The maximum length for a YouTube video uploaded by a non-verified account is 15 minutes. YouTube applies this default upload limit until the account completes the required verification process.
The restriction is separate from the much larger limits available to verified accounts. After verification, eligible creators can upload videos longer than 15 minutes, subject to YouTube's current file-size and duration rules. YouTube's help documentation states that the general maximum is 256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less, although other restrictions can still apply.
Verification typically uses a phone number and confirms that the account can access features requiring additional trust. It does not mean that every long video will be accepted automatically: copyright claims, Community Guidelines strikes, processing problems, or other account restrictions can affect uploading. A creator who was previously able to upload long videos may therefore lose that ability temporarily.
The 15-minute figure is often confused with older YouTube limits or with the maximum duration for particular features such as Shorts. It specifically describes the default upload cap for an unverified account. Once verification is completed, the account may upload longer videos, but the platform's broader technical and policy limits remain in force.