Clip Export Formats Guide: Which Settings Work Best Per Platform

Why Export Format Matters for Clip Quality

Each platform recompresses video after upload — meaning a clip uploaded at the wrong resolution or bitrate will be recompressed twice, compounding quality loss. Uploading at the platform's native preferred specs prevents this double compression and ensures your clips look as sharp as the source material allows.

All major short-form platforms (TikTok, Reels, Shorts) prefer MP4 format with H.264 encoding. The differences are in resolution, bitrate, and audio settings.

TikTok Export Settings

TikTok's preferred specifications: MP4 format, H.264 encoding, 9:16 vertical aspect ratio, 1080x1920 resolution, minimum 2 Mbps bitrate (4–8 Mbps recommended for HD quality), AAC audio at 128 kbps minimum. TikTok has a 4GB file size limit for most accounts and supports up to 10 minutes for standard uploads.

AutoClip exports at 1080x1920 with 4 Mbps bitrate by default for TikTok — the optimal balance of quality and file size for the platform's recompression algorithm.

Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts Export Settings

Instagram Reels: same as TikTok preferences — 1080x1920, H.264, MP4. Reels has a 15-minute maximum for direct uploads but 90-second practical limit for most clip content. Maximum file size 650 MB for Reels.

YouTube Shorts: 1080x1920 preferred, MP4 H.264, 60fps supported (and preferred for gaming/action clips), no hard file size limit for standard uploads. Shorts under 60 seconds loop automatically — clips exactly 59 seconds take advantage of this looping behavior.

AutoClip's export settings are pre-configured for each platform's preferred specs. Select the target platform and AutoClip automatically applies the correct resolution, codec, and bitrate settings.