Discord file size limit: what you can upload in 2026

The Discord file size limit is 20 MB per file for free accounts, since Discord raised it from 10 MB in August 2026. Nitro Basic subscribers can upload 50 MB, Nitro subscribers up to 1 GB, and boosted servers raise the limit for all their members to 50 MB (Level 2) or 100 MB (Level 3), according to Discord’s support pages as of October 2026.

That is enough for screenshots, memes and short clips, but not for a full-length gameplay recording, a mod pack or a project folder. Below: every limit in one table, how they combine, why your video may still be refused, and the ways to share bigger files with your friends or community without paying for a subscription.

Discord upload limits at a glance

Discord says it keeps experimenting with limits, so some users or servers may see different values during tests. Server boost Level 1 (2 boosts) does not change the upload limit.

What changed in August 2026?

Discord doubled the free upload limit from 10 MB to 20 MB. At the same time, it changed how the limit is checked on mobile: the size is now measured before compression, as on desktop, whereas the mobile apps used to compress first and check afterwards. Discord notes that desktop and iOS users should find uploads easier, while Android users may hit the limit more often, because the original files on Android phones tend to be larger.

How do the limits combine?

• Your personal limit follows you: Nitro Basic or Nitro applies in every server, DM and group chat.
• A server’s boost level helps everyone in that server, including free users, but only in that server’s channels, not in your DMs.
• You get the higher of the two. A free user in a Level 3 server can post 100 MB files there; a Nitro subscriber keeps their own higher limit.

Which file types does Discord preview?

Discord accepts most file types as attachments, but only some get an inline preview. Its support page lists JPEG images, PDF documents, MP3 audio, and MOV or MP4 videos, with MP4 previews requiring H.264, HEVC (H.265) or AV1 encoding. Other files, such as ZIP archives or project files, appear as a download card. Several images or videos sent together are displayed as a mosaic.

If a video uploads but does not play inline, the codec is usually the culprit: exports in ProRes or other editing formats are often very large and not previewed. Converting to MP4 (H.264) fixes playback and usually reduces the size a lot, at some cost in quality.

How to check which limit applies to you

1. 1

   Step 1

   Check your subscription

   In User Settings, the Nitro section shows whether you have Nitro, Nitro Basic or no subscription.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Check the server’s boost level

   Open the server menu: the boost status shows its current level. Level 2 means 50 MB, Level 3 means 100 MB for everyone in that server.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Take the higher value

   Your effective limit in a server is the higher of your personal limit and the server’s. In DMs, only your personal limit counts.

Why does Discord say my file is too large?

The most common reason is video. A phone records 4K or high-frame-rate footage by default, and game capture tools save at high bitrates, so a clip of a minute or two can easily pass 100 MB. Other causes:

• The size is checked before compression on mobile, so a video that used to squeeze under the limit after compression may now be refused.
• You are in a DM, where server boosts do not apply.
• Your Nitro subscription has lapsed, bringing you back to 20 MB.
• The upload was blocked by content filters, such as the server’s scanning of sensitive media, rather than by size.

How to send large files on Discord without Nitro

Option 1: Share a download link

The simplest workaround: upload the file to a transfer service and paste the link in the chat. Discord shows it as a normal link, everyone can click it, and nobody needs Nitro. With Transfr, you can send up to 100 GB per transfer for free, without an account, and recipients can preview images and most videos in the browser before downloading. The link expires after 7 days on the free plan, which keeps old clips from lingering forever.

1. 1

   Step 1

   Upload your file

   Open Transfr and drop your video, mod pack or folder. No account needed.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Choose “link”

   Select the link option instead of email, and add a password if the server is public.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Copy and paste in Discord

   Paste the link in the channel or DM. Members download at full quality.

Option 2: Compress the video

Re-encoding a clip at a lower resolution or bitrate with a free tool such as HandBrake can bring it under 20 MB. It works for short clips but costs quality, which shows quickly on fast-moving gameplay. Trimming the clip to the moment that matters is often more effective than compressing the whole thing. If quality matters, read how to send video without losing quality.

Option 3: Upload to a video platform

For gameplay you want to keep, an unlisted upload on YouTube works well: YouTube accepts files up to 256 GB or 12 hours (15 minutes until your account is verified), and Discord embeds the player. The trade-offs: YouTube re-encodes the video, processing takes time, and it is not suitable for files that are not videos.

Option 4: Boost the server or subscribe

If your community shares big files all the time, boosting the server to Level 3 gives every member 100 MB, and Nitro raises your own limit to 1 GB. These are paid options; check the current prices in the Discord app, as they vary by country.

Which option fits which file?

Is it safe to download files shared on Discord?

Treat links and attachments from strangers with care, whatever the platform: scammers often disguise malware as game mods, “cheats” or fake invitations. Download only from people you know, be wary of executables and password-protected archives you did not ask for, and check where a link really points before clicking. When you are the one sharing, a password and an expiry date limit who can access your files. Our secure file transfer checklist covers the good habits.

How Discord compares with other apps

Discord’s free limit is small compared with apps built around file sharing: WhatsApp accepts documents up to 2 GB, Telegram up to 2 GB (4 GB with Premium) and Slack up to 1 GB per file. Email is in the same range as Discord, around 20–25 MB; see our email attachment size limits and WhatsApp file size limit guides. For anything bigger, a link is the universal answer, as explained in how to send large files and on our page about sending large files on Discord without Nitro.