WhatsApp file size limit: what you can send in 2026

The WhatsApp file size limit is 2 GB per file when you send it as a document. Photos and videos sent the usual way, as media, are compressed, and WhatsApp’s help centre says the HD option is clearer but still not the original, as of October 2026. The exact size and resolution caps for media vary with your connection and are not stated consistently across WhatsApp’s help pages, so the reliable rule is simple: as media, expect a smaller copy; as a document, the file itself, up to 2 GB.

So there are really two WhatsApps: one that delivers files as they are, up to 2 GB, and one that optimises photos and videos for quick viewing on a phone. Knowing which one you are using explains most “why does my video look bad?” questions. Here is every limit, how HD mode fits in, and the options for files that are still too big.

WhatsApp limits at a glance

WhatsApp raised the document limit from 100 MB to 2 GB in May 2022. Older articles still quote a 16 MB limit for media; that help page no longer exists and the figure is out of date.

Why does WhatsApp compress my videos and photos?

WhatsApp’s help centre says it directly: media quality “might be lower than the original version because media files are usually compressed when shared”. Compression keeps chats fast and saves data for billions of users on every kind of connection. The cost is detail: a 4K video recorded on a recent phone arrives at a much lower resolution, and fine textures, text in screenshots and low-light footage suffer the most.

Does HD quality send the original?

No. When you attach a photo or video, you can tap the HD button and choose between Standard quality and HD quality. HD is clearly better than standard, but it is still a compressed version, not the original file. HD is also not available for status updates or profile pictures. For a quick share with friends, HD is usually enough; for anything that will be edited, printed or delivered to a client, it is not.

How to send a video on WhatsApp without compression

The workaround most people use is to send the video as a document instead of as media. Documents can be up to 2 GB and are delivered as files rather than played inline. WhatsApp does not spell out on its help pages that documents are left untouched, but documents are delivered as files rather than as compressed media copies.

1. 1

   Step 1

   Open the chat

   Tap the attachment icon (the paper clip on Android, the plus icon on iPhone).

2. 2

   Step 2

   Choose Document

   Select Document rather than Gallery or Photos & Videos.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Pick the file

   Browse to the video in your files. On iPhone, you may need to save it to the Files app first, or use the option to choose from your photo library if your version offers it.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Send

   The recipient receives the file and opens it in their video player, at its original quality as long as it is under 2 GB.

Sending files from WhatsApp Web and the desktop app

The 2 GB document limit is the same on WhatsApp Web as on Android and iPhone, which makes the computer a convenient place to send edited videos or exported photo sets: drag the file into the chat, or use the attachment menu and choose Document. On the web, WhatsApp’s help text describes the HD option for photos only, so for videos the document route is the reliable one. Keep the browser tab open until the upload completes.

WhatsApp Status: shorter and always compressed

Status updates follow stricter rules than chats: WhatsApp caps a status video at 90 seconds and does not offer HD for status. If you want people to see a longer clip in good quality, post a short teaser as your status and share a link to the full video in a chat or group.

What if the file is bigger than 2 GB?

WhatsApp refuses documents over 2 GB, so for a long 4K recording, a full photo shoot or a project folder you need to send a link. Upload the file to a transfer service, then paste the link in the WhatsApp chat: the recipient taps it and downloads the original. With Transfr, you can send up to 100 GB per transfer for free, without creating an account, and the recipient can preview most videos in the browser before downloading the original.

1. 1

   Step 1

   Open Transfr in your phone’s browser

   Go to Transfr on your phone or computer. Nothing to install.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Add the video or files

   Pick them from your gallery or files. Folders work too.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Choose the link option

   Create a link, optionally with a password and an expiry date.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Paste it in WhatsApp

   Share the link in the chat. The recipient downloads the original file, without compression.

Why a video fails to send on WhatsApp

• It is over 2 GB, even as a document.
• The format is not supported for playback: WhatsApp lists 3GP, AVI, FLV, MKV, MOV and MP4, and notes that files with high audio sample rates or from professional cameras may not be supported.
• Storage is full on your phone, which WhatsApp needs to prepare the file.
• The connection drops: a large upload on mobile data can stall; switch to Wi-Fi and keep the app open.

How to check a video’s size before sending

On iPhone, swipe up on the video in Photos, or use Get Info in the Files app; on Android, open the video’s details in Google Photos or your file manager. If it is close to 2 GB, trim it or send a link rather than discovering the limit halfway through an upload. Our file size guide explains how to read the numbers.

WhatsApp vs other ways to send large files

For more on the alternatives, see our Discord file size limit and email attachment size limits guides. If you send videos for work, read how to send video without losing quality, and if you are on an iPhone, how to send large files from iPhone.

Is it safe to send files on WhatsApp?

WhatsApp messages and attachments are end-to-end encrypted between the people in the chat. The practical risks are elsewhere: files stay in chat histories and phone galleries, backups may follow different rules, and a forwarded file is out of your control. For confidential documents you need to share once, a link with a password and an expiry date limits how long the file is reachable. Our secure file transfer checklist covers the habits worth adopting, and our page about sending large videos on WhatsApp has the step-by-step version for each phone.