Verifying your account with a phone number lifts the 15-minute cap. Very high-bitrate 4K files can hit 256 GB before 12 hours, so export with a normal delivery codec like H.264 or HEVC.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a YouTube video be?
15 minutes on an unverified account, and up to 12 hours or 256 GB once you verify with a phone number.
What is the YouTube thumbnail file size limit?
2 MB when you upload from a phone, 50 MB from a computer.