Signal's file size limit is most often reported as 100 MB per attachment, the same on Android, iPhone and Desktop. One specs site says it doubled to 200 MB in September 2025, and we couldn't find a Signal page that confirms either number. The quickest way to know for sure is to try attaching your file. If Signal refuses it, the most private workaround is to encrypt the file yourself, upload it to a link host and send the link in Signal.
This guide explains why the numbers conflict, why photos and videos lose quality even when they fit, and how to send larger files without giving up the privacy that made you choose Signal. Information checked November 10, 2026.
Signal file size limit: the short answer
- Most common figure: 100 MB per file. A file-sharing service dates this to May 2026, and a second vendor page updated October 3, 2026 says the same, for Android, iOS and desktop.
- Competing figure: 200 MB per file. AllPlatforms.io, last checked October 23, 2026, says the attachment limit "doubled from 100 MB to 200 MB in September 2025".
- Paid upgrades: none reported. One of the sources says no subscription raises the cap.
- Same on every device? Third-party pages say yes. Signal itself doesn't confirm it in anything we could reach.
If your file is under 100 MB, it should send under either figure. If it's between 100 MB and 200 MB, test it in your own app. Above 200 MB, you'll need one of the workarounds below.
Why websites give different numbers (100 MB vs 200 MB)
Almost every page that ranks for this question is a sales page for one transfer tool, and none of them cites Signal. Here's what they say:
| Source | Date | Claimed limit |
|---|---|---|
| quik.space | May 2026 | 100 MB, same on Android, iOS and Desktop |
| ButterShare | Updated Oct 3, 2026 | 100 MB on Android, iOS and desktop |
| AllPlatforms.io | Checked Oct 23, 2026 | 200 MB since September 2025 |
Some of these pages may simply have copied an older number, or the limit may differ between app versions. We can't tell which is right without an official Signal source, so we won't pretend otherwise. You may also see much smaller numbers (such as a 6 MB photo limit) in articles from 2021. Treat those as out of date.
How to check the limit in your own Signal app
- Update Signal on your phone or computer so you're testing the current version.
- Open a chat (a "Note to Self" chat works if you don't want to bother anyone).
- Attach the file you actually want to send.
- If Signal accepts it and the upload finishes, you're within the limit. If it refuses the file, it's over the cap for your app.
This tells you more than any website can, because it tests the exact app and file you're using.
Photos and videos: why they look worse after sending
If your file did send but the recipient says it looks blurry or soft, that's a different problem from the size cap.
Size cap vs compression: two different problems
- The size cap decides whether Signal will take the file at all.
- Compression decides how good it looks after sending. According to AllPlatforms.io, images shared in chats are compressed by default, with an option to send original quality. Videos are also compressed for delivery, and they stay end-to-end encrypted.
So a 4K video can fit under the limit and still arrive looking worse than the original. For photos, look for the original-quality option when sending. For videos where every pixel matters, sending the file as a link (Option 3 below) gets the original to the recipient untouched.
What about SMS/MMS?
Years ago, Signal on Android could also send ordinary SMS and MMS. An old Fairphone forum thread notes that MMS had a 300 KB limit, which is why pictures sent that way were shrunk heavily. That applied to the insecure SMS/MMS mode, not to normal Signal messages, and it may only matter on old app versions.
What happens when a file is too big for Signal
When a file is over the limit, Signal won't attach it, so nothing is sent. Nothing is lost, but you'll need another route. Before reaching for an ordinary cloud link, remember why you're using Signal: according to quik.space, every attachment is end-to-end encrypted and only stored briefly on Signal's servers until the recipient downloads it. A good workaround should keep as much of that as possible.
How to send large files on Signal without losing privacy
Option 1: Make the file smaller (compress the video, zip documents)
For videos, re-export at a lower resolution or bitrate in your phone's editor or a video converter. Going from 4K to 1080p often cuts the size a lot. For a folder of documents, put them in a zip or 7z archive. Text-heavy files usually shrink well. Photos and videos barely shrink in a zip because they're already compressed.
