Why Cant I Upload Photos to Facebook
Published on 24.05.2023 by Mia
You just tried to upload a photo to Facebook, but instead of the usual upload dialog box, you got an error message. It's frustrating when something seemingly so easy suddenly stops working! We've all been there— stuck with an issue that we can't quite figure out. If you can't upload photos to Facebook, don't worry—you're not alone. It's a surprisingly common issue and there are a few potential causes for why it may be happening. In this article, we'll look at the reasons you may be unable to upload photos or videos to Facebook—as well as how to go about fixing them if they do arise.
Common Causes of Photo Upload Failures
Have you ever tried to upload photos to Facebook, only to be met with an error message? Don't worry—you're certainly not alone. There are many common causes that can prevent you from successfully uploading photos to Facebook, but the good news is that they're usually easy to fix. First, make sure the file size is correct—Facebook's limit is 15MB per image, so if your photo is larger than this, it won't work. Similarly, ensure that the file type is supported and that the image dimensions are within acceptable ranges; otherwise, it won't be accepted by the platform.
Next, check your internet connection and see if it's stable enough for you to upload your photos without interruption. If you're connected via Wi-Fi or a mobile network, try switching between them and see if this helps with your uploads. If all else fails, try rebooting your device—this may help fix any software errors on your end and can solve Facebook photo uploading issues quickly!
Are the Photo Files Too Large?
The second thing to check for when you're having trouble uploading photos to Facebook is the size of your files. Most photo formats take up a lot of space—a single photo can easily be almost 10MB in size. That's why it's important to make sure any photos you try to upload are under the limit of 2048KB (2MB) per photo.
- If the size of your photos is too large, you can use one of the many free online photo editing and resizing tools available. These services will help you reduce the file size without sacrificing image quality—you'll be able to take large photos and shrink them down enough to fit within Facebook's limit.
- If you're trying to upload multiple images at once, some sites have additional tools that allow you to batch resize multiple photos all at once. This saves time and makes it much easier for you to get your photos onto Facebook without hitting the limit.
So, if size is an issue, don't worry: there are plenty of free solutions out there that can help.
The Image File Type May Not Be Supported
Have you ever tried uploading a photo to Facebook and gotten an error message? It's a common issue, and one of the reasons you can't upload photos to Facebook is because the file type isn't supported. Facebook only supports certain, specific file types and if the file type isn’t supported, the photo won’t upload. Here are some of the supported image file types:
- JPG or JPEG images
- PNG images
- GIF images (including animated GIFs)
- BMP images
For reference, there are plenty of other file types that aren't supported by Facebook, such as TIFF or TIF files. Trying to upload a non-supported file type will result in Facebook displaying an error message. If this happens, double-check that your image is saved as one of the accepted formats above before attempting to re-upload it.
Checking Your Connection Speed
Having trouble uploading pictures to Facebook? One of the biggest things you can look at is your connection speed. Whether you're using mobile data or Wi-Fi, slow connections can be a real issue when it comes to uploading photos and videos.
Wi-Fi
If you're using a Wi-Fi connection, make sure it's a reliable one by testing your internet speed. If the connection is slow, then this could be the reason why your photos aren't uploading. You could also try connecting to another network if available.
Mobile data
If you're trying to upload your photo via mobile data, make sure that you have enough cellular data left in your plan (check with your carrier if you’re not sure). What's more, some networks are slower than others, meaning they may not be able to handle larger files as effectively as networks with higher speeds. To check that your connection is working properly, try uploading a small file such as a text document—it should be quick and easy! If it works, then there may have been an issue with the file size of the pictures or videos that you were trying to upload.
Are Your Photos Protected by Copyright?

Have you ever heard of copyright? It's when a person owns the rights to something, like a photo that you took, so you have the power to control where it goes and how it's used. But when you upload it to Facebook, who owns the rights to your photo? The good news is that Facebook can help protect your photos from copyright infringements. The platform uses automated tools to detect any copyrighted content, so if it looks like a photo might be in violation of another party's copyright, then they might prevent it from being uploaded or shared.
However, if you're the original creator of the photo then you can go ahead and upload or share it. Keep in mind though that once it's been uploaded, Facebook doesn't have control over how other people use your copyrighted photos—so even though your photos are protected on Facebook, they won't necessarily be safe elsewhere. It's always a good idea to check with the other party before using their content just to make sure nothing's out of whack!
Is Your Camera Compatible With Facebook?
Another thing to consider is whether your camera is compatible with Facebook. While mobile devices usually have no problems uploading photos to Facebook, if you're using a camera, like a DSLR, you'll need to make sure it's compatible.
File Types
The first thing to check is what type of file types your camera supports, and which ones Facebook will accept. Most modern cameras will allow you to upload RAW image files, but Facebook only accepts JPEGs or PNGs. If your camera allows you to save photos in these formats, you should be good to go.
Camera Connection Types
Another thing to check is the connection type for your camera. Most modern cameras use USB ports for connecting, but older cameras may use other connections like Serial or Parallel ports. You'll need the proper cable for connecting your camera to your computer and then from there, you can upload the photos directly onto Facebook.
If you're still having trouble uploading photos from your camera onto Facebook, don't worry—you have other options too! You can use third-party tools to upload and store your photos before sharing them on social media sites like Facebook.
Ways to Share Photos on Facebook Without Uploading
Another thing you might not know is that there are actually several ways to share photos on Facebook without uploading them. Here are a few different methods you could use:
- Share from Other Social Media Platforms: Facebook makes it easy to copy images and links you've posted on other social media platforms and post them on your Facebook wall. All you have to do is copy the link, head to your Facebook profile, paste the link in the status update box then hit "Share". When you do that, you'll see your photo on your wall or timeline!
- Post from Your Computer: It's also possible to post pictures from your computer directly onto your Facebook wall. All you need to do is open up the status update box and click the "Photo/Video" icon right beneath it — then just select the file you want and click "Open". Easy!
- Use a Third-Party App: Lastly, if you don't want to bother with uploading photos directly onto Facebook, you could use an external application like Flickr or Dropbox — they sync up with all the major social networks so all of your photos will be in one convenient location. Just use their sharing settings to connect with Facebook and share away!
Common Error Messages When Uploading Photos to Facebook

Have you ever tried to upload a photo to Facebook, only to get an error message? You're definitely not alone. The most common error messages when you're uploading photos to Facebook are:
- "Error Occurred While Processing Request": This typically means that there's been a problem with the server that you’re using, either because of a poor connection or because the server might be down.
- "Image File Is Too Big": Your image file could simply be too large to upload. Make sure that your image file is under 20MB before attempting to upload it again and you should be good to go!
- "We Can't Read This File": If this message appears, it usually means the format of your file isn't compatible—check that the format of your file is JPEG or PNG, and if it’s not, convert it and try again.
- "Could Not Upload Photo/Video": If you see this message, check your Internet connection and make sure it’s stable before trying again—you may also want to restart your device in case that helps!
Luckily, most of the time these errors are easy to fix so you can get back on Facebook in no time!
FAQs
You're not alone if you're having issues uploading photos to Facebook. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about this issue:
What types of file formats can I use for my photo upload?
Facebook accepts a wide variety of image formats, such as .jpg, .png, .gif and .bmp. It's best to check that your picture file is saved in one of these formats before you upload.
What is the maximum file size allowed?
The maximum size you can upload is fifteen megabytes (MB) per photo. Any photos higher than fifteen MB won't be able to be uploaded on Facebook.
What if I get an error when trying to upload a photo?
If you receive an error message when uploading a photo, it’s likely that either the file format or resolution isn’t supported by Facebook. To try and fix this issue, make sure your photo is in one of the accepted formats and resolutions listed above. If your image still won't upload, try compressing it with a free image compressor.
Conclusion
In the end, it's important to remember that there are a variety of reasons why you may have trouble uploading photos to Facebook. It could be as simple as an outdated version of the app or a problem with your internet connection. If you can't get it to work, there are a number of things you can do to troubleshoot the issue. First and foremost, make sure you're using the latest version of the app. If that doesn't work, try uploading the photos from a different device to see if you experience the same issue. Finally, if all else fails, it's best to reach out to Facebook's customer support for assistance. It's possible that the issue is something that only they can help fix. Don't be afraid to contact them—after all, they're there to help.