To upload a video from your gallery, open the TikTok camera (tap the “+” icon) and tap the “Upload” or “Gallery” button located to the right of the Red Record button. Select your video from your phone’s storage and tap “Next” to bring it into the TikTok editor.
While recording directly in the app is popular, many creators prefer importing pre-recorded content. In 2026, TikTok’s interface makes it easy to bring high-quality files from your device’s storage into the platform. This guide focuses strictly on the technical steps to find the upload tool and import your video.
Step-by-Step: Importing a Video from Your Device
Before you begin, ensure the video you wish to share is already saved in your phone’s Photos or Gallery app.
- Open the TikTok Camera: Tap the “+” (Plus) icon at the bottom center of the screen as if you were going to record a video on TikTok.
- Locate the Upload Tool: Look to the right of the large Red Record button. You will see a square icon labeled “Upload” or “Gallery”.
- Grant Permission: If this is your first time, TikTok will ask for permission to access your device’s media. Select “Allow Access”.
- Select Your Video: Your phone’s gallery will open. Tap on the video file you want to import. You can select a single clip or multiple clips at once.
- Move to the Editor: Tap the “Next” button at the bottom-right.
Initial Adjustments (Trimming)
Immediately after selecting your video, TikTok will usually take you to a “Trim” or “Adjust Clips” screen. Here, you can slide the bars at the bottom to shorten the video if it is too long. This is the first technical step before you reach the main creative tools.
Next Steps After Importing
Once your video is imported and trimmed, it will load into the primary TikTok editing screen. From this point, you can follow the same process of editing and posting that you would use for a live recording.
Conclusion
Uploading a video from your gallery is a simple matter of navigating to the “Upload” button next to the record icon. This method allows you to bring externally edited or high-resolution camera footage into the TikTok ecosystem with just a few taps.
TopQLearn Editorial Team
Expert Analysis & Educational Content
