What video resolution should I use for an ordinary online upload?

There isn’t one resolution that’s best for every upload. Start with the resolution of your original footage and check the destination’s current upload specifications. If your footage is 1080p and the platform accepts it, exporting at 1080p is a straightforward choice. YouTube recommends starting from the original footage’s resolution rather than assuming every upload should be enlarged; that guidance is for YouTube, not every service. [S1]

For social-media videos exported with iMovie, Apple describes 1080p as high quality for most sites. Treat that as a useful starting point, not a guarantee that every platform or editing app has the same best setting. [S2]

Check the clip’s properties in your editing app or file details, and note its resolution. Then use that as your baseline while checking the destination’s specifications. If the original is lower resolution, don’t assume that exporting it at a larger size will add detail. YouTube’s guidance is to start from the original resolution rather than assume it should be enlarged. [S1]

For example, if your source is 720p and the destination accepts that resolution, exporting at 720p is a reasonable starting point. If you have a specific requirement to deliver a larger frame, follow it, but regard the export size as a delivery choice—not as evidence that the original contains more detail.

Yes. Check the aspect ratio as well as the resolution. A vertical or square clip should not automatically be cropped into a horizontal frame just because 16:9 is common. YouTube says its standard computer-player aspect ratio is 16:9, but its player adapts to vertical and square videos. That describes YouTube’s player, not how every destination displays video, so confirm the intended platform’s current requirements. [S1]

Keep the original shape when it suits your content and the destination accepts it. For instance, a vertical phone clip could remain vertical on a destination that supports vertical uploads. Check the platform’s guidance before changing the canvas or cropping, since a different frame shape may cut off parts of the picture.

First, choose a resolution that fits the footage and destination rather than increasing the frame size. If the export is still too large, your editor may offer a lower resolution. Apple notes that in iMovie on iPhone or iPad, lower choices such as 720p create smaller files that can upload faster when internet speed is an issue. This is specific to Apple’s iMovie guidance; it doesn’t establish the best settings for other editors or every platform. [S2]

A practical choice: if your source is 1080p and you want the quality Apple describes as high for most social-media sites, try 1080p first. If a smaller upload matters more and the destination accepts it, consider 720p. Check the exported file and the destination’s requirements before relying on either choice. Resolution alone doesn’t determine file size, and available export settings vary by app.