Discord file size limit: 20 MB free, and how to send bigger files
Short answer
Free Discord accounts can upload files up to 20 MB. Nitro Basic raises that to 50 MB and full Nitro to 500 MB. For anything bigger, upload the file elsewhere and paste the link.
| Discord plan | Upload limit per file |
|---|---|
| Free | 20 MB |
| Nitro Basic | 50 MB |
| Nitro | 500 MB |
What changed in 2026
Discord cut the free upload limit from 25 MB to 10 MB in September 2024. In August 2026 it doubled it back to 20 MB. At the same time, the mobile app started checking a file's size before compressing it rather than after, matching the desktop app. In practice that means phone videos that used to squeeze under the limit after compression may now be rejected, especially on iPhone.
How much is 20 MB?
Less than it sounds. An iPhone records about 60 MB per minute of 1080p video at 30 fps, so 20 MB is roughly 20 seconds of clip. A minute of 4K is 170 MB or more. Screenshots and most documents fit easily; almost any video worth sharing doesn't.
Three ways around the limit
1. Compress the file. Re-encoding a video at a lower resolution or bitrate can get it under 20 MB, but you lose quality and it takes time on every clip.
2. Pay for Nitro. 500 MB covers most clips, but it's a subscription for something you might only need occasionally, and the file still has to fit.
3. Share a link instead. Upload the file to a file-sharing service and paste the link into the chat. It's free, keeps full quality, and there's no 20 MB ceiling. With Send Shed's Quick Share you don't need an account, files can be up to 3 GB, and the link expires on its own after 1 hour, 24 hours or 7 days.
Quick answers
What is Discord's file size limit?
Free Discord accounts can upload files up to 20 MB. Nitro Basic raises that to 50 MB and full Nitro to 500 MB.
Did Discord change its upload limit?
Yes. Discord cut the free limit from 25 MB to 10 MB in September 2024, then raised it to 20 MB in August 2026.
How do I send a file bigger than 20 MB on Discord for free?
Upload the file to a file-sharing service such as Send Shed Quick Share and paste the link into the Discord chat. The recipient downloads the original file at full quality.
Too big? Send it here instead
Upload it to Quick Share — up to 3 GB per file, free, no account — and paste the link wherever you were trying to attach it. The link expires on its own.
Send it with Quick Share Send it encrypted