WhatsApp File Size Limit (2026): Videos, Docs, Status

WhatsApp file size limit: the short answer (2026)

The WhatsApp file size limit is 2 GB for documents, and that covers any file you send through the Document option, including PDFs and large videos. WhatsApp's help page for the computer/web version says videos sent as normal media are capped by default at 100 MB at 720p on a faster connection, or 64 MB at 480p on a slower one. Status videos can be up to 90 seconds long.

Those video figures come from WhatsApp's help page for the computer/web version; the phone apps may differ. If a video won't send or arrives blurry, send it as a Document instead. If the file is over 2 GB, nothing inside WhatsApp will get it through, so send a link instead. The details and step-by-step fixes are below.

Every WhatsApp limit in one table

These figures come from WhatsApp's own Help Center, checked November 6, 2026. Most are from the help page for the computer/web version; the Source column shows which page each one comes from.

Why do so many sites still say 16 MB?

Because 16 MB used to be right. Before May 2022, WhatsApp capped media (photos and videos) at 16 MB and other files at 100 MB. In March 2022, PhoneArena reported that WhatsApp was testing a 2 GB limit, and an update in May 2022 raised the limit to 2 GB.

Plenty of articles were never updated, and others copied the old numbers. Even some pages refreshed in 2026, such as this video limits roundup, still list WhatsApp at 16 MB. That conflicts with WhatsApp's own help page. If you see 16 MB or a 100 MB document cap, the page is describing WhatsApp as it was before mid-2022.

Why a video sends as a Document but not as a video

WhatsApp treats the same file differently depending on how you send it:

• As media (from the photo and video option): the video is automatically compressed, and on the computer/web version the default size limit depends on your connection, 100 MB at 720p if it's faster or 64 MB at 480p if it's slower.
• As a Document: the file goes up to 2 GB, and sending a photo or video this way avoids the media compression and the media size limit, as this October 2026 summary of WhatsApp's help pages puts it.

So a 300 MB video that won't send as a video will usually go through as a Document, and the person receiving it gets the file without media compression.

How to send a large video or file on WhatsApp

Try these in order. The first keeps the most quality.

Send it as a Document (up to 2 GB)

These steps use WhatsApp's wording for the computer/web version:

1. Open the chat you want to send the file to.
2. Click Add (plus sign) to open the attachment menu.
3. Choose Document (not the photo and video option).
4. Select the file, whether it's a video, a PDF or anything else. On a computer, you can also drag and drop the file straight into the chat's text field.
5. Send it.

The recipient sees a file they can download and open, rather than a video that plays inline in the chat. That's the trade-off for keeping the original file.

Send photos and videos in HD instead of Standard quality

If you'd rather the video play inside the chat, pick HD when you send photos and videos in a message. You choose between Standard and HD before sending. In WhatsApp's words, "Standard quality photos and videos use less data and are sent faster than HD quality photos and videos," while "HD quality photos and videos are clearer than Standard quality photos and videos, but use more data and take longer to send."

On Android, you can make HD the default under Settings > Storage and data > Media upload quality. HD media isn't currently available for Status updates or profile pictures.

WhatsApp's help pages don