WhatsApp video size limit: 16 MB, 2 GB, and which one applies
Short answer
Photos and videos sent the normal way are compressed and capped at about 16 MB. Send the same video as a document and the limit is 2 GB, with no compression. Over 2 GB, send a link instead.
| How you send it | Limit | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| Photo or video from the gallery or camera | About 16 MB | Compressed |
| Status update | About 16 MB, short clips only | Compressed |
| Document (any file type, including video) | 2 GB | Original, untouched |
WhatsApp doesn't publish every limit in one place, and the exact media cap can vary with the app version and the "HD" quality option. The 2 GB document limit has been in place since 2022.
Why your videos come out blurry
When you pick a video from your gallery, WhatsApp re-encodes it to keep it small, and long clips get trimmed or refused. That's the price of the normal send button. The file your friend receives isn't the file you recorded.
How to send a video as a document
Open the chat, tap the attachment icon, choose Document and pick the video (on iPhone you may need to save it to Files first). WhatsApp sends the original, byte for byte, up to 2 GB. The catch: the recipient sees a file to download rather than a video that plays inline.
Over 2 GB, or sending to someone not on WhatsApp
Upload the video to Send Shed's Quick Share (free, no account, up to 3 GB per file) and paste the link into the chat. The video arrives at full quality, and the link removes itself after the expiry you choose. For long 4K footage, see our guide to sending a large video from an iPhone.
Quick answers
What is WhatsApp's video size limit?
Photos and videos sent the normal way are compressed and limited to about 16 MB. Sent as a document instead, a file can be up to 2 GB and is not compressed.
How do I send a long video on WhatsApp without losing quality?
Send it as a document (tap the attachment icon, choose Document, then pick the video) for files up to 2 GB. For anything bigger, upload it to a file-sharing service and send the link.
Why does WhatsApp make my videos blurry?
Videos sent through the normal photo and video picker are re-encoded to save data, which lowers quality. Sending as a document keeps the original file.
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