Key takeaways
- Go to Products > select product > Add media > upload a video file or paste a YouTube/Vimeo URL.
- Shopify supports MP4 and MOV files up to 1GB.
- Video appears alongside product images in the gallery carousel.
- YouTube and Vimeo URLs are embedded - the video is hosted externally.
Product videos convert better than images alone for most product categories. They show scale, texture, fit, and function in ways that photos can’t. Adding one to your Shopify product gallery takes about two minutes.
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How to add a video to a Shopify product
Step 1. Go to your Shopify admin > Products.
Step 2. Click the product you want to add a video to.
Step 3. In the Media section, click Add media.
Step 4. Choose one of two options:
- Upload a file - drag and drop an MP4 or MOV file from your computer. Shopify accepts videos up to 1GB.
- Paste a URL - enter a YouTube or Vimeo video URL. Shopify fetches the video from the external platform.
Step 5. The video appears in the media grid alongside your product images. Drag it to position it where you want it in the gallery sequence.
Step 6. Click Save.
When customers view the product page, the video appears as a thumbnail in the image carousel. Clicking it plays the video inline.
Hosted video vs YouTube/Vimeo
There are two ways to add video to Shopify product galleries, each with trade-offs:
Uploaded (hosted) video
- Stored directly on Shopify’s CDN
- Plays inline without YouTube branding or related video suggestions showing
- Best for polished, brand-controlled product demos
- MP4 and MOV supported, up to 1GB
- Recommend keeping files under 50MB for fast load times
YouTube or Vimeo embed
- The video is hosted on the external platform - no storage used on Shopify
- YouTube embeds may show related videos or branding after playback
- Vimeo Pro allows removing branding
- Useful if you already have videos on YouTube and want to keep one source of truth
For most stores, uploaded MP4 is the better option for product demos. Use YouTube/Vimeo if the video is already public on those platforms and you want to reuse it.
Video file recommendations
Format: MP4 (H.264 codec) is the most compatible and best-supported option across all browsers and devices.
Resolution: 1080p is ideal. 4K is unnecessary and creates large files.
File size: Keep under 50MB if possible. Shopify allows up to 1GB, but large files slow down page loads and eat into mobile data. Compress with Handbrake (free) if needed.
Length: Product demos work best at 30-90 seconds. Longer videos see significant drop-off.
No sound required: Many shoppers browse with sound off. Design your video to work with captions or to be self-explanatory visually.
Where video appears on the product page
Video in the product media section appears in the same gallery as your images. Customers scroll through thumbnails and click to play. The exact treatment depends on your theme - most modern Shopify themes (Dawn, Sense, Craft) handle product video well out of the box.
If you want video in a different location on the product page - such as a dedicated video section below the product details, or a video background - that requires adding a section via the Theme Editor or code changes.
3D models in Shopify
Shopify also supports 3D model files (GLB and USDZ formats) in the product media section, which display as an interactive 3D viewer. This is separate from video but follows the same upload process. It’s useful for products where shape and dimension are key selling points.
