Compress video for WhatsApp

How to compress video for WhatsApp in four steps

The shortcut does the thinking for you. It starts the tool in Target size mode with the slider set to 60 MB.

1. Drop your video onto the tool, or choose it from your phone or computer storage.
2. Look at the Target size slider. It reads 60 MB, or your video's own size if the video is smaller. Drag it lower if you want a lighter file.
3. Check the before and after bars to see how much smaller the video will be.
4. Press Compress. When it is done, save the result and attach it in WhatsApp.

The new file is an MP4, and it is named after your original with _compressed on the end. Your first copy is untouched, so you can always go back to it.

A WhatsApp video too big to send is a common problem. If you are not sure how small to go, start with the 60 MB target and look at the result. You can always run the original through again with a lower number, because the first file is never overwritten.

WhatsApp video size limit: why the target is 60 MB

WhatsApp's help page on sending media gives two default limits for a video: 100 MB at 720p on a faster internet connection, and 64 MB at 480p on a slower one. A document can be up to 2 GB. This shortcut aims for 60 MB, under both video limits, so the clip sends whichever connection you are on. Our guide sets WhatsApp's file size limit beside those of email, Discord and Slack.

If your video is already under 60 MB, it fits as it is. The slider then starts at the video's own size, because a target cannot be bigger than the file. Drag it down only if you want a lighter file that sends faster on mobile data.

The target is approximate. The finished file lands close to 60 MB rather than on the exact byte. That is how video encoding works, because the amount of data depends on how busy each scene is.

If you want a safety margin, move the slider down a little. A result of around 55 MB leaves room under 64 MB whatever the exact outcome.

What happens to quality when you reduce video size for WhatsApp

Making a file smaller always means keeping less detail. The tool does this carefully, but there is a limit to what a small size can hold, and it helps to know what to expect.

Short clips keep more detail

A fixed number of MB is shared across the whole length of the video. A 30 second clip has a lot more data per second to work with than a ten minute one, so it looks much better at 60 MB.

Very small targets shrink the picture

When the target is tight for the length, the tool also reduces the size of the picture so that it stays clean instead of breaking into blocks. A slightly smaller, clean picture usually looks better on a phone screen than a large, muddy one.

Long videos hit the floor

Every video needs a minimum amount of data to keep its picture and sound. That minimum rises with length. With the sound kept, it is about 1.85 MB for each minute (150 kbps for the picture plus 96 kbps for the sound), so a clip longer than about 32 minutes cannot reach 60 MB. In that case the slider will not go under its shaded floor, and the 60 MB chip is not offered.

To get under the line, cut the clip with Trim video first, or send it in parts with Split video.

Tips to send a large video on WhatsApp

Compression is the main way to send a large video on WhatsApp, and the tool is built to reduce video size for WhatsApp without fuss. But the way you prepare the clip makes a real difference. A few minutes of tidying before you press Compress often saves more than any setting.

• Trim the start and end first. Dead seconds cost data and add nothing.
• Use the original file, not one that has already been sent through a chat app and squeezed once.
• Compress only once. Doing it twice loses detail twice.
• Check the result on your own phone before you send it, especially for text on screen.
• If the clip is silent anyway, switch off Keep the sound to save a little more.

If WhatsApp is not your destination, the same tool has other shortcuts: Compress video for email and Compress video for Discord. For a custom size or a quality level instead of a target, use the general Compress video tool.

Think about who will watch. Most people view chat videos on a small screen, held in one hand, for a few seconds. A clip that is clear and short will always beat a long one that is heavily squeezed. If a recording runs long, share the best part and describe the rest in the message.

It also helps to keep a tidy routine. Keep your originals in one folder, save the compressed versions with their new names beside them, and delete the extras once the chat has the file. That way you never have to guess which copy is the good one.

The tool works in current Chrome, Edge and Firefox. On a phone, a recent browser of one of those kinds is the safest choice. Larger videos need more memory and time, so be patient with long files.

Free, private and no sign-up

There is no account, no watermark and no charge. Video tools are not counted in the free daily limit that applies to document conversions. You can read how your files are treated on the privacy page.

Most videos have no size limit. Some older formats take longer, and those files can be up to 2 GB. Either way the work stays on your device and the server does no video work.