Option 2: Split it into parts
Archive tools such as 7-Zip can split one large archive into several smaller parts. You send each part as a separate Signal attachment, and the recipient puts them in one folder and opens the first part to extract everything. This keeps the whole transfer inside Signal, but it's fiddly with more than a few parts, and the recipient needs a desktop archive tool.
Option 3: Encrypt it, upload it, send the link in Signal
This is the most practical option for big files, and done properly it keeps the file private even though it leaves Signal.
- Make an encrypted archive. In 7-Zip, choose Add to archive, pick the 7z format, set encryption to AES-256, tick Encrypt file names and use a long, random password. Without the password, the archive is useless to anyone who finds it.
- Upload it with a short expiry. InvisHosting takes files up to 300 MB with no account, and you can set the file to delete itself anywhere from 1 minute to 30 days after upload. Every upload is scanned with VirusTotal. Be clear about the limits: anyone with the link can download the file, and InvisHosting does not encrypt files end to end. That's exactly why step 1 matters.
- Paste the link in Signal and send the password a different way. The link goes in your Signal chat. Send the password through another channel, such as a phone call or in person, as quik.space also recommends. If someone gets hold of one, they still don't have the other.
- Delete the file once it's downloaded. Anonymous uploaders get a one-time deletion token, so save it when you upload. If you have a free account, you can delete the file from your dashboard instead. Even if you forget, the expiry you set removes it.
If your file is over 300 MB, split it into parts first (Option 2) and upload each part.
Signal vs WhatsApp, Telegram and Discord file limits
Every messenger caps attachments differently, and the limits change over time. We've checked the others in separate guides:
| App | Attachment limit | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| Signal | 100 MB per most sources; 200 MB per one (unconfirmed by Signal) | This page |
| Differs for videos, documents and Status | WhatsApp file size limit | |
| Telegram | Differs for free, Premium and bots | Telegram file size limit |
| Discord | Depends on your plan and the server | Discord file size limit |
If you're picking an app for privacy, Signal is usually chosen for its end-to-end encryption, not its file limit. The encrypt-then-link method above works with any of these apps.
Is it safe to download a file someone sent you on Signal?
Signal's encryption protects the file from being read in transit. It doesn't tell you whether the file itself is safe. A trusted contact's account could be compromised, or they could forward something without checking it.
- Be wary of unexpected files, especially if the message feels rushed or out of character. Confirm with the sender another way.
- Treat executables, scripts and documents that ask you to enable macros as high risk.
- Scan files before opening them. Our guide on how to check if a file is safe walks through it step by step.
The same goes for links. A file hosted on InvisHosting has been scanned with VirusTotal, but a scanner can't look inside a password-protected archive, so only open encrypted archives from people you trust.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum file size on Signal?
Most third-party sources say 100 MB per file. One specs site says 200 MB since September 2025. Signal doesn't publish a figure we could confirm, so test by attaching the file.
Is the limit the same on Android, iPhone and Signal Desktop?
The vendor pages we checked say the cap is the same on Android, iOS and Desktop. We couldn't confirm this with Signal directly.
Can I send a 4K video on Signal?
Yes, if the file is under the limit. Signal compresses videos for delivery, so it may not arrive in full quality. To send the original, encrypt it and share it as a link.
Does paying or donating raise Signal's attachment limit?
No. Signal has no paid tier, and the sources we checked report no subscription that raises the cap.
Is a file link sent through Signal encrypted?
The link travels inside your Signal chat, but the file itself sits on the hosting site, where anyone with the link can download it. That's why you should encrypt the file before uploading and send the password separately.
Sources
- Signal file size limit: send bigger files with a link (quik.space)
- Signal File Size Limit: Send Large Videos & Files Privately (ButterShare, updated 2026-10-03)
- Signal Image Sizes, Video Specs & Character Limits (2026) (AllPlatforms.io, verified 2026-10-23)
- Signal MMS file size restriction (Fairphone Community Forum)
- InvisHosting
This article was written with AI assistance from the sources listed above and checked automatically against them.