Guides

Post Reels via API to Instagram and TikTok

Reels are short-form vertical videos. OmniSocials supports reels on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube (as Shorts), and TikTok. Telegram and Discord have no reels: to share a video there, use type: "post". A reel that names telegram or discord is still accepted, and they get the video as a normal post with the reel text. A single POST /posts/create call with type: "reel" can fan out a reel to all four platforms at once.

Supported channels

Channel ID	Platform	Format	Max duration
`instagram`	Instagram Reels	Vertical 9:16	15 minutes
`facebook`	Facebook Reels	Vertical 9:16	240 minutes
`youtube`	YouTube Shorts	Vertical 9:16	3 minutes
`tiktok`	TikTok	Vertical 9:16 or 16:9	10 minutes

Calling with type: "reel" and a channel that does not support reels (LinkedIn, X, Pinterest, etc.) returns 400.

Minimal example

Terminal
curl -X POST https://api.omnisocials.com/v1/posts/create \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $OMNISOCIALS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "type": "reel",
    "content": { "default": "New drop 🔥" },
    "accounts": ["your-instagram-account-id"],
    "media_urls": ["https://example.com/reel.mp4"]
  }'

Reels always require a single video file. Image-only or multi-video reel requests return 400.

Cross-posting a reel across all four platforms

Include every channel ID in accounts and use per-platform options for each platform's specific requirements.


JSON
{
  "type": "reel",
  "content": {
    "default": "Behind the scenes from today's shoot",
    "tiktok": "POV: behind the scenes 🎬",
    "youtube": "How we filmed today's shoot #shorts"
  },
  "accounts": [
    "your-instagram-account-id",
    "your-facebook-page-account-id",
    "your-youtube-account-id",
    "your-tiktok-account-id"
  ],
  "media_urls": ["https://example.com/vertical-video.mp4"],
  "instagram": {
    "share_to_feed": true,
    "thumbnail_type": "from-video",
    "thumb_offset": 3000
  },
  "youtube": {
    "title": "Behind the scenes",
    "privacy_status": "public",
    "notify_subscribers": true
  },
  "tiktok": {
    "privacy_level": "PUBLIC_TO_EVERYONE",
    "disable_duet": false,
    "disable_stitch": false
  }
}

Every platform-specific key only applies to its own channel. Instagram ignores the youtube and tiktok blocks. YouTube ignores the instagram and tiktok blocks. And so on.

Platform-specific options

Each reel-capable platform has its own set of options. Pass them under the matching channel ID key.

Instagram reel options

Field	Type	Description
`instagram.share_to_feed`	boolean	Also show the reel on the profile feed grid
`instagram.thumbnail_type`	string	`from-video` or `from-library`
`instagram.thumb_offset`	number	Timestamp in milliseconds, used when `thumbnail_type` is `from-video`
`instagram.cover_url`	string	URL of a custom cover image, used when `thumbnail_type` is `from-library`
`instagram.audio_id`	string	Licensed music track to attach, from `GET /audio/search`
`instagram.audio_volume`	integer	Music volume 0–100 (default 100). Only used with `audio_id`.
`instagram.video_volume`	integer	Volume of the video's own audio 0–100 (default 100). Set `0` for a music-only reel.
`instagram.is_trial_reel`	boolean	Publish as a Trial Reel: shown to non-followers first to test performance. Not available on every account.
`instagram.trial_graduation_strategy`	string	`MANUAL` (default) or `SS_PERFORMANCE`. How a Trial Reel graduates to all followers. Only used with `is_trial_reel`.

Instagram Trial Reels

A Trial Reel is shown to non-followers first so you can test how content performs before (optionally) sharing it with your followers. Set instagram.is_trial_reel: true on a reel to publish it as a trial:


JSON
{
  "type": "reel",
  "content": { "default": "Testing a new format 👀" },
  "accounts": ["your-instagram-account-id"],
  "media_urls": ["https://example.com/reel.mp4"],
  "instagram": {
    "is_trial_reel": true,
    "trial_graduation_strategy": "SS_PERFORMANCE"
  }
}

trial_graduation_strategy controls how the trial graduates to all your followers:

MANUAL (default): you decide when (or whether) to share it with followers, from the Instagram app.
SS_PERFORMANCE: Instagram automatically shares it with your followers if it performs well.

GET /posts/{id} echoes both fields back under instagram, so you can verify a batch of scheduled Trial Reels programmatically.

Eligibility: Trial Reels are not available on every account. Instagram requires roughly 1,000+ followers and enables the feature per account; you can check eligibility by creating a reel in the Instagram app and looking for the "Trial" toggle. Ineligible accounts fail at publish time with a clear per-platform error on the post's errors map.

