thumbnail.
  4. Choose a board and make any final edits to the video if needed.
  5. Click “Publish” when the Pin is ready.

Pinterest lets desktop users upload up to 10 videos at once, but each video becomes its own Pin. If you want to combine videos and images into a single video Pin, use the Pinterest mobile app instead.

Clip video for social media with Vimeo’s online video trimmer →

How to optimize Pinterest video Pins for more views

To give your Pinterest video Pins a better chance of attracting views, format each video for the platform and make its purpose easy to quickly understand before you publish:

  • Use a vertical format: Pinterest recommends a 9:16 aspect ratio (1080 × 1920 pixels) for video, which fills more of the screen when people browse on mobile.
  • Choose a clear cover image: Pick a frame or image that grabs attention and shows what the video is about instead of relying on a random, generic thumbnail.
  • Get to the point early: Quickly make the subject or value of the video apparent near the beginning so viewers don't have to wait to understand what they're watching.
  • Add text when it helps: Keep on-screen text brief and large enough to read comfortably on a phone.
  • Give each Pin one main idea: A focused video is easier to follow than one that tries to cover several unrelated points.
  • Describe the video clearly: Use the title and description to give viewers context and help Pinterest understand what the Pin is about.
  • Give viewers somewhere relevant to go next: Add a destination link when you have a useful page to send viewers to for more information or next steps. Select related topics that match the Pin when available.
  • Adapt existing videos for Pinterest: If you're repurposing content from other social media video marketing, resize or re-edit it for Pinterest instead of uploading the same version from other platforms.

Why won’t my video upload to Pinterest?

If your video won’t upload to Pinterest or gets stuck processing, check the video file first, then rule out problems with the app, browser, or connection:

  • Check the file format and encoding: Pinterest supports MP4 and M4V files when uploading from a desktop. On Android and iOS, you can also upload MOV files. Videos should use H.264 or H.265 encoding.
  • Check the video length: Organic video Pins must be at least four seconds long and no longer than five minutes.
  • Review the aspect ratio: Pinterest supports several aspect ratios, so an upload problem isn't necessarily caused by dimensions alone. For a full-screen video, Pinterest recommends 9:16 at 1080 × 1920 pixels.
  • Check your connection: If the upload stalls or takes unusually long to process, make sure your internet connection is stable before trying again.
  • Restart or update Pinterest: When uploading through the app, restart it and make sure you're using the latest version. On a desktop, refreshing the page or updating software can help rule out a browser issue.
  • Check your app permissions: Pinterest needs access to your photos or device storage to upload a video from your camera roll. Review the Pinterest permissions in your phone's settings if your videos aren't available to select.
  • Try the other upload method: If the video meets Pinterest's requirements but still won't upload, try switching between the mobile app and desktop browser to see if the problem is limited to one of them.
  • Try again later: A video that meets all Pinterest requirements can still take time to upload or process. After ruling out other issues, test a different video or wait and try the upload again later.

Create Pinterest-ready videos with Vimeo

If you already have marketing videos you want to use on Pinterest, you don't need to start over. Vimeo's video editor lets you trim edited clips and export new Pinterest versions that are ready to upload.

You can also use Vimeo to resize a video for Pinterest. Change the aspect ratio to 9:16 for a vertical video, crop the frame as needed, and repurpose existing video assets for Pinterest without rebuilding the original project.

Try Vimeo’s video editor →

FAQ

Can you post videos on Pinterest?

Yes, Pinterest lets you post video Pins from its mobile app or a desktop browser. You can upload an existing video file or record a new video using the Pinterest app.

Can you combine photos and videos in one Pinterest Pin?

You can combine multiple photos and videos into a single video Pin using the Pinterest mobile app. This option isn't available when creating a video Pin from a desktop browser.

Can you schedule a video Pin on Pinterest?

Yes, Pinterest business accounts can schedule a video Pin by selecting “Publish Later” and choosing a date and time up to 30 days in advance.

Can you post multiple videos to Pinterest at once?

Yes, but only into one video Pin with the mobile app. You can upload up to 10 videos at once on desktop, but Pinterest creates a separate Pin for each video.

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