Fixed: YouTube Video Stuck 99% on Upload or Processing

 

I've had quite a few people come to me with an issue relating to uploading on YouTube. Their video upload slows significantly or stops completely. I've been there too (and it sucks).

I designed this guide to help you finish your YouTube upload by learning why it got stuck and what you can do to fix it without (hopefully) starting over. Let's get started!

Why Is My YouTube Upload Stuck?

Before diving into some solutions, let's first understand why your video might have stopped while you were uploading it. Here are a few potential reasons:

Internet Connection - This is one of the most obvious reasons. A slow or unstable internet connection can slow down or even stop a YouTube upload.

File Size - YouTube has a maximum upload limit. If your video exceeds this limit, you will definitely have some problems uploading.

File Format - YouTube supports a wide range of video formats. However, if you're trying to upload a video format that they don't support, it might cause the upload to stall or stop.

Browser Issues - Sometimes, the problem isn't YouTube or your video file but your web browser. (Hint: Don't use Edge.) Processing Issue - Is your video stuck in processing after it has completed the upload? While this isn't specifically an issue with uploading, we'll cover this issue here, too.

Solutions

Now that we know the most common issues, let's dive into some potential solutions.

Restarting Your Upload
The first option for fixing this issue should always be to try to restart the upload. If you're lucky, you'll have a cookie saved in your browser that will allow you to continue your upload where it left off, so you don't have to completely start over.

Close the tab where you're uploading your video, create a new tab, and try to re-upload the same file. The file should pick up where it left off! This technique is covered in detail in the video above.

This is thanks to an awesome feature YouTube employs called "resumable uploads." It saves you from the headache of starting your upload all over again if something interrupts it, due to your upload essentially being split into segments. If something messes up with a segment of your upload, YouTube will continue from that last successfully uploaded segment. This method is especially useful for uploading large files.

Check Your Internet Connection
Run an internet speed test to ensure a stable and reasonably fast connection. If your connection is slow or drops, you might want to reset your router or switch to a more reliable internet connection.

Check the Video File Size and Format
Before uploading, ensure your video file size and format align with YouTube’s guidelines. As of the time of writing, YouTube allows a maximum upload size of 128GB or 12 hours (whichever is less.) Your video should not exceed these limits. Make sure your video is in a format that YouTube supports. The recommended formats include .mov, .mpeg4, .avi, .wmv, .mpegps, .flv, 3gpp, and webm.

Update or Switch Your Browser
The problem could be your web browser. If your YouTube upload is stuck, try updating your browser to the latest version. If that doesn’t work, switch to a different browser and try uploading your video again. I recommend Chrome or Firefox (and recommend against Edge).

Clear Your Browser’s Cache and Cookies

Wait! Before you clear cookies, check out the first method (or watch the video above!) You'll need those cookies if you want to try out that method, so don't get rid of them just yet! If that method doesn't work, clear your browser's cache and cookies. These can sometimes slow down your browsing speed, which might be why your YouTube upload is stuck. Clear your browser's cache and cookies, then try uploading the video again. This is the browser version of "turning it off and back on again."

Try YouTube’s Upload Troubleshooter

YouTube has a handy Upload Troubleshooter guide designed just for this situation. That doesn't mean there is some bug that YouTube is aware of. Large uploads tend to be problematic. You have two dependencies with large files: Internet signal and time (sometimes a lot of it.) If your YouTube upload is stuck and you can't figure out why, follow the steps in this troubleshooter.

Video Stuck During Processing? Here's Why and How to Fix This

If your video is stuck in processing, you're probably stuck at 0%, 95%, or 99%. This can be frustrating, especially because you've already waited some time for the upload to complete.

First off, it's important to understand why this happens. By identifying and resolving the issue specific to your situation, you can get your YouTube uploads to process more efficiently.

An Issue on YouTube's End
Occasionally, YouTube's servers may experience temporary outages, affecting video processing. When there's a flood of users uploading videos simultaneously, it strains the platform's servers. A surge in uploads could result in slower processing speeds as YouTube tries to manage the heavy load. Processing typically speeds up as YouTube gradually handles the deluge.

Issues With Your Video File
This is one of the most common reasons a video fails to process. Before uploading, make sure your video file is in a format that YouTube recognizes and supports. If your video is in an unsupported format, consider converting it to a format YouTube can handle. Large video files inherently take longer to process, so consider compressing your video or scaling down 4K footage to 1080p to speed up both uploading and processing. Remember: The internet is not a truck.

How to Fix Issues With Video Stuck on Processing
As a YouTuber, I've only been stuck on processing 99% a few times. I polled YouTubers, and here's what they say has worked for them:

• Refresh the Upload Page
• Update Your Browser
• Switch Browsers or Use Incognito
• Use a Better Video Format
• Reupload the Video
• Clear Cookies

Upload Still Stuck?

If you've tried all the above solutions and your YouTube upload is still stuck, there are a couple of other things you can do as a last-ditch effort.

Try Using YouTube Studio
YouTube Studio is a more advanced way to upload videos, which might bypass the issue causing the upload to freeze. Go to the YouTube Studio page, click the 'Create' icon at the top right corner, and then click 'Upload Video.'

Contact YouTube Support
If all else fails, you might need to contact YouTube Support. It's possible that the issue is on their end, or they might be able to provide a solution you hadn't considered. I recommend contacting them on X (aka Twitter) as I've found this is the only reliable way to "get a person" to help you.