Overview
Image and video requirements for all supported social media platforms
When publishing posts via the Late API, each social network has specific media requirements. Following these guidelines ensures your content is accepted and displays correctly across all platforms.
Quick Reference
Maximum Images Per Post
| Platform | Max Images |
|---|---|
| Twitter/X | 4 |
| 10 | |
| 10 | |
| 20 | |
| TikTok | 35 |
| YouTube | N/A (video only) |
| 1 | |
| 1 | |
| Bluesky | 4 |
| Threads | 20 |
| Google Business | 1 |
Maximum Videos Per Post
| Platform | Max Videos |
|---|---|
| Twitter/X | 1 |
| 1 | |
| 1 | |
| 1 | |
| TikTok | 1 |
| YouTube | 1 |
| 1 | |
| Not supported | |
| Bluesky | 1 |
| Threads | 1 |
| Google Business | Not supported |
Accepted File Types
Images
| Format | Extensions | Content-Type |
|---|---|---|
| JPEG | .jpg, .jpeg | image/jpeg |
| PNG | .png | image/png |
| WebP | .webp | image/webp |
| GIF | .gif | image/gif |
Videos
| Format | Extensions | Content-Type |
|---|---|---|
| MP4 | .mp4 | video/mp4 |
| MOV | .mov | video/quicktime |
| AVI | .avi | video/x-msvideo |
Documents (LinkedIn only)
| Format | Extensions | Content-Type |
|---|---|---|
.pdf | application/pdf | |
| PowerPoint | .ppt, .pptx | application/vnd.ms-powerpoint |
| Word | .doc, .docx | application/msword |
Universal Video Standard
For maximum compatibility across platforms, use these specifications:
| Property | Recommended Value |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 1080 × 1920 px (9:16 portrait) |
| Length | ≤ 60 seconds |
| File Size | ≤ 50 MB |
| Format | MP4 (H.264 codec) |
| Frame Rate | 30 fps |
| Audio | AAC, 128 kbps |
Tip: This standard works for Twitter/X, Instagram (Reels/Stories), Facebook, TikTok, and Threads. YouTube accepts longer/larger files.
Media URL Requirements
Secure URLs Required
All media URLs must use HTTPS:
✅ https://example.com/image.jpg
❌ http://example.com/image.jpgFile Extension Required
URLs should end with a valid file extension:
✅ https://example.com/video.mp4
❌ https://example.com/video.mp4?token=abc123If your URL has query parameters or doesn't end with an extension, Late will attempt to detect the media type from the Content-Type header.
Special Characters
If your media URL contains special characters (e.g., ñ, ü), URL-encode them before sending:
✅ https://example.com/caf%C3%A9.jpg
❌ https://example.com/café.jpgAutomatic Compression
Late automatically compresses media that exceeds platform limits:
| Platform | Image Limit | Video Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram Stories | 8 MB | 100 MB |
| Instagram Reels | 8 MB | 300 MB |
| Bluesky | ~1 MB | — |
Original files are preserved; compressed versions are uploaded automatically.
Upload Limits
The Late API supports files up to 500 MB per file. The system automatically handles large uploads:
| File Size | Upload Method |
|---|---|
| ≤ 4 MB | Direct upload |
| > 4 MB | Blob storage (automatic) |
Recommendations for Large Files
For files over 50 MB, we recommend:
- Use scheduled posts (
scheduledForparameter) for async processing - Ensure your media hosting has fast download speeds
- Consider compressing videos before upload
Most social networks timeout if media can't be downloaded within ~5 minutes.
Platform-Specific Guidelines
Each platform has unique requirements. See the detailed guides:
- Twitter/X - 4 images, GIF support, video specs
- Instagram - Aspect ratios, Stories, Reels, Carousels
- Facebook - Pages, Stories, video requirements
- LinkedIn - Documents, multi-image, video
- TikTok - Photo carousels, video specs, covers
- YouTube - Shorts vs regular, thumbnails
- Pinterest - Pins, aspect ratios, video
- Reddit - Images, no video support
- Bluesky - Auto-compression, limits
- Threads - Carousels, video limits
- Google Business - Single image, no video