A 360-degree video is an immersive recording in which every direction is captured simultaneously, allowing viewers to pan around the video in any direction. Check out our example below.

360° videos aren’t like normal videos; they require special encoding and streaming to achieve their spherical format. With Wistia 360° video hosting, we take care of the encoding, delivery, and playback.

Currently, we support inline playback on Android browsers and on desktop in Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. iOS devices do not currently support 360° video.

Got a 360° video handy? Let’s get started!

360° video uploads should adhere to our optimal export settings, and as always, our suggested format is an MP4 file with an H.264 video codec. This way, our encoding process goes smoothly, and your 360° videos play perfectly for any viewer.

It’s important to note that 360° video files will be much larger than most. Their aspect ratio should be at least 1080p — if possible, you should upload your video at 4K. Since 360° videos have much more visual real estate, they’ll have a much bigger aspect ratio than traditional 2D videos. So don’t be afraid to upload big files; you’ll get the sharpest-looking 360 videos.

Once you’ve uploaded a 360° video file, you’ll need to let our player know it’s a 360° video. To do this, click "Customize" on the media page and open the "Controls" tab. Scroll down to the "Format controls" section, check the "This is a 360° video" option, and click "Save".

Now, your viewers will get the full 360° experience, no matter where your video lives.

Customizing and embedding your 360° video works the same way for any 2D video uploaded to Wistia. 360° videos use the same embed code types and have the same customization options. Check out our customizing and embedding help pages for a refresher.

The 360° video player looks just like the normal Wistia player, but allows a viewer to look around inside the player. Check out this one of Lenny eating peanuts.

Embedding a 360° video is super easy — pop the embed code into your website like any 2D Wistia video, and you’re all set.

The playback experience differs slightly depending on whether you’re watching on desktop or mobile, so let’s walk through both.

On desktop browsers, you can look around a 360° video by clicking and dragging within the video in the player, or navigate using the arrow keys. You can look in any direction: left, right, up, or down.

Wistia 360° videos work on desktop in Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. We recommend uploading videos at 1080p or 4K resolution to avoid grainy footage.

To explore the video on mobile, move your device to change your viewing perspective. If you’re not a fan of waving your phone around, you can use your finger as a cursor to change your point of view within the video.

360° video functionality is not currently supported on iOS devices, but you can still play them normally.

Wistia 360° currently works on the Samsung Gear VR headset in the browser. Navigate to the video you want to watch in the headset browser and hit play.

Check out our developer documentation for advanced embed options for 360° video.