How to stop Instagram and TikTok from making your videos pixelated

Export settings that survive recompression

• Vertical 1080×1920 (9:16) for Reels and TikTok. Uploading smaller then letting the app scale up hurts quality.
• 30 fps is a safe default. Higher frame rates need more bitrate and often get reduced.
• H.264 with AAC audio in an MP4 container.
• Bitrate around 10 to 15 Mbps from your editor. The platform will lower it, but starting high helps.
• Avoid very noisy or grainy footage. Noise is bit-expensive and often turns to blocks after upload.

In-app quality toggles

Instagram has an option in Settings, under data usage and media quality, to upload at the highest quality. TikTok has a similar upload quality or HD setting. Turn these on. They do not make low-quality footage good, but they stop the app from lowering it further.

Upload sharper short videos

1. Export vertical 1080×1920Set the project to 9:16 at 1080×1920 and 30 fps.
2. Clean your source clipsIf clips are noisy or blocky, run them through the fixer before editing.
3. Save to your deviceDo not share straight from the editor into the platform.
4. Turn on high quality uploadUse the highest quality upload option in app settings.