# YouTube won't upload videos longer than 15 minutes: what to check

By HeyMark · Updated October 26, 2026

YouTube does allow videos longer than 15 minutes. If your channel still has the default limit and you have not verified your phone number, I’ll walk you through enabling that feature and uploading the file again. If you have already verified, check feature access and file limits before retrying.

## Before you try again

The default 15-minute limit applies to accounts without phone verification. Longer videos are an intermediate feature: check whether you already have access before starting verification again. Each file is limited to **256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less**. If it is over 20 GB, use an up-to-date browser. ([YouTube Help: Upload videos longer than 15 minutes](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/71673?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop); [Feature access for creators](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9890437?hl=en))

## Verify your account and check channel access

1. In YouTube Studio, open **Settings → Channel → Feature eligibility → Intermediate features → Verify phone number**. YouTube will send a code by text or phone call; enter it to complete phone verification.
2. Under **Feature eligibility**, check whether uploading videos longer than 15 minutes is marked **Enabled**. If it isn’t, check the phone verification status and your channel’s notices.
3. Once the feature is enabled, select **Create → Upload videos** and upload the file again.

When it finishes, check that the video appears under **Content** in Studio and that its length and file match the version you meant to upload. Phone verification is not the channel’s public verification badge. ([YouTube Help: Access intermediate and advanced features](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9891124?hl=en); [Feature access for creators](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9890437?hl=en))

## If YouTube still won’t accept the video

- **Your account is already verified:** check the long-video feature status in Studio. If you could upload long videos before and can’t now, review channel notifications about copyright claims or strikes; access can depend on channel history and policy compliance.
- **The video exceeds the limit:** export or trim a version no longer than 12 hours and no larger than 256 GB. Verification does not remove these limits.
- **An upload fails for a file over 20 GB:** update your browser and try again in YouTube Studio.

An enabled status under **Feature eligibility** and the video appearing under **Content** confirm that the channel is ready and Studio received the new upload. ([YouTube Help: Upload videos longer than 15 minutes](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/71673?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop))

If your channel allows the video’s length but the upload stalls, check [the transfer and processing status](https://heymark.ai/en/solutions/youtube-video-upload-processing-stuck/) before uploading again.

If phone verification is the unmet requirement and the text does not arrive, check [what to do when you do not receive YouTube’s verification code](https://heymark.ai/en/solutions/youtube-verification-code-not-received/) before uploading again.

## See it on your own accounts.

Connect Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn or YouTube and use HeyMark free for 7 days. Mark answers in your voice, and you approve what goes out.

[Start free](https://app.heymark.ai) · [See pricing](https://heymark.ai/en/pricing/)

## Keep reading

- [Upload a custom thumbnail for a YouTube video](https://heymark.ai/en/solutions/upload-youtube-video-thumbnail/): Upload a custom thumbnail for a long-form YouTube video in Studio. Check verification, aspect ratio, file size, and what to do if the change takes time.

## Developer and agent resources

- [HeyMark MCP documentation](https://heymark.ai/en/mcp/)
- [llms.txt](https://heymark.ai/llms.txt)
- [Full site content for language models](https://heymark.ai/llms-full.txt)
- MCP protocol endpoint: `POST https://mcp.heymark.ai`
- OAuth protected-resource metadata: [/.well-known/oauth-protected-resource](https://mcp.heymark.ai/.well-known/oauth-protected-resource)
- MCP server card: [/server-card](https://mcp.heymark.ai/server-card)