360 video tutorial
How to Add VR180/360 Metadata to Video Online
If your panoramic render uploads as a flat video, the file may be missing spatial metadata. This tutorial shows how to add 360 or VR180 metadata online before publishing to YouTube or testing in a VR player.
Quick Answer: Use a 360/VR180 Metadata Injector
Open the free Elizarov Tools metadata injector, choose your supported video file, select the correct 360 or VR180 metadata options, process the file, and download the new version. The video should already be rendered in the correct immersive projection before you add metadata.
When You Need to Add Spatial Metadata
You usually need metadata when the video image is correct, but the player does not know how to display it. For example, an equirectangular 360 render may appear as a stretched flat rectangle, or a VR180 stereo export may be treated as a normal 2D video.
YouTube’s own upload guidance says 180-degree and 360-degree videos must be prepared before upload, and that 360 playback can take time to become available after processing. Spatial metadata is one of the important signals that helps compatible platforms identify immersive video correctly.
Important: metadata does not convert a flat video into 360 or VR180. Your source file must already be rendered, stitched, or exported as panoramic, equirectangular, stereo, or VR180 video.
Step by Step: Add 360 or VR180 Metadata Online
Export the correct immersive video first
Render or export your file from Blender, Unreal Engine, your stitching software, or your video editor. For 360 video, this is often an equirectangular file. For VR180, make sure the stereo layout and projection match your target platform.
Open the online metadata injector
Go to the free VR180 and 360 Metadata Injector Online. The tool runs in the browser, so you do not need to install a separate desktop metadata application.
Choose your video file
Select the supported video file you want to prepare. Use the final export, not a project file, proxy, preview image, or unrelated flat edit.
Select the correct metadata options
Choose the options that match your source: 360, VR180, monoscopic, stereoscopic, or the available mode your video was actually rendered for. Do not choose VR180 for a normal flat video or a full 360 export.
Process and download the new file
Run the metadata operation and download the processed video. Keep the original file as a backup so you can repeat the step with different settings if needed.
Test before publishing publicly
Upload privately or test in a compatible VR player first. On YouTube, 360 playback may not appear immediately while the video is still processing, so check again after processing is complete.
Which Metadata Option Should You Choose?
Use 360 metadata for equirectangular video
Choose a 360 option when the source is a full spherical render, panoramic video, or equirectangular export intended for interactive 360-degree viewing.
Use VR180 metadata for half-sphere immersive video
Choose VR180 when the file was created as a 180-degree immersive video, often for headset viewing and stereo depth in front of the viewer.
Use stereo settings only for stereo sources
If your video is stereoscopic, select the layout that matches the export. YouTube notes that 3D videos require stereo metadata such as side-by-side layout for supported formats.
Do not use metadata as a converter
Metadata is a label for compatible software. It does not stitch footage, unwrap a cube map, fix projection errors, or create stereo depth.
Troubleshooting: YouTube or a VR Player Still Does Not Recognize the Video
- Wait until YouTube finishes processing the upload. 360 or VR playback may appear after processing, not immediately after upload.
- Confirm that the source file is actually panoramic or VR180. A normal flat video will still look wrong even if metadata is injected.
- Check that the selected metadata mode matches the export. A 360 equirectangular video and a VR180 stereo video need different interpretation.
- Try a supported container and codec combination for your target platform. Platform support can vary between MP4, MOV, WebM, and other formats.
- Test the processed file locally in a compatible player before publishing the final version.
FAQ
Can I add 360 metadata online?
Yes. Use the free online metadata injector to process a supported video file in the browser and download a new file with compatible spatial metadata.
Can metadata make my video VR180?
No. Metadata can identify a VR180 file for compatible software, but the source video must already be rendered or exported as VR180.
Is this useful for Blender and Unreal Engine renders?
Yes. It is useful as a final preparation step after exporting an immersive render from Blender, Unreal Engine, or another 3D/video tool.
Why does YouTube show my 360 video as flat?
The file may be missing spatial metadata, the upload may still be processing, or the video may have been exported with the wrong projection, stereo layout, container, or codec settings.
Official References
Add Metadata to Your Video Now
Use the free online tool to prepare supported 360 and VR180 videos for immersive playback workflows.
