Sometimes, it just takes too much effort to replace an embed code in the wild. Instead, use Wistia's Replace media tool!
Overwrite vs. Swap
There are two ways to replace media in Wistia: Overwrite and Swap. Overwriting media is intended for slight editing tweaks (caught that typo too late!) and quick fixes. Media that are overwritten will keep their analytics , so you won’t lose a second of data.
A swap makes it easy to place a completely different media in the wild without changing your embed code. When you swap media, we’ll save the old version in the same folder with its analytics and a new hashed ID — that magical string of numbers and letters at the end of a Wistia URL that keeps everything neatly organized behind the scenes.
(So for this media https://support.wistia.com/medias/sqzcdxvf9p the hashed ID would be sqzcdxvf9p.)
In general, the Replace functionality is designed to cause the least disruption possible for your embedded media. So, while the replacement is uploading and processing, the old media will continue to play anywhere it is embedded. No analytics or comments will be affected, and the media will update immediately after it's finished processing.
Once done processing, if you've swapped a media, analytics will stick with the old version and start from scratch on the replacement. If you've overwritten, analytics will continue building on top of the replacement.
For both Swap and Overwrite, Lead Conversion Tools (Wistia Form, CTA, and Annotation links), and any player customizations will remain the same.
Wistia will generate a new transcript for the replacement file, as well as an automatically generated thumbnail. However, if you uploaded a file for the original thumbnail, this will carry over to the new media.
Let’s dive in.
Note
Replacing media does not replace any other copies of that media you’ve made in your account.
Note
Before you replace a media, there are a few things to keep in mind:
A replacement can't be undone. If you might need the original, use Swap so a copy is saved.
Wait until the replacement has fully finished processing before you order human transcripts or dubs.
Dubs don't update to match new content. If you replace a dubbed media, you'll need to order the dub again.
Swap out media content
Swapping a media makes it easy to change an already embedded media without touching any code. If you’re looking to change your homepage media, but don’t have time or resources to change your embed code, then swap is for you!
To swap a media file, navigate to the media in your folder you’d like to swap. On the media page, select "Replace" from the ellipsis menu.
You’ll be given two options: "Swap out media content, start new stats from scratch," and "Overwrite the original, build on top of its stats."
Click "Upload Replacement Media" and select which media you’d like to upload as your replacement. Your media will begin uploading and processing.
Once the media is done processing, you’re good to go! Your new media will appear in the wild, and your old media (with all of its stats) will be safely saved in the same folder, with a new hashed ID and a title that includes the date it was replaced on. The replacement takes over the original hashed ID, so any embeds and links keep working and show the new content.
You can update the title of either media by clicking the Edit icon next to the media name. Here’s a bit more about staying organized in your Wistia account.
Keep in mind, swap will change all instances of your media — including any links you’ve shared (something like: https://support.wistia.com/medias/sqzcdxvf9p). If you’re still not sure of the best move for you, give us a shout! We’ll be happy to help.
Overwrite the Original
Overwriting is intended for quick fixes and last-minute updates. Spell the CEO’s name wrong, or decide the logo should be a different color? Don’t sweat! We’ve got you covered.
First, navigate to the media you’d like to update and choose "Replace" from the ellipsis menu.
Select "Overwrite the original content, build on top of its stats" from the Replace Media modal and then click "Upload Replacement Media." Pick the media you’d like to update it with, and sit back!
Your media will begin uploading and processing. Once it’s done, you’re all set! The media will update in the wild (with the exact same hashed ID), and no new embed code is needed.
Tip
Still not sure what’s the right move? Got a use case that’s got you in a jam? Contact us. We’d love to help you out.
Troubleshooting replaced media
I still see the old video
Your browser may be showing a saved copy. Try a hard refresh or open the link in a private window. If you used Overwrite, the link and embed code don't change, so there's nothing to update in emails or pages you've already shared.
The thumbnail shows a frame from the old video
If you uploaded or picked a custom thumbnail, it carries over on purpose. Play the video to confirm the new content is there, then choose a new thumbnail.
My replacement is stuck processing
If a replacement seems stuck, there are a couple of things to keep in mind and try:
Keep the page open while it uploads. While the banner says "Uploading replacement," your file is still coming from your computer. Closing the tab or losing your connection will interrupt it. A slow connection shows "Save is taking longer than usual, but we're still working on it."
Give large files time. Processing time depends on the file's length and size. If you see "taking longer than usual, but we're still working on it," it's still working. Your original media keeps playing everywhere it's embedded until the replacement is done.
If you see "Rendering failed," click "cancel the replacement" in that message. Your original media is kept, and you can try the replacement again.
Don't delete the media or re-upload it as a new file while it's processing. That can break the replacement, and a new upload will have a different embed code.
Very large files may not finish. Files over about 8 GB or 1.5 hours, especially in 4K, can take a very long time or fail. Try exporting a smaller version, being sure it matches our recommended and required export settings, and replacing again.
Still stuck? Contact us with a link to the media and we'll take a look!