Instagram reel music

Search Meta's licensed catalog with GET /audio/search?q=... (omit q for currently trending audio; add type=original_sound to search original sounds instead of licensed music). Pass the chosen result's audio_id as instagram.audio_id and mix levels with audio_volume / video_volume:


JSON
{
  "type": "reel",
  "content": { "default": "New drop 🎵" },
  "accounts": ["your-instagram-account-id"],
  "media_urls": ["https://example.com/reel.mp4"],
  "instagram": {
    "audio_id": "587784541076604",
    "audio_volume": 80,
    "video_volume": 0
  }
}

Notes:

Reels only. Meta's API does not support adding music to feed posts, carousels, or Stories; that remains app-only.
Only tracks Meta has licensed for third-party publishing appear in search results, so the selection can differ from the native app.
Requires a Facebook account connected to the workspace whose Facebook Page is linked to the same Instagram account (music publishing runs through Facebook's side of the Instagram API). If it isn't, GET /audio/search returns needsFacebook: true and publishing a reel with audio_id fails with a clear error before anything goes live.

YouTube Shorts options

Field	Type	Description
`youtube.title`	string	Video title, max 100 characters. When omitted: the first line of the caption, else `"YouTube Short"`.
`youtube.tags`	array	Discovery tags. Max 500 characters total.
`youtube.privacy_status`	string	`public`, `private`, or `unlisted`
`youtube.category_id`	string	YouTube category. Defaults to `"22"` (People & Blogs).
`youtube.made_for_kids`	boolean	COPPA disclosure. Disables comments and interactions when true.
`youtube.notify_subscribers`	boolean	Send the subscriber notification when published
`youtube.contains_synthetic_media`	boolean	Disclose AI-generated content

TikTok options

Field	Type	Description
`tiktok.privacy_level`	string	`PUBLIC_TO_EVERYONE` (default), `MUTUAL_FOLLOW_FRIENDS`, `FOLLOWER_OF_CREATOR`, `SELF_ONLY`
`tiktok.disable_comment`	boolean	Disable comments on the reel
`tiktok.disable_duet`	boolean	Disable duets
`tiktok.disable_stitch`	boolean	Disable stitches
`tiktok.video_cover_timestamp_ms`	integer	Timestamp (ms) of the frame to use as the cover
`tiktok.is_aigc`	boolean	Disclose AI-generated content
`tiktok.brand_content_toggle`	boolean	Mark as a paid partnership promoting a third-party brand
`tiktok.brand_organic_toggle`	boolean	Mark as promoting your own business / brand

privacy_level defaults to PUBLIC_TO_EVERYONE. When the creator's account does not allow the chosen level, the video is published as SELF_ONLY (private).

Facebook Reels

Facebook has no specific reel option fields. The default reel body works.

Different video per platform

Sometimes you want a slightly different cut for each platform (e.g. a shorter version for YouTube Shorts where the limit is 3 minutes, and a longer cut for TikTok where the limit is 10 minutes). Use the per-platform media_urls shape:


JSON
{
  "type": "reel",
  "content": { "default": "Full tutorial" },
  "accounts": [
    "your-youtube-account-id",
    "your-tiktok-account-id"
  ],
  "media_urls": {
    "youtube": ["https://example.com/tutorial-60s.mp4"],
    "tiktok": ["https://example.com/tutorial-full.mp4"]
  },
  "youtube": {
    "title": "Quick tutorial #shorts",
    "privacy_status": "public"
  },
  "tiktok": {
    "privacy_level": "PUBLIC_TO_EVERYONE"
  }
}

Media requirements

Platform	Format	Aspect	Duration	File size
Instagram	MP4	9:16	Up to 15 minutes	Up to 300 MB
Facebook	MP4	9:16	Up to 240 minutes	Up to 1 GB
YouTube Shorts	MP4	9:16	Up to 3 minutes	Up to 1 GB (the OmniSocials upload limit)
TikTok	MP4 or MOV	9:16 or 16:9	3 seconds to 10 minutes (the creator's own TikTok limit: 3, 5 or 10 minutes)	Up to 1 GB (the OmniSocials upload limit)

Videos outside these constraints are rejected at publish time. OmniSocials does not transcode, trim, or re-encode.

The safest format for cross-platform reels: MP4, H.264 codec, 1080 × 1920 vertical, under 3 minutes (YouTube Shorts is the tightest), under 300 MB (Instagram is the tightest). That passes every platform's requirements.

