If you try to open a video in Google Drive and see the message “Video is still processing…” for far longer than it should take, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common problems users face when uploading large videos to Drive. Sometimes the video eventually becomes available, but many times it feels stuck forever. When you rely on Drive for sharing work files, storing recordings, or accessing personal videos across devices, this can be frustrating.

The good news is that this problem is usually easy to fix—if you understand why it happens and the steps that reliably force Google Drive to complete the processing. In this guide, I’ll walk you through why videos get stuck in processing, how long processing should take, and the most effective ways to fix the issue on any device. I’ll also share preventive tips so you don’t run into the problem again.

What “Video Is Still Processing” Actually Means

Whenever you upload a video to Drive, Google automatically converts it into a format that can play smoothly on the web, Android, iPhone, or any computer. This conversion is known as processing.

During this step, Drive creates multiple versions of your video—different resolutions, compression levels, and formats. This ensures that whether you’re watching on a slow network or a large display, Google Drive can serve the best version.

Processing normally takes a few minutes for small files and up to several hours for large, high-resolution videos. But when it gets stuck, it usually means:

• The upload didn’t complete properly
• The server failed to transcode the video
• The video file is too large or unsupported
• Your device lost connection during upload
• Your Google account storage is full

Understanding the cause helps you pick the right fix.

How Long Should Google Drive Take to Process a Video?

Here’s a rough idea of normal processing times:

If your video has been “processing” for more than 12 hours, something is wrong. That’s when you should use the troubleshooting steps below.

How to Fix “Google Drive Video Is Still Processing”

Let’s walk through the most reliable fixes, from simplest to more advanced solutions.

1. Refresh the Page or Restart the App

It sounds basic, but often the Google Drive app or web interface doesn’t update in real time.

Try:

• Refreshing the browser
• Closing and reopening the Google Drive app
• If using Android/iPhone, force-close the app

Sometimes the video has actually finished processing but isn’t showing the updated status. A quick refresh fixes it.

2. Check If the Upload Fully Completed

Many users think their file uploaded completely when it actually didn’t. If your internet dropped even briefly, the upload can finish “incompletely,” which leads to endless processing.

Check file size:

• Right-click the video in Drive
• Select “View details”
• Compare the file size with the original video on your device

If it’s smaller, the upload failed.
Solution: Upload the file again.

3. Download the Video and Re-Upload It

If the uploaded file is corrupted:

1. Download the video from Drive
2. Play it locally to confirm it works
3. Upload it again
4. Wait for processing to complete

This is one of the most reliable fixes for videos stuck in processing.

4. Check Your Google Storage Space

If your Google account is nearly full, Drive can’t properly process the file.

Steps:

1. Go to your Google Account Storage page
2. Check if storage is below 10%
3. Delete unnecessary files, large photos, emails, or videos
4. Try re-uploading the video

Even if a file uploads, processing may fail when storage is too low.

5. Try Uploading From a Different Browser

Google Drive sometimes fails on certain browsers due to cache issues or extensions blocking the process.

If you uploaded on:

• Chrome → try Edge or Firefox
• Safari → try Chrome
• Mobile browser → use the Google Drive app

Switching browsers often bypasses the glitch.

6. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

Drive stores cached data to speed up access, but this can cause video playback errors.

To clear cache (Chrome example):

1. Open Chrome Settings
2. Go to Privacy and Security
3. Click Clear browsing data
4. Select Cached images and files
5. Restart the browser

Then try re-uploading or re-opening the video.

7. Upload the Video in a Smaller Size

Large files—especially 4K, 60fps, HDR, or long video recordings—take significantly longer to process.

If possible, compress your video:

• Use HandBrake
• Use VLC Media Player
• Use a video compression app on Android/iOS
• Export a lower-resolution version if you’re editing

Try to upload a version that’s:

• 1080p
• 30 fps
• Under ~2 GB

Google Drive processes these fastest.

8. Convert the Video Format Before Uploading

Google Drive works best with:

• MP4 (H.264 + AAC)
• MOV
• WebM

It struggles with:

• MKV
• AVI
• MXF
• WMV
• HEVC/H.265 (sometimes)

If your video is one of the problematic formats, convert it before uploading.

Use any converter app or online tool to convert your video to MP4, then upload again.

9. Try Uploading from Another Device

Sometimes the upload fails due to hardware or network limitations on your computer or phone.

Try uploading from:

• A different phone
• A different laptop
• A tablet
• Another Wi-Fi network

If it processes correctly, the issue was device-specific.

10. Share the Video Without Waiting for Processing

If your goal is simply to share the file with someone, you can skip processing entirely.

Follow this:

1. Right-click the file
2. Select Share
3. Copy the sharing link
4. Send it to the person

They will be able to download the file—even if Google Drive can’t play it online yet.

11. Check for Copyright Content Issues

Drive sometimes blocks processing if:

• The video includes copyrighted music
• It is a commercial movie or TV clip
• It’s a Netflix, Disney+, or Amazon Prime screen recording

If Google detects DRM-protected content, it will allow you to store the file but will not allow online playback.

There is no fix, except removing copyrighted content or keeping the file for storage only.

12. Open the Video in Incognito Mode

Incognito mode disables all extensions and cached data, which sometimes interferes with video playback.

If the video loads normally here, you’ll know the problem is your browser, not the file.

13. Check Internet Speed and Stability

A slow network might upload the video partially, leading to an incomplete file that cannot finish processing.

Test your internet:

• Upload speed should be at least 5 Mbps for normal videos
• At least 20 Mbps for large 4K files

If your upload speed fluctuates, your file may get corrupted mid-upload.

14. Upload the File in Smaller Parts (For Very Large Videos)

If your video is extremely large (10 GB+), try splitting it:

• Use a video editor
• Export in two parts
• Upload them separately

Google Drive sometimes fails when processing extremely long, high-resolution videos.

15. Use Google Backup and Sync / Drive for Desktop

Drive for Desktop handles large uploads better than the browser.

Steps:

1. Install Drive for Desktop
2. Sync a folder on your computer
3. Move your video to that folder
4. It uploads in the background
5. Google Drive processes the file more reliably

This avoids browser-related upload errors entirely.

Prevention: How to Stop the Issue From Happening Again

Here are the best long-term habits to avoid stuck processing:

1. Always upload videos in MP4 format

This is the most compatible and fastest to process.

2. Avoid uploading videos with DRM-protected content

Drive will refuse to process these.

3. Keep at least 2–5 GB of free Google storage

Low storage often blocks processing.

4. Use a stable internet connection

Interrupted uploads result in corrupted files.

5. Avoid uploading extremely large videos

Split or compress them first.

6. Prefer uploading from a desktop app instead of a browser

More reliable for long videos.

When to Contact Google Support

If none of the above solutions work, and your video:

• Has been stuck for 24+ hours
• Is a common format like MP4
• Is within your storage limits
• Plays fine on your device

Then there may be a temporary server-side issue.

In rare cases, Google Support may be able to refresh the video on their end or explain why the file is failing.

Final Thoughts

The “Google Drive Video Is Still Processing” problem is annoying, but most of the time the fix is simple. Whether it’s a corrupted upload, incompatible video format, slow network, or low storage, following the steps above usually solves it quickly.

If you frequently upload large videos, make sure you use MP4 format, stable internet, and Drive for Desktop for best results. With a few preventive habits, you can avoid this issue completely and make your Google Drive experience much smoother.