# Final Cut Pro export settings for Instagram

> Make a vertical project in Final Cut Pro, then export with File > Share > Export File and an H.264 codec. Menu steps, caption burn-in and Indian prices.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-11-05
- **Category**: Ad specs
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-guides/final-cut-pro-export-settings-for-instagram

---

In Final Cut Pro, duplicate your project as a vertical one. Then choose File > Share > Export File (Command-E) and pick an H.264 codec in Settings (checked 3 Nov 2026).

Meta's ad guide asks for 9:16, H.264, a fixed frame rate and AAC audio at 128 kbps or more.

The menu names below follow Apple's Final Cut Pro 12.4 guide for Mac.

## Make a vertical project

1. Select the project in the browser.
2. Choose Edit > Duplicate Project As.
3. Name it. In the **Video Format** menu, choose **Vertical**.
4. Tick **Smart Conform** if you want Final Cut Pro to reframe each clip. Click OK.
5. Fine-tune any clip with the Position setting of the Transform effect.

Smart Conform shows overscan on reframed clips. Check each shot.

## Export steps

1. Select the project. To export only part of it, set a range with I and O.
2. Choose File > Share > Export File (Command-E), or click the Share button in the toolbar.
3. Open **Settings**. Set the Format, Video Codec, Resolution, Color Space and Audio Format.
4. Click Next, choose a location and click Save. The Background Tasks window shows progress.

Pick the H.264 option in the Video Codec menu. Apple says H.264 is the more broadly compatible codec, and Meta's guide names H.264, not HEVC. Choose a resolution that matches your timeline, such as 1080 x 1920. Meta's [Reels ad specs](/guides/instagram-reels-ad-specs) list the recommended sizes.

## Burn in captions

Apple's guide gives a route for burning captions into the export.

1. In the Share window, click **Roles**.
2. For each video track, click the blue **Captions** button.
3. Use the **Burn in captions** menu to pick the language.

Final Cut Pro's Generate Captions needs a Mac with Apple silicon and works in U.S. English only. In the subtitle inspector, a "Vertical Social Media Safe" tick box is there for 9:16 video.

## What it costs

Final Cut Pro for Mac costs Rs 29,900 in India, as a one-time purchase on the Mac App Store. Apple Creator Studio includes Final Cut Pro on Mac and iPad, and the iPad app is sold only inside it. Creator Studio costs Rs 399 a month or Rs 3,999 a year (checked 3 Nov 2026). See [Final Cut Pro pricing](/prices/final-cut-pro-pricing).

## A worked example

Say you export a 30-second ad as H.264 at an average 10 Mbps.

- Picture: 10 x 30 / 8 = 37.5 MB.
- Audio at 128 kbps: about 0.5 MB.
- Total: about 38 MB.

Meta's cap is 4 GB per file. See [Reels export settings](/guides/best-export-settings-for-instagram-reels) for the full list.

## FAQ

### What is the best Final Cut Pro export setting for Instagram?

Use File > Share > Export File with an H.264 video codec at your timeline's size, in a 9:16 project. Keep audio as AAC.

### Should I use the HEVC destination for Reels ads?

Meta's ad guide names H.264 and does not list HEVC. Use H.264 for ads.

### Does Final Cut Pro make Hindi captions?

Apple's guide says Generate Captions is U.S. English only. For Hindi, use another captioning tool or add the lines by hand.

---
- [More Ad specs articles](https://marxx.ai/library-guides/category/ad-specs)
- [All articles](https://marxx.ai/library-guides)