Thumbnails and cover images

The simplest way to set a cover is the top-level video_cover object, which works for every platform in one place (see Video covers):


JSON
{
  "type": "reel",
  "content": { "default": "Behind the scenes" },
  "accounts": ["your-instagram-account-id", "your-facebook-page-id", "your-tiktok-account-id"],
  "media_urls": ["https://example.com/reel.mp4"],
  "video_cover": { "type": "custom", "cover_url": "https://example.com/cover.jpg" }
}

Per platform:

Instagram: default is the first frame. video_cover applies, or override with instagram.thumb_offset (pick a video frame) or instagram.cover_url (supply a custom image).
Facebook: default is the first frame. video_cover applies, or use facebook.thumbnail_type with thumb_offset or cover_url. The thumbnail is set after the reel is live; if Facebook refuses it, the reel still publishes with the default frame.
YouTube Shorts: video_cover applies (a custom image or a video frame, sent with thumbnails.set at up to 1080 x 1920), but YouTube shows it on Shorts only on channels where it has enabled custom Shorts thumbnails (rolling out since July 2026, YouTube Partner Program channels first). On other channels YouTube stores the cover but displays a frame from the video on the Shorts tab and in the Shorts feed; there the thumbnail can only be changed by picking a frame in the YouTube app. Channels that are not verified cannot set custom thumbnails at all.
TikTok: frame only. TikTok's API takes a timestamp, not an image, so a custom cover is skipped and the frame from video_cover (or tiktok.video_cover_timestamp_ms) is used. Set video_cover.overrides.tiktok to { "type": "frame", "thumb_offset": 2000 } to pick a different frame for TikTok when the other platforms get an image.

Scheduling reels

Reels are schedulable the same way as feed posts. Add schedule_at (ISO 8601 UTC).


JSON
{
  "type": "reel",
  "content": { "default": "Friday feature" },
  "accounts": [
    "your-instagram-account-id",
    "your-tiktok-account-id"
  ],
  "media_urls": ["https://example.com/reel.mp4"],
  "tiktok": { "privacy_level": "PUBLIC_TO_EVERYONE" },
  "schedule_at": "2026-04-18T14:00:00Z"
}

Limitations

Reels must have exactly one video. Multi-video or image reels are rejected.
type: "reel" is rejected on platforms that do not support reels. Mixing reel-capable and non-reel-capable channels in the same accounts array returns 400.
TikTok branded-content reels (brand_content_toggle: true) go through TikTok's review workflow and may take longer to publish.

Creating Posts for the full field reference
Cross-Posting for the one-request-many-platforms model
Creating Stories for the ephemeral story workflow
Instagram, TikTok, YouTube for full per-platform specs

Last modified on October 23, 2026

Stories Cross-posting

Guides

Post Reels via API to Instagram and TikTok

Supported channels

Channel ID	Platform	Format	Max duration
`instagram`	Instagram Reels	Vertical 9:16	15 minutes
`facebook`	Facebook Reels	Vertical 9:16	240 minutes
`youtube`	YouTube Shorts	Vertical 9:16	3 minutes
`tiktok`	TikTok	Vertical 9:16 or 16:9	10 minutes

Calling with type: "reel" and a channel that does not support reels (LinkedIn, X, Pinterest, etc.) returns 400.

Minimal example

Terminal
curl -X POST https://api.omnisocials.com/v1/posts/create \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $OMNISOCIALS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "type": "reel",
    "content": { "default": "New drop 🔥" },
    "accounts": ["your-instagram-account-id"],
    "media_urls": ["https://example.com/reel.mp4"]
  }'

Reels always require a single video file. Image-only or multi-video reel requests return 400.

Cross-posting a reel across all four platforms

Include every channel ID in accounts and use per-platform options for each platform's specific requirements.


JSON
{
  "type": "reel",
  "content": {
    "default": "Behind the scenes from today's shoot",
    "tiktok": "POV: behind the scenes 🎬",
    "youtube": "How we filmed today's shoot #shorts"
  },
  "accounts": [
    "your-instagram-account-id",
    "your-facebook-page-account-id",
    "your-youtube-account-id",
    "your-tiktok-account-id"
  ],
  "media_urls": ["https://example.com/vertical-video.mp4"],
  "instagram": {
    "share_to_feed": true,
    "thumbnail_type": "from-video",
    "thumb_offset": 3000
  },
  "youtube": {
    "title": "Behind the scenes",
    "privacy_status": "public",
    "notify_subscribers": true
  },
  "tiktok": {
    "privacy_level": "PUBLIC_TO_EVERYONE",
    "disable_duet": false,
    "disable_stitch": false
  }
}

Every platform-specific key only applies to its own channel. Instagram ignores the youtube and tiktok blocks. YouTube ignores the instagram and tiktok blocks. And so on.

