Are you a cinematographer, a Vlogger, or do you document your creative process through video? You can share videos directly with your patrons as Video posts as a benefit.
Feel free to click ahead if you know what you’re looking for! In this article we’ll go through:
Uploading a video using a URL or Vimeo Integration
Can I upload videos directly from my device?
Patreon does not host video content directly on our site, so you'll want to upload your video to a hosting site before posting it on Patreon. Many creators use YouTube, or Vimeo as their third party video hosting sites.
Uploading a video using a URL
You can upload a video link to a Video Post, and it will appear as the main body of your post in a player box. Here's how:
- Log in and click New under your Post section.
- Choose the new Video post option.
- Add your URL in to the link field, and you'll see a preview of your video appear.
- Don't forget to add your Title, and short summary of what you're posting before publishing.
Note: We use embed.ly for all embedded Video Posts. You can test your URL, here to ensure that your video will post properly. Add your URL into the field, and click the arrow to the right. If you see an error in the “type” field, your URL will not post, and you’ll want double check your link.
Uploading a video using Vimeo
You can set up the Vimeo integration that's available on Pro and Premium Plans on Patreon.
If you'd like to start sharing secure videos, select Vimeo and then follow the steps in this Help Center article:
Share private videos with Vimeo
What should my privacy settings be on my videos?
Ultimately, only you can decide what level of security you want for your videos. With that said, there are some basic settings that we recommend on YouTube, and Vimeo to ensure that your videos will play on.
YouTube
If you're using YouTube as your 3rd party hosting site, there are a few settings you can enable to ensure that patrons can view your videos on desktop, and on the Patreon app. With YouTube, we recommend publishing your video as
Unlisted. Additionally, there are a couple of
YouTube default Advanced settings that you'll want to keep as-is.
- Keep the License and rights ownership field on the default Standard YouTube License. If you change this, your videos will not play on Desktop or on the app for patrons.
- In the Distribution options setting be sure to leave Allow embedding checked.
As quick tool, your YouTube video advanced settings should look like this:
Note: If you're seeing that your video is "Unavailable" on the app in particular, you'll want to double check your licensing on YouTube. YouTube may add additional copyright licensing to a video that uses music from different artists. This license prevents embedded players within apps from playing these videos outside of their own app, or website. You can learn more about music in videos hosted by YouTube,
here.
Vimeo
With Vimeo, the privacy settings are already configured and only patrons who can access that particular post can see the video. These settings can always be changed within Vimeo.
Here's how to get started with Vimeo:
Share private videos with Vimeo
Attaching a video file to a Post
You can attach a video file to any Post type directly from your device.
This won’t appear as a video player in the main body of your post, but it will appear as a link at the bottom of your post. Patrons can then click on the link to download your video file. To attach your video file, click the Upload option near the bottom of the Post creator/editor.
What file types can I attach to Video Posts?
Your video file must be 200 MB, or less, and in one of the following file formats: .mov, .gif, .mp4, .m4a, .mpeg, .ogg, and .gif
You’ll know that your file is attached when the upload arrow is gone and you see your file listed at the bottom of the post.
How do I make a Post for certain patrons only?
Note: If you’ve indicate that you create Adult Content, your Posts will default to Patrons Only. If you did not indicate that your create Adult Content, your Posts will default to Public.
Creators on our Pro, and Premium platform plans, can publish posts for Select Tiers. To do this use the drop-down under Who can see this post? on the right-hand side of the screen. The content of your Post will only be accessed by patrons within the Tiers you've selected.
Note: If you’re a per creation creator, you cannot simultaneously charge patrons and make a Post only for certain patrons. You can find more information about how Posts work a little differently for you, here. 
