Gemini Pro Video Upload Failures: Decoding 'Something Went Wrong (5)' and Google Drive Workarounds

Gemini Pro Video Uploads Failing? Decoding the 'Something Went Wrong (5)' Error

Google Workspace users leveraging Gemini Pro for its advanced AI capabilities expect a seamless experience, especially when integrating rich media like video. However, a frustrating roadblock has emerged for many: persistent failures when attempting to upload videos. A recent thread on the Google support forum highlights a common and perplexing error message, "Something went wrong (5)", which prevents video content from being processed, even after various troubleshooting attempts. This issue not only disrupts workflows but also limits the full potential of Gemini Pro for video analysis and content generation.

Understanding the Persistent 'Something Went Wrong (5)' Error

Users report a consistent pattern: when submitting a prompt containing both text and a video file, Gemini Pro displays a spinning icon, indicating an upload in progress, for approximately 30 seconds. Following this brief period, the video mysteriously disappears from the prompt, leaving only the text intact. At the bottom of the screen, the dreaded "Something went wrong (5)" message appears. This issue seems to be specific to Gemini Pro's video processing, with some users noting that it has only recently started occurring. The problem can even affect long conversations in Pro mode, forcing a switch to less capable "Thinking" or "Fast" modes, which is particularly frustrating for those paying for premium features.

Initial Troubleshooting: What Didn't Seem to Work

Affected users have already tried several common troubleshooting steps without success, indicating that the root cause might be deeper than typical user-side issues:

• Video Format Conversion: Switching between common video formats like MP4 and MOV yielded the same error, suggesting that the file type itself isn't the primary culprit.
• Video Length and Size: Even very short and remarkably small videos (e.g., 280 KB, 290 KB) failed to upload. This strongly indicates that file size or duration is not the main issue, ruling out common upload limits.
• Direct Upload vs. Google Drive Integration: A standard recommendation for file upload issues, especially within the Google ecosystem, is to first upload the content to Google Drive. This approach leverages Google's robust internal servers for file transfer, often bypassing local bandwidth constraints. Users might also need to understand how to check Google Drive shared files if they're collaborating on video projects, ensuring the video is accessible and properly permissioned before attempting to link it to Gemini. However, in this specific Gemini Pro scenario, even uploading from Google Drive yielded the same "Something went wrong (5)" error. This suggests the problem lies deeper, perhaps within Gemini's internal video processing pipeline rather than the initial upload mechanism or local network conditions.

Community Insights & The Best Path Forward

While a definitive solution from Google is pending, the community has offered valuable insights and, crucially, highlighted the most effective way to help resolve the issue:

• Bitrate and Resolution Speculation: One user suggested that the problem might stem from the video's bitrate or resolution. High-frame-rate (60fps+) or 4K footage could be tripping up Gemini's internal encoder during the initial processing phase, causing the "spin" to fail. While smaller files were tested, their internal resolution or bitrate might still be high enough to cause issues.
• The Power of Feedback: The most impactful action users can take is to send detailed feedback directly to Google. This ensures that the engineering team receives specific reports, helping them diagnose and prioritize a fix.

How to Send Feedback to Google (and What to Include)

Sending feedback is crucial. The more detailed and consistent the reports, the faster Google can address the problem. Here’s how to do it effectively:

• On the Web (gemini.google.com):
  • Look for the Settings (cog icon) or the Help (question mark icon) at the bottom of the left-hand menu.
  • Select Send feedback or Report a problem.
  • Pro tip: Make sure the box to "Include screenshot" is checked. If you can capture that "Something went wrong (5)" message in the shot, it helps Google immensely.
• On the Mobile App:
  • Tap your Profile picture or initial in the top right corner.
  • Tap Help & Feedback > Send feedback.

In your feedback, briefly describe the issue and, importantly, mention the troubleshooting steps you've already tried (e.g., clearing cache, changing formats, using incognito mode, and attempting uploads from Google Drive). This saves Google's team time and helps them narrow down the problem.

Why This Matters for Google Workspace Users

The inability to upload videos to Gemini Pro is more than just an inconvenience; it's a significant limitation for Google Workspace users who rely on AI for advanced tasks. Video analysis is a powerful capability, essential for everything from marketing content creation and educational material development to data analysis and trend identification. When a premium feature like Gemini Pro's video processing fails, it directly impacts productivity, hinders innovation, and prevents businesses from fully leveraging their investment in Google's AI ecosystem. Ensuring seamless integration and functionality across all Workspace tools, including how you manage and access files in Google Drive, is paramount for a productive digital environment.

Conclusion: Awaiting a Fix for Gemini Pro's Video Woes

The "Something went wrong (5)" error for video uploads in Gemini Pro is a clear pain point for many users. While common troubleshooting steps like format conversion, checking file size, and even leveraging Google Drive have proven ineffective, the collective voice of the user community through detailed feedback is the most powerful tool for resolution. We encourage all affected users to follow the feedback steps outlined above, providing as much detail as possible, including screenshots. Google is typically responsive to issues affecting its Pro services, and with enough data, we can expect a swift resolution to restore Gemini Pro's full video processing capabilities. Stay tuned to Workalizer.com for further updates on this and other Google Workspace insights.