Platform-specific options

Each reel-capable platform has its own set of options. Pass them under the matching channel ID key.

Instagram reel options

Field	Type	Description
`instagram.share_to_feed`	boolean	Also show the reel on the profile feed grid
`instagram.thumbnail_type`	string	`from-video` or `from-library`
`instagram.thumb_offset`	number	Timestamp in milliseconds, used when `thumbnail_type` is `from-video`
`instagram.cover_url`	string	URL of a custom cover image, used when `thumbnail_type` is `from-library`
`instagram.audio_id`	string	Licensed music track to attach, from `GET /audio/search`
`instagram.audio_volume`	integer	Music volume 0–100 (default 100). Only used with `audio_id`.
`instagram.video_volume`	integer	Volume of the video's own audio 0–100 (default 100). Set `0` for a music-only reel.
`instagram.is_trial_reel`	boolean	Publish as a Trial Reel: shown to non-followers first to test performance. Not available on every account.
`instagram.trial_graduation_strategy`	string	`MANUAL` (default) or `SS_PERFORMANCE`. How a Trial Reel graduates to all followers. Only used with `is_trial_reel`.

Instagram Trial Reels


JSON
{
  "type": "reel",
  "content": { "default": "Testing a new format 👀" },
  "accounts": ["your-instagram-account-id"],
  "media_urls": ["https://example.com/reel.mp4"],
  "instagram": {
    "is_trial_reel": true,
    "trial_graduation_strategy": "SS_PERFORMANCE"
  }
}

trial_graduation_strategy controls how the trial graduates to all your followers:

MANUAL (default): you decide when (or whether) to share it with followers, from the Instagram app.
SS_PERFORMANCE: Instagram automatically shares it with your followers if it performs well.

GET /posts/{id} echoes both fields back under instagram, so you can verify a batch of scheduled Trial Reels programmatically.

Instagram reel music


JSON
{
  "type": "reel",
  "content": { "default": "New drop 🎵" },
  "accounts": ["your-instagram-account-id"],
  "media_urls": ["https://example.com/reel.mp4"],
  "instagram": {
    "audio_id": "587784541076604",
    "audio_volume": 80,
    "video_volume": 0
  }
}

Notes:

Reels only. Meta's API does not support adding music to feed posts, carousels, or Stories; that remains app-only.
Only tracks Meta has licensed for third-party publishing appear in search results, so the selection can differ from the native app.
Requires a Facebook account connected to the workspace whose Facebook Page is linked to the same Instagram account (music publishing runs through Facebook's side of the Instagram API). If it isn't, GET /audio/search returns needsFacebook: true and publishing a reel with audio_id fails with a clear error before anything goes live.

YouTube Shorts options

Field	Type	Description
`youtube.title`	string	Video title, max 100 characters. When omitted: the first line of the caption, else `"YouTube Short"`.
`youtube.tags`	array	Discovery tags. Max 500 characters total.
`youtube.privacy_status`	string	`public`, `private`, or `unlisted`
`youtube.category_id`	string	YouTube category. Defaults to `"22"` (People & Blogs).
`youtube.made_for_kids`	boolean	COPPA disclosure. Disables comments and interactions when true.
`youtube.notify_subscribers`	boolean	Send the subscriber notification when published
`youtube.contains_synthetic_media`	boolean	Disclose AI-generated content

TikTok options

Field	Type	Description
`tiktok.privacy_level`	string	`PUBLIC_TO_EVERYONE` (default), `MUTUAL_FOLLOW_FRIENDS`, `FOLLOWER_OF_CREATOR`, `SELF_ONLY`
`tiktok.disable_comment`	boolean	Disable comments on the reel
`tiktok.disable_duet`	boolean	Disable duets
`tiktok.disable_stitch`	boolean	Disable stitches
`tiktok.video_cover_timestamp_ms`	integer	Timestamp (ms) of the frame to use as the cover
`tiktok.is_aigc`	boolean	Disclose AI-generated content
`tiktok.brand_content_toggle`	boolean	Mark as a paid partnership promoting a third-party brand
`tiktok.brand_organic_toggle`	boolean	Mark as promoting your own business / brand

privacy_level defaults to PUBLIC_TO_EVERYONE. When the creator's account does not allow the chosen level, the video is published as SELF_ONLY (private).

Facebook Reels

Facebook has no specific reel option fields. The default reel body works.

