Note
The Request video feature is available on all Wistia plans. If your account has reached its media limit, you'll be prompted to upgrade before you can create a new request, and existing request links will stop accepting submissions.
Getting started
Note
In addition to Account Owners and Managers, Limited and Standard users with "Can manage" permission for a folder can create video requests.
To start a new video request, click "Create" at the top of the page from anywhere in your account. Alternatively, click "Upload" from the Home page or "Add" from the Content Library. Select "Request video" from the dropdown menu.
In the Request video modal, add a link name, instructions (written, recorded, or choose a video), and a new or existing folder to which completed videos will be uploaded.
Note
The link name will be visible only to your team in Wistia and not to anonymous recipients. Recipients will be able to see the request instructions you’ve entered.
Click "Generate link" to copy the shareable URL or invite an existing user via username or email.
Tip
You can share a single request link with as many people as you like; you don't need to create a new one for each recipient. Create separate links only when you want different instructions or a different destination folder.
If you want each contributor's videos in their own folder, create a separate request link for each person and choose a different destination folder for each. Submissions go into the folder assigned to the link they used.
Link expiration
Toggle the "Expiration" option to ON to select a date and time after which the invitation link will no longer be accessible.
Advanced settings
In the request video modal, click "Advanced settings" to access further customizations:
Submission limit: Enter a number to specify the maximum number of files that can be added to the request.
Submission notifications: Toggle email notifications for file submissions on or off.
Maximum recording length: Optionally set a maximum recording length in minutes. If you leave this blank, recipients can record without a time limit.
Invited by: Enter the name of the inviter.
Disclaimer: Add an optional disclaimer message for participants.
Allow note with uploads: Allow recipients to include a note with their submission. The note will appear in the Submission notification.
Manage video requests
Account Owners and Managers can access all video requests from the Video Requests tab in account settings.
In this tab, you can start a new video request and edit, copy, share, deactivate, reactivate, or delete existing links. Deleted links can't be reactivated. To pause a link without losing it, deactivate it instead.
Use the "Filter" button to filter video requests to display only your links and/or active links.
Why a request link stops working
A request link becomes inactive, and recipients see a message that it's no longer available, when:
Its expiration date has passed
It has reached its submission limit
Its destination folder was deleted
Your account has reached its media or storage limit
When a link reaches its submission limit or its folder is deleted, we'll email the link's creator. To start accepting submissions again, fix the cause (for example, extend the expiration date, raise the submission limit, or free up media space), then click "Reactivate" from the Video Requests tab in account settings.
Submit video requests
Invited users and guests will see the inviter’s name, instructions, and options to upload a file from their device or create a new recording.
Upload a requested video
Note
Only video and audio files can be uploaded to a Request video link.
To upload a requested video or audio file, click "Choose files" or drag and drop files from your desktop. Then, enter your name and, if applicable, choose more files or leave a note. To remove an upload, click the "X" next to the file name.
When you're ready, click "Upload" to submit your file(s). After the media has been sent, we'll display a confirmation screen.
Record a requested video
When creating a recording for a video request, you’ll be redirected to the New recording page, where you can set up your camera, microphone, and screen preferences. You may also see an optional note section, and a recording duration limit may apply, depending on the inviter's settings.
Note
Recording through a request link works only in desktop browsers. Recipients on a phone or tablet can still submit by uploading a video file from their device with "Choose files."
When you click "Record," a countdown will start, and the recording will begin.
You can access the teleprompter, pause the recording, or end the recording at any time. While paused, you can open the clip manager or settings menu.
In the clip manager, you can preview, rename, and delete clips.
In the settings menu, you can adjust your video, audio, and screen settings.
When you’re finished recording, click "End," then "Submit" to share your recording with the requester. We'll display a message confirming that your message has been sent.
Upload troubleshooting
If a submission gets stuck uploading or you see a network error, have the recipient check their connection and retry, ideally on a wired network or a different browser. Recordings are saved to your folder only after the recipient clicks "Submit"—closing the tab before submitting will lose the clip.
If a submission still doesn't appear after a successful upload confirmation, contact Wistia Support with the recipient's request link so we can take a look.