How do I upload a video?
Congrats on creating your first video! Whether your content is adult or SFW, uploading it to MV is quick and straightforward. This guide covers uploading videos, adding details, creating teasers and thumbnails, uploading multiple videos, and troubleshooting common upload issues.
How to start an upload
There are three ways to upload a video:
From any page
- Click the Camera icon (📷).
- Select Upload Vid from the drop-down menu.
From your Dashboard
- Open your account drop-down menu and select Dashboard.
- In Quick Links, click Upload Vids.
From your Profile
- Go to your profile and select the Vids tab.
- Click the Upload Vid icon.
- You’ll be taken to the upload page, where you can drag and drop your video or click Browse Files to select it.
Uploading your video
Step 1: Choose your video file
Click Browse Files or drag and drop your video into the upload area.
MV supports these video formats:
- MP4
- M4V
- MOV
Your video must also be:
- Under 10 GB
- At least 1 minute long
Once you add the file, uploading will begin automatically.
You can select or drag and drop multiple videos at once. They will be added to your upload queue and processed individually.
Step 2: Wait for processing
After uploading, your video will enter the Processing stage. This means the video has successfully reached our servers and is being converted for streaming and download.
Upload and processing times can vary depending on:
- File size
- Video length
- Internet connection speed
- Connection stability
You can return to your upload queue later to manage videos that are still processing.
Step 3: Add your video details
Once your video has finished processing, click the Edit (crayon) icon to add or update its details, including:
- Community (Adult or a SFW Community)
- Title
- Description
- Tags
- Price
- Other available video information
You can also create a teaser and choose a thumbnail before publishing.
Step 4: Review and save
Double-check all your video details, add your teaser and thumbnail, then click Save to publish your video.
If you're uploading multiple videos, you can return to your upload queue to edit their descriptions, prices, and other details. You can also schedule videos to launch on selected dates.
How do I create a video teaser?
A teaser is a short preview that plays for members who haven't purchased your content. The teaser is also converted into a GIF that plays when members hover over your video thumbnail.
You can either generate a teaser directly from your video or upload your own custom teaser.
Create a teaser from your video
- Click the Edit (crayon) icon after your video has finished uploading and processing.
- Find the Teaser section.
- Click Teaser Options.
- Select Create from vid.
- Choose a 10-second clip from your video.
The selected teaser cannot include the first or last 10 seconds of the video.
A progress bar will appear while the teaser is being generated.
Upload a custom teaser
From Teaser Options, select Upload and choose your teaser file.
Your custom teaser must be:
- 10–30 seconds long
- No larger than 50 MB
Once the upload is complete, a progress bar will confirm that your teaser has been processed.
After creating or uploading a teaser, you can use View current teaser to review it or Download teaser to save a copy for promotional use.
Custom teaser format errors
If your custom teaser produces a video format not supported error, the file may have been encoded using an incompatible codec.
We recommend using the H.264 video codec, which is widely supported by streaming platforms.
You can convert your video to H.264 using video-editing software or VLC Media Player.
VLC on Windows
- Open VLC.
- Select Media → Convert / Save.
- Add your original video.
- Select Convert.
- Under Profile, select an H.264 profile.
- Click Browse and choose where to save the converted file.
- Name the file, click Save, then click Start.
- Once conversion is complete, upload the new file as your custom teaser.
VLC on Mac
- Open VLC.
- Select File → Convert / Stream.
- Open your original video.
- Click Customize under Choose Profile.
- Open the Video codec tab.
- Select H.264 from the codec menu and click Apply.
- Select Save as File, then Browse to choose the save location.
- Wait for the conversion to finish.
- Upload the converted file as your custom teaser.
How do I create a video thumbnail?
A thumbnail is the image displayed for your video before a member hovers over or opens it.
To create or change your thumbnail:
- Click the Edit (crayon) icon after your video has finished uploading and processing.
- Select Edit Thumbnail.
- Choose either Select from vid or Upload.
Select a frame from your video
- Play your video and pause it on the frame you'd like to use.
- Click Select from vid.
- The selected frame will be used as your thumbnail.
Upload a custom image
- Select Upload.
- Choose your image file.
- If necessary, crop the image using the preview window.
- Confirm your selection.
Once you've finished creating your thumbnail and adding your other video details, click Save.
Tip: Choose a clear, engaging thumbnail that accurately represents your video and catches your fans' attention.
Can I upload multiple videos at once?
Yes! You can select multiple video files or drag and drop multiple videos into the upload area.
Your videos will be added to the upload queue and processed individually. You can return to the queue later to:
- Edit descriptions
- Adjust prices
- Manage video details
- Schedule videos for future release
Uploading a selection of videos gives your fans more content to choose from, while uploading regularly can help keep your profile fresh. How often you upload is entirely up to you and your content schedule.
My video won't upload
Upload problems can have several causes. Start with the checks below.
Check the file format, size, and length
Make sure your video:
- Is MP4, M4V, or MOV
- Is under 10 GB
- Is at least 1 minute long
If your video doesn't meet these requirements, you may need to convert or edit it before uploading.
If you receive an error message, follow the instructions provided in the message. If you're unsure how to resolve the error, contact help@manyvids.com.
Try Google Chrome
Google Chrome is the preferred browser for MV.
If you're having trouble uploading, try the upload again using Chrome. If you're already using Chrome, try an Incognito Window to rule out cached data or browser extensions.
To open an Incognito Window in Chrome:
- Click the three dots in the top-right corner.
- Select New Incognito Window.
- Sign in to MV and try the upload again.
Disable browser extensions and other programs
Browser extensions or other programs can sometimes interfere with uploads.
Try:
- Disabling browser extensions temporarily.
- Closing other programs that may be accessing your video.
- Making sure the video isn't open in another program while you're uploading it.
Check your internet connection
A slow or unstable connection can interrupt an upload.
Try:
- Closing other websites and programs using your internet connection.
- Making sure other devices on the same network aren't using significant upload bandwidth.
- Switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data if you're uploading from a mobile device.
- Running an internet speed test to check your connection.
For troubleshooting, use an Ashburn, VA server when running the speed test, as these servers are used as a baseline for MV troubleshooting.
Still having trouble?
If you've tried the troubleshooting steps above and still can't upload your video, contact help@manyvids.com.
Include:
- A screenshot of the error message, if one appears.
- A screenshot showing the entire browser window.
- Your speed-test results.
- Confirmation that you attempted the upload in a Chrome Incognito Window.
This information will help the support team investigate the problem and get you back to uploading.