Upload 360-degree videos

To watch 360° videos, you need the latest version of Chrome, Opera, Firefox, or MS Edge on your computer. On mobile devices, use the latest version of the YouTube app.

YouTube supports uploading and playback of 360° spherical videos on computers in Chrome, Firefox, MS Edge, and Opera browsers. In order to upload a 360° video file, you'll need to modify the file with an app or script before uploading.

You can also watch 360° videos on YouTube app.  For an immersive experience, learn more about using Cardboard. 

Step 1: Create the video

There are many 360° cameras that are compatible with YouTube and are available today.

For the best results, encode your video at a high resolution and according to YouTube's advanced specifications. YouTube currently supports 360° videos with 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, or 60 frames per second. We recommend uploading  360 videos (equirectangular format with a 2:1 aspect ratio) at a resolution of 7168x3584 or higher, up to 8192x4096.

You can also create 360° videos using custom camera rigs and third party stitching software, such as Kolor Autopano.

Step 2: Prepare for upload

Your video file needs to include certain metadata for 360° playback to be enabled. Follow these instructions to install an app that will add the necessary metadata into a new file for you.

Create a 360-enabled file with an app

  1. Download the latest 360 Video Metadata app.
  2. Un-zip the file, then open the 360 Video Metadata app. If you're on a Mac, you may need to right-click the app and then click Open.
  3. Select the video file.
  4. Select the checkbox for Spherical and click Save as. Do not select the "3D Top-bottom" checkbox. For more information, refer to upload instructions for virtual reality videos.
  5. Enter a name for the file that will be created.
  6. Save the file. A new file will be created automatically in the same location as the original file.
  7. Upload the new file to YouTube.
  8. Wait for the 360° effect to process. This may take up to an hour.

You can also add the metadata using a Python script.

Step 3: Upload the file
These tools don't currently support 360° videos: YouTube Video Editor, Enhancements tools, and end screens.

Before publishing, you can verify that the file has 360° playback enabled by watching the video on your computer. It may take up to an hour for 360° playback to be available.

360° videos feature a pan button in the top left, and can be rotated using the WASD keys, so look for these features to confirm your video is in 360.

 
Learn how to use Spatial Audio, 360 video, and virtual reality video so your viewers can experience your video's sound in all directions, just like real life.
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