FLEX Upload Instructions
Recording your video
You can record with any device, as long as you have access to the video for uploading it. We recommend your smartphone or a laptop with a built-in camera.
In the video you must show the original puzzle in its gift wrap and still intact. Then you may unwrap the puzzle and remove any plastic wrap or stickers. You may look at the image for 30 seconds before starting your timer, opening the puzzle and starting assembly.
The video must be at normal speed (no time lapses) and show your table, hands and all the pieces as you build.
Your timer should be visible the whole time.
For most Flex competitons the time limit is 2 hours. If you have not finished within the limit, please stop and count your remaining pieces. You will receive an email a few days before the competition with a link to a Google Form where you can enter your final time or piece count. Please do not send videos via email.
Important: Make sure your recording device is plugged in and charging. Too often, the recording is interrupted because of an empty battery. Recording takes a lot more battery then normal phone usage, so this is easily underestimated.
Uploading your video
In order to upload videos longer than 15 minutes on Youtube, you have to verify your account with Google.
On a computer, log in to Youtube. Then go to https://www.youtube.com/verify.
Follow the steps to verify your Google Account. You can choose to get a verification code through a text message on a mobile device or an automated voice call.
You only have to do this verification once for your Youtube account. Now you are able to upload your long format EJJ Flex Videos to Youtube.
Uploading from your mobile device
Uploading from your mobile device makes sense, when the video is already on the device. If the video is on your computer, scroll down to Uploading from your computer.
Tap the "+" button in the YouTube app, choose "Video" at the bottom. Now choose the video you want to upload. If you tap the "+" button in the YouTube app, choose "Video", and it shows “No videos yet”, even though you have videos on your device, the issue is usually related to permissions or file visibility.
Here's what to check and fix:
YouTube needs permission to access your media files.
🔧 On Android:
- Go to Settings > Apps > YouTube > Permissions
- Make sure "Photos and videos" (or "Storage") is allowed
🔧 On iPhone:
- Go to Settings > YouTube > Photos
- Choose "All Photos"
After choosing your video, you will get to a screen where you can change the details of the video. The only detail you have to change is the Visibility. Change the Visibility to Unlisted. Everything else can stay as it is.
Then tap on Next.
In the next step, choose No, it’s not made for kids.
Then tap on Upload Video.
Now the video will upload, this will take a while.
After the upload, you can go to your video. You can find your Youtube videos under:
You > Your videos
Tap on the video and then on Share.
Now tap on Copy link and use the link to paste it into the EJJ Flex Registration Form.
Done!
Uploading from your computer
Log into Youtube (if you aren’t already logged in).
Klick on the Create button in the top right of Youtube.
Then choose Upload video.
Then drag and drop your video file into the Upload videos area.
Alternatively you can click on Select files and pick the video file.
Next you can change the name of your video.
Now you have to click three times on Next. All settings can stay as they are.
In the following Visibility menu, you have to change the Visibility to Unlisted. This means that only people with the link can see the video. It is not publicly available on Youtube.
Then click on Publish.
In the following window, you can copy the unlisted Link to the video.
Copy the link and paste it into the EJJ Flex Registration Form.