Replacing a video

Replace a file on an existing video instead of publishing a new video. The video ID, public link, player URL and embeds stay the same. Upload a new file; viewers continue watching the previous file until the replacement is ready to relink. If the upload or encoding fails, the previous file remains live and the operation shows its failure.

Start a replacement

Open the video, select Replace video, and choose a file. You need the same videos.update permission as editing. Playflow warns if the new aspect ratio differs; the change is allowed. You can replace a queued edit, which is canceled, but must wait for an edit already rendering or another active replacement to finish.

Choose what carries forward

• Analytics: Keep existing analytics (default) continues the running play, view and watch-time totals. Start fresh records a reset marker; older data remains accessible as Before <date>. Per-second drop-off is separated by media file version rather than mixing files of different lengths.
• Captions: Regenerate captions (default) creates captions from the new file; existing captions are only replaced after regeneration succeeds. Choose Keep current captions to retain them, but they can be out of sync with the new footage.
• Chapters: Keep chapters (default), Regenerate chapters or Clear chapters. Keeping chapters drops any chapter starting at or beyond the new file's end; the dialog previews the count from the file duration and the server checks it again during relink.
• Thumbnail: The existing thumbnail stays, even if automatically generated. An auto-generated image might depict the previous footage; use the thumbnail controls to change it if needed.

Readiness and links

Upload completion does not switch playback. The replacement waits for provider readiness and then uses the same guarded relink and publication path as the video editor. The new file is republished under the existing video's identity. Check operation status for failures; a failed encode never unlinks the previous file.

Interactive items after replacement

Buttons, Hotspots and timed Play and Replay placements never block replacement: an end-of-video placement keeps its adjusted range and overlapping placements for the same button are shortened to end before it; for other overlaps, the earlier placement keeps its range and the later one starts after it. If shortening leaves less than 0.5 seconds, the item is kept but hidden from viewers and overlap validation; affected items are marked for review with an explanation. Positions remain percentages of the picture. An item starting at or after the new end is kept for editing but hidden from viewers and marked for review; an item ending beyond the new duration is clamped and marked for review. A placement ending at the old end of video moves to the new end, retaining its length when it fits, and is marked for review. An aspect ratio change marks every item for review. The video list and video page show Review interactive items until you check the items and save to acknowledge them. The previous document returns exactly when you restore the previous file within the restore window. See Interactivity for editing and previewing items.

Restore the previous file

For 48 hours after a successful replacement, you can restore the immediately previous file while this replacement remains the latest revision. Restore creates another revision, not a new video or link. After 48 hours, Playflow deletes the retained file only when the ledger confirms publication of the replacement. Video edits still use their separate 30-day restore policy.

Storage after replacement

The workspace’s logical storage charge changes to the replacement file’s size. The previous file retained for the 48-hour restore window is not an additional quota charge. Restoring it adjusts the charge to its size. See Storage and plans for upload reservations and deletion.