Different video per platform


JSON
{
  "type": "reel",
  "content": { "default": "Full tutorial" },
  "accounts": [
    "your-youtube-account-id",
    "your-tiktok-account-id"
  ],
  "media_urls": {
    "youtube": ["https://example.com/tutorial-60s.mp4"],
    "tiktok": ["https://example.com/tutorial-full.mp4"]
  },
  "youtube": {
    "title": "Quick tutorial #shorts",
    "privacy_status": "public"
  },
  "tiktok": {
    "privacy_level": "PUBLIC_TO_EVERYONE"
  }
}

Media requirements

Platform	Format	Aspect	Duration	File size
Instagram	MP4	9:16	Up to 15 minutes	Up to 300 MB
Facebook	MP4	9:16	Up to 240 minutes	Up to 1 GB
YouTube Shorts	MP4	9:16	Up to 3 minutes	Up to 1 GB (the OmniSocials upload limit)
TikTok	MP4 or MOV	9:16 or 16:9	3 seconds to 10 minutes (the creator's own TikTok limit: 3, 5 or 10 minutes)	Up to 1 GB (the OmniSocials upload limit)

Videos outside these constraints are rejected at publish time. OmniSocials does not transcode, trim, or re-encode.

Thumbnails and cover images

The simplest way to set a cover is the top-level video_cover object, which works for every platform in one place (see Video covers):


JSON
{
  "type": "reel",
  "content": { "default": "Behind the scenes" },
  "accounts": ["your-instagram-account-id", "your-facebook-page-id", "your-tiktok-account-id"],
  "media_urls": ["https://example.com/reel.mp4"],
  "video_cover": { "type": "custom", "cover_url": "https://example.com/cover.jpg" }
}

Per platform:

Instagram: default is the first frame. video_cover applies, or override with instagram.thumb_offset (pick a video frame) or instagram.cover_url (supply a custom image).
Facebook: default is the first frame. video_cover applies, or use facebook.thumbnail_type with thumb_offset or cover_url. The thumbnail is set after the reel is live; if Facebook refuses it, the reel still publishes with the default frame.
YouTube Shorts: video_cover applies (a custom image or a video frame, sent with thumbnails.set at up to 1080 x 1920), but YouTube shows it on Shorts only on channels where it has enabled custom Shorts thumbnails (rolling out since July 2026, YouTube Partner Program channels first). On other channels YouTube stores the cover but displays a frame from the video on the Shorts tab and in the Shorts feed; there the thumbnail can only be changed by picking a frame in the YouTube app. Channels that are not verified cannot set custom thumbnails at all.
TikTok: frame only. TikTok's API takes a timestamp, not an image, so a custom cover is skipped and the frame from video_cover (or tiktok.video_cover_timestamp_ms) is used. Set video_cover.overrides.tiktok to { "type": "frame", "thumb_offset": 2000 } to pick a different frame for TikTok when the other platforms get an image.

Scheduling reels

Reels are schedulable the same way as feed posts. Add schedule_at (ISO 8601 UTC).


JSON
{
  "type": "reel",
  "content": { "default": "Friday feature" },
  "accounts": [
    "your-instagram-account-id",
    "your-tiktok-account-id"
  ],
  "media_urls": ["https://example.com/reel.mp4"],
  "tiktok": { "privacy_level": "PUBLIC_TO_EVERYONE" },
  "schedule_at": "2026-04-18T14:00:00Z"
}

Limitations

Reels must have exactly one video. Multi-video or image reels are rejected.
type: "reel" is rejected on platforms that do not support reels. Mixing reel-capable and non-reel-capable channels in the same accounts array returns 400.
TikTok branded-content reels (brand_content_toggle: true) go through TikTok's review workflow and may take longer to publish.

Creating Posts for the full field reference
Cross-Posting for the one-request-many-platforms model
Creating Stories for the ephemeral story workflow
Instagram, TikTok, YouTube for full per-platform specs

Last modified on October 23, 2026

Stories Cross-posting

Supported channels

Minimal example

Cross-posting a reel across all four platforms

Platform-specific options

Instagram reel options

Instagram Trial Reels

Instagram reel music

YouTube Shorts options

TikTok options

Facebook Reels

Different video per platform

Media requirements

Thumbnails and cover images

Scheduling reels

Limitations

Related reading

Supported channels

Minimal example

Cross-posting a reel across all four platforms

Platform-specific options

Instagram reel options

Instagram Trial Reels

Instagram reel music

YouTube Shorts options

TikTok options

Facebook Reels

Different video per platform

Media requirements

Thumbnails and cover images

Scheduling reels

Limitations

Related reading