In this article, you’ll learn how to post a video on YouTube using SocialBee.

Can you schedule YouTube videos on YouTube?

Yes, you can upload videos and schedule them directly in the YouTube Studio dashboard by keeping it private and choosing a future date and time for it to go public. This works well if YouTube is the only place you publish.

If you’re managing multiple YouTube channels as well as other platforms, SocialBee is a simpler alternative to the YouTube app. It lets you plan YouTube videos next to your other posts in one content calendar and schedule them in advance without switching tools. 

You can also rely on posting time suggestions based on how your own videos have performed in the past, which makes it easier to keep a steady publishing schedule without guessing.

How long can regular YouTube videos be?

Regular YouTube videos can be up to 12 hours long or 256 GB in file size, whichever comes first. These limits apply to standard long-form videos, not Shorts.

For videos scheduled through SocialBee, the requirements are more specific. You can upload one video per post, with a maximum file size of 512 MB, and no length restriction. SocialBee supports direct posting to YouTube, so once your new video is scheduled, it’s published automatically at the selected time without any manual steps.

SocialBee requirements for YouTube videos

YouTube dimensions and aspect ratio for regular videos

Regular YouTube videos are designed for horizontal viewing. When you upload a video, the recommended aspect ratio is 16:9, which fills the player correctly on desktop, mobile, and TV.

For best results, export your videos using these settings:

• 1920 × 1080 pixels (1080p) for standard HD uploads
• 3840 × 2160 pixels (4K) if you’re uploading high-resolution content
• 16:9 aspect ratio to avoid black bars or cropping

YouTube supports other aspect ratios as well, such as square or vertical, but those formats are typically better suited for Shorts. For regular videos, sticking to 16:9 ensures your content displays as intended across all devices.

Note: SocialBee automatically detects whether videos should be published as regular full-length videos or YouTube Shorts based on their format. Vertical or square YouTube posts (9:16 or 1:1) up to three minutes long are published as Shorts. If you upload longer videos, they will be shared as regular videos   

Requirements to Schedule YouTube Videos

Before you can schedule YouTube videos with SocialBee, there are a few basic requirements to meet. Once these are in place, you can publish both regular videos and Shorts directly to YouTube.

• You need to connect your YouTube account to SocialBee and grant publishing permissions. This is a one-time setup.
• Each scheduled post can include a single video file. 
• Videos must be 512 MB or smaller.
• The video must meet YouTube’s standard upload requirements.

SocialBee publishes videos automatically at the scheduled time. No reminders or manual uploads are required.

Are there any restrictions on the type of content that can be scheduled on YouTube?

What are some common mistakes to avoid when scheduling YouTube videos?

Before scheduling, connect your YouTube channel to SocialBee

Before you can upload videos to YouTube with SocialBee, you need to connect your YouTube channel. This is a one-time setup and only takes a few minutes.

To connect your YouTube channel to SocialBee, follow these steps:

1. Go to the SocialBee dashboard here, scroll to the "Connect a new account" section, and click on "+ Channel" under YouTube.

2. You will be prompted to select your Google account associated with your YouTube, and then to authorize SocialBee to post for you.
3. Once you've connected your account, you'll be able to see it in the SocialBee dashboard.

How to schedule a YouTube video

1. Click “Create post” at the top of your SocialBee dashboard.

2. Select your YouTube channel from the left-hand menu.

3. Click “Proceed” to enable YouTube-specific publishing options.
4. Choose the video’s privacy setting: Public, Private, or Unlisted.

5. Write your video title and description manually, or use SocialBee’s AI as a starting point. Take some time to add video chapters (by typing timestamps directly into your description), include keywords for SEO, CTAs, links, and more.

6. Add hashtags using the wand + # icon for suggestions, or insert hashtags from your saved collections.

7. Format your caption using bold or italic text, and add emojis where they help highlight key points.

8. Upload your video by clicking the photo icon. SocialBee automatically detects whether the upload is a regular YouTube video or a Short based on its format. Horizontal videos are published as regular videos, while vertical or square videos (9:16 or 1:1) up to three minutes long are published as Shorts.

9. Click on the thumbnail icon from the lower right side of your video preview to select a frame or upload a custom image as a thumbnail. This will help you control how your video will look like on YouTube’s watch page. To upload a custom thumbnail on YouTube, your channel must be verified with a phone number. Here's how to verify your account.

10. (Optional) Click “1st comment” to schedule a pinned comment.

11. Assign the post to a post category (folder) to keep your YouTube content organized and maintain a consistent schedule.
12. Choose when to publish:
    1. Post now to publish immediately
    2. Post at a specific time to schedule the video in advance. SocialBee may suggest posting times based on your past performance.
13. (Optional) Enable additional controls:
    1. Re-queue after posting to reshare the video later.
    2. Expire post to automatically remove it after a specific date.

14. Review the real-time preview on the right side of the editor.
15. Toggle “This is approved”, then click “Create post.”

SocialBee is not just a YouTube scheduler. You can plan content on other social media platforms as well, collaborate with your team, engage with your audience, analyze performance, and use AI to support both strategy planning and content creation.

Other available features for YouTube posting

Looking to manage your YouTube comments from SocialBee? Check out our dedicated article 📝 here.

Frequently asked questions

Can you also schedule YouTube Shorts with SocialBee?

Yes, SocialBee supports scheduling YouTube Shorts as well as regular YouTube videos.

When you upload a vertical or square video that’s up to three minutes long, SocialBee automatically publishes it as a YouTube Short. There’s no separate setting to toggle. The format and length determine how the video is shared on YouTube.

This means you can plan Shorts and long-form videos in the same calendar, schedule them in advance, and publish them automatically without switching between tools. Shorts follow the same direct posting rules as regular videos, so once they’re scheduled, SocialBee takes care of publishing them at the right time.

Will scheduling a YouTube video affect its visibility or performance?

Scheduling a YouTube video does not reduce its visibility or hurt performance on its own. A scheduled video is treated the same as a video published manually at the moment it goes public.

What matters most is what happens right after the video is published. Early signals like how long people watch, whether they keep watching other videos, and how quickly viewers interact with the video influence how widely YouTube recommends it.

Scheduling can actually help performance because it makes it easier to publish consistently and at times when your audience is already active. Instead of rushing to upload at the last minute, you can plan ahead and let the video go live when it has the best chance of getting early traction.

Are there any restrictions on the type of content that can be scheduled on YouTube?

Yes. Scheduling doesn’t bypass YouTube’s content rules. Any video you schedule still has to follow YouTube’s Community Guidelines, copyright rules, and monetization policies, just like a video published manually.

There are also a few scheduling-specific limitations to keep in mind:

• Community Guidelines strikes: If your channel has an active strike, scheduled videos may not publish during the penalty period. The video stays private until you manually reschedule it.
• Copyright claims: Videos with copyright issues can be blocked, muted, or limited after upload, even if they were scheduled in advance.
• Age-restricted or sensitive content: Videos that require age restrictions or manual review may face delays or limited distribution.

When you upload YouTube videos through SocialBee (or any other video scheduling tool), the same restrictions apply.

Can you schedule YouTube videos from a mobile device? 

Yes, YouTube lets you schedule videos using the YouTube Studio app or the YouTube mobile app. During upload, you can keep the video private and choose a future date and time for it to go public. This works for regular YouTube videos and is useful when you’re managing uploads from your phone.