Delivering to the web means making a file that looks good, uploads cleanly, and plays everywhere. For almost all online use that's an MP4 using H.264, H.265 or AV1 - and Lightworks includes presets and social formats that get you there quickly.
Recommended settings
For general online delivery:
- Container: MP4 (the default).
- Codec: H.264 for maximum compatibility, or H.265 for smaller files at the same quality. AV1 - newer, even more efficient than H.265 - is also supported; it's our default choice when uploading to platforms that accept it (YouTube, Vimeo, and most modern browsers)
- Resolution: match your sequence, commonly 1080p; 4K where the platform and your footage support it.
- Frame rate: same as your sequence - don't change it just for upload.
The system export presets already use sensible web settings, so they're often all you need (see Export overview).
H.264, H.265 and AV1 basics
- H.264 (AVC) is the universal choice - it plays on every device and platform and uploads reliably.
- H.265 (HEVC) achieves similar quality at a lower bitrate, so files are smaller, at the cost of slightly less universal support.
- AV1 (AOMedia Video 1) is newer again - roughly 30% smaller than H.265 at the same quality.
When in doubt, choose H.264. Pick H.265 or AV1 when file size matters and you know the destination supports it.
Bitrate choices
Bitrate is the main quality-versus-size control: higher bitrate means better quality and a bigger file. A moderate bitrate is plenty for streaming sites, which re-encode your upload anyway - so deliver a clean, reasonably high-bitrate file and let the platform do the rest. Avoid pushing the bitrate so low that the picture breaks up in motion.
Portrait and social formats
For phones and social platforms you'll often need a square (1:1) or vertical (9:16) frame. The Export panel's web group has formats for YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, TikTok, X, Instagram, and Snapchat, with a standard resolution dropdown - and you can recompose a landscape edit to a vertical shape with the Reframe effect (see Transform, crop, and reframing tools).
Note: Portrait format export and 1080p delivery are available on the Free plan, so vertical social videos are within reach without an upgrade.
Upload-ready files and publishing
You can publish directly to YouTube and Vimeo from Lightworks: choose the format, enable the upload option (Upload to youtube.com / Upload to Vimeo.com), and sign in when prompted. The YouTube upload carries metadata with it - title, description, tags, audience, and a custom thumbnail. For the other platforms - Facebook, TikTok, X, Instagram, Snapchat - export the matching file, then upload it through the platform yourself.
Checking exported files
Before you publish, play the exported file back outside Lightworks:
- Confirm the picture and sound are present and in sync.
- Check the framing is right for the target shape.
- Listen that the audio level is healthy and not distorted.
- Watch a motion-heavy section to confirm the bitrate holds up.
Tip: Always watch your export end to end at least once. It's the only way to catch a render glitch, a sync slip, or a missing track before it goes public.