[Fix] Twitter Video Upload Error “Your media file could not be processed”

When you try to upload a video on Twitter, error “Your media file could not be processed” may be displayed during the processing stage. Twitter lists out the specifications for media files on their support site. If your media file doesn’t fit into their technical specifications, the error appears.

twitter media file not processed error

This post tells you how to resolve the problem.

What type of videos does Twitter support?

According to Twitter, your video file needs to match the following specs:

  • Minimum resolution: 32 x 32
  • Maximum resolution: 1920 x 1200 (and 1200 x 1900)
  • Aspect ratios: 1:2.39 – 2.39:1 range (inclusive)
  • Maximum frame rate: 40 fps
  • Maximum bitrate: 25 Mbps

Twitter currently supports MP4 and MOV video formats on mobile apps. On the web, Twitter supports the MP4 video format with H264 video encoding and AAC audio encoding. Videos up to 512MB can be uploaded. However, you will be prompted to edit videos to 2 minutes and 20 seconds or less in length.

Fix “Your media file could not be processed” Error

To fix the “Your media file could not be processed” error when uploading a video on Twitter, the media file must be converted or encoded in the right format. Follow one of these methods:

Option 1: Using Handbrake GUI

Handbrake is a 3rd party application that converts video from nearly any format to a selection of modern, widely supported codecs. Using Handbrake you can turn or encode any video so that it becomes compliant with Twitter’s specifications.

  1. Download Handbrake and run it.
  2. Open the video file in Handbrake.
    twitter media file not processed fix using handbrake
  3. In the Save As: field, mention the path and filename for the file you’re going to modify. Leave the default settings and Presets as they are.
  4. Click Start Encode. The encoded file is now saved to the chosen location. See if you can upload it on Twitter.

You should have noticed an option (checkbox) named Web Optimized in the Handbrake user interface. Web Optimized option for the MP4 container, if enabled, moves some of the video metadata from the end to the beginning of the final video file. As Handbrake documentation describes, this option is mostly useful for streaming on the internet. As far as the Twitter error is concerned, enabling Web Optimized setting is optional.

tips bulb iconThe default preset Fast 1080p30 should be fine for most users. If you want to reduce the output file size, you can change the desired preset. Alternately, you can choose Fast 1080p30 but customize the settings manually — i.e., lower the bitrate or adjust the CRF slider in the Video tab, or reduce the bitrate for the audio track via the Audio tab.

Preset: Fast 1080p30

Type: MP4
Video: H.264
Framerate: 30 FPS (peak)
Constant rate factor (CRF): 22
Audio: AAC (Stereo)
Audio bitrate: 160 Kbps (Constant)
Encoding Speed: Fast
File Size: Average

For a full list of presets, check out HandBrake Documentation — Official presets.


Option 2: Handbrake Command-line interface (CLI) tool

Handbrake also has a command-line version of the tool if you need to bulk encode media files with the Windows batch file or script. Download HandBrakeCLI and extract the contents to a folder.

Use the following syntax to encode a file:



handbrakecli.exe -i "source_file_name" -o "target_file_name"

Twitter Video Upload Error Your media file could not be processed

The above command will encode with the default “Normal” Preset (Fast 1080p30). If you want to encode with customized bitrate, framerate, and other settings, etc., refer to the (Official) HandBrake Documentation — CLI Options.


Option 3: Using FFmpeg

FFmpeg is a free and open-source project consisting of a software suite of libraries and programs for handling video, audio, and other multimedia files and streams. You can do pretty much any media conversion/encoding task using this console tool. There are many third-party programs such as Screen to Gif, File Converter, etc. that are bundled with FFmpeg.exe. [Download FFmpeg]

To fix the “Your media file could not be processed.” error for a media file, reencode the video (and audio) using FFmpeg.exe. To do so, use the following command-line syntax:

ffmpeg -i input_file output_file

Examples:

ffmpeg -i input.mkv output.mp4

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 output.mp4

When you run the above command-line, the input video is reencoded with H264 format with AAC audio and saved to a file in MP4 video format. If the input audio stream is in dash or any other format, FFmpeg converts it to AAC – M4A by default.

Before encoding:

twitter video upload error - ffmpeg encode
Codec information shown in VLC Media Player

After encoding:

twitter video upload error - ffmpeg encode

This makes the media file compatible with Twitter, assuming that the other requirements are met. You should now be able to upload the encoded video on Twitter without getting the error “Your media file could not be processed.”


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Ramesh Srinivasan is passionate about Microsoft technologies and he has been a consecutive ten-time recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award in the Windows Shell/Desktop Experience category, from 2003 to 2012. He loves to troubleshoot and write about Windows. Ramesh founded Winhelponline.com in 2005.

13 thoughts on “[Fix] Twitter Video Upload Error “Your media file could not be processed””

  1. Hello,

    thanks for sharing.

    Can I ask you a question?

    After I download this app and upload video, click “Strat Encode” and it will shown: “The output directory you have chosen eiter does not exist, or you do not have permissions to write files to it.”

    What’s the reason for that?

    Thanks for your help

    Reply
    • @scarlett: Which directory you’re using for output? Can you set Desktop as the output directory to see if that works?

      If you’re using Windows Defender, see if adding handbrake’s executable to the CFA whitelist helps.

  2. After following the steps, when I go through Twitter and try to upload the post, Twitter does not seem to recognize the Handbrake encoded file – any tips?

    Reply
  3. There are presets for handbrake. You can encode for a huge variety from 4k-video very low-quality.
    It would be helpful to include the settings necessary to upload it on twitter.

    Reply
    • @titule: The default preset Fast 1080p30 itself works well. As long as you use H264 and AAC codecs, it’s fine. If you need to alter the quality (RF) or bitrate from a preset, you can do so via the Audio or Video tab.

  4. Hi Ramesh, I tried the ffmpeg approach but I still get the same error.

    My video details:
    resolution/aspect ratio: 1920×804 (2.38806:1)
    size: 21.4MB
    frame rate: 24
    codec: H264 – MPEG-4 AVC
    no audio track

    output of ffmpeg -i:

    Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from ‘.\scifi_city_1920x804.mp4’:
    Metadata:
    major_brand : isom
    minor_version : 512
    compatible_brands: isomiso2avc1mp41
    encoder : Lavf58.78.100
    Duration: 00:00:10.33, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 17389 kb/s
    Stream #0:0(und): Video: h264 (High 4:2:2) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv422p(tv, bt470bg/unknown/unknown), 1920×804, 17388 kb/s, 24 fps, 24 tbr, 500k tbn, 48 tbc (default)
    Metadata:
    handler_name : VideoHandler
    vendor_id : [0][0][0][0]

    Reply
    • @Mat: Can I get that video file (in case it’s for public access)? Meanwhile, pls try Handbrake or Handbrake CLI. Handbrake has always worked for me.

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