WhatsApp limits video attachments to 16 MB for regular accounts (64 MB for WhatsApp Business). Large videos shot on modern smartphones often exceed this limit instantly — a 1-minute 4K video can be 400 MB or more. Compressing to H.264 MP4 at 720p typically reduces a 1-minute video to under 10 MB, comfortably within WhatsApp's limit, while still looking excellent on phone screens.

WhatsApp Video Requirements

Recommended Codec
H.264 (AVC)
Container
MP4
Recommended Resolution
720p (1280×720)
Max File Size (Standard)
16 MB
Max File Size (Business)
64 MB
Max Duration
No set limit (file-size dependent)
Audio Codec
AAC

Compress Video for WhatsApp — Free Online

Shrink your video to WhatsApp's 16 MB limit without losing quality — H.264 MP4 at 720p.

Create a free account to claim 1000 tokens — enough for about 1000 minutes of 1080p H.264/H.265 or roughly 200 minutes of 1080p AV1 encoding.
Drag & drop a video file here or click to browse
Max file size: 200 MB · Max duration: 300s
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is WhatsApp's video size limit?

Standard WhatsApp: 16 MB. WhatsApp Business: 64 MB. To stay under 16 MB, compress to H.264 MP4 at 720p — a 1-minute clip typically encodes to 5–12 MB at this setting.

How do I compress a video for WhatsApp without losing quality?

Encode to H.264 at 720p using VBR mode. This reduces file size by 70–90% compared to a raw smartphone video while maintaining perceptual quality on mobile screens, where 720p is indistinguishable from 1080p.

What video format does WhatsApp support?

WhatsApp supports MP4, 3GP, and AVI on Android. MP4 with H.264 is the most compatible format and produces the smallest file sizes. iOS WhatsApp also handles MOV files.

Why does WhatsApp compress my video automatically?

Even when your video is under 16 MB, WhatsApp applies additional compression during send if it detects a high bitrate. Starting from a well-encoded H.264 source reduces the severity of WhatsApp's re-compression, preserving more detail.

Can I send a 1-hour video on WhatsApp?

Only if the file is under 16 MB, which is extremely unlikely even at very low quality. WhatsApp is designed for short clips. For long videos, share a YouTube, Google Drive, or Dropbox link instead.

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