You want to share a video from your phone gallery on Threads, but the app does not show a clear button for it. The media picker in Threads lets you select both photos and videos from your camera roll, but the interface can be confusing if you are not familiar with it. This article explains exactly which buttons to tap to find and post a video from your phone gallery. It also covers common problems like video length limits and format errors so you can avoid them.
Key Takeaways: Adding a Video to a Threads Post
- Plus icon on the compose screen: Tap this to open your phone gallery and select a video.
- Video length limit of 5 minutes: Threads trims videos longer than 5 minutes automatically or rejects them.
- File format support: MP4 and MOV work reliably; avoid HEIC or AVI files.
What You Need to Know Before Adding a Video
Threads supports video posts directly from your phone gallery. The app does not require you to upload videos through a separate tool. You add a video the same way you add a photo: by tapping the media icon on the new post screen. The video plays inline in the feed and can include captions, alt text, and hashtags.
Before you start, check that your video meets these requirements:
- Maximum length: 5 minutes. Videos longer than 5 minutes are either trimmed to 5 minutes or fail to upload.
- File size: Up to 100 MB. Larger files may not upload or may take very long.
- Formats: MP4 and MOV are the most reliable. AVI, WMV, and MKV files often fail.
- Orientation: Landscape and portrait both work. Threads does not crop the video.
Steps to Add a Video to a Threads Post From Your Phone Gallery
The process is the same on iPhone and Android. Follow these steps exactly to avoid errors.
- Open the Threads app and tap the compose button
On the home screen, tap the plus icon in the bottom center of the screen. This opens the new post screen. Do not tap the camera icon on the top left — that opens the in-app camera, not your gallery. - Tap the media icon at the bottom of the compose screen
Look for the small rectangle with a plus sign inside it, located just above the text input area. On some versions it appears as a small photo icon. Tapping it opens your phone gallery. - Select the video from your gallery
Your gallery shows photos and videos together. Videos have a small video camera icon or a duration label. Tap the video you want to post. A blue checkmark appears on the selected video. - Tap the checkmark button to confirm selection
After selecting the video, tap the blue checkmark in the top right corner of the gallery screen. This returns you to the compose screen with the video attached. - Add text, captions, or hashtags
Type your post text in the text area. You can add up to 500 characters. Include hashtags by typing the # symbol. The video thumbnail appears above the text area. - Tap the Post button
The Post button is at the bottom right of the screen. Tap it to publish your video. Threads uploads the video and shows it in your profile and in the feed of your followers.
Common Problems When Adding a Video and How to Solve Them
Video does not appear in the gallery picker
If you cannot see your video in the gallery picker, the file format is likely not supported. Threads does not show HEIC, AVI, or MKV files in the picker. Convert the video to MP4 using a free converter app or a computer. If the video is stored in a cloud folder like Google Drive or iCloud, download it to the phone first. Threads can only read videos stored in the local gallery.
Video is too long and gets rejected
Threads enforces a strict 5-minute limit. If your video is longer, the app shows an error or trims the video to the first 5 minutes. To avoid this, trim the video before adding it to Threads. On iPhone, open the video in Photos, tap Edit, then drag the start and end handles to 5 minutes or less. On Android, use the Google Photos editor or a third-party trimmer. Save the trimmed copy and then add it to Threads.
Video upload fails or gets stuck
A failed upload is usually caused by a weak internet connection or a file over 100 MB. Switch to a stable Wi-Fi network before uploading. Check the video file size in your gallery app. If the file is over 100 MB, compress the video using a video compressor app. Lower the resolution to 1080p or reduce the bitrate. Once compressed, try uploading again.
Video has no sound after posting
Threads plays videos with sound by default, but the sound may be muted if the video file has an unsupported audio codec. Use MP4 files with AAC audio codec for the best results. If the video uses AC3 or DTS audio, convert the audio track to AAC using a converter tool. Test the video by playing it in your gallery first. If the sound works there, it should work on Threads.
Threads Video Post vs Instagram Reel: Key Differences
| Item | Threads Video Post | Instagram Reel |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum video length | 5 minutes | 90 seconds |
| Music library access | No built-in music library | Full Instagram music catalog |
| Editing tools | None (use your phone editor) | Built-in trim, speed, effects |
| Crossposting to Instagram | Not available | Can share to Feed and Stories |
| Video quality limit | Up to 1080p | Up to 4K |
Threads video posts are simpler than Instagram Reels. You cannot add music from a library or apply effects inside the app. You must edit your video on your phone before adding it to Threads. This makes the process faster but gives you less creative control. For short clips under 90 seconds, you can crosspost from Instagram if you link your accounts in Settings > Account > Sharing to other apps.
Now you can add a video from your phone gallery to a Threads post with confidence. Start by trimming your video to 5 minutes or less and saving it as an MP4 file. Use the media icon on the compose screen to select it. If you frequently share videos, consider keeping a dedicated folder of trimmed, compressed MP4 clips on your phone for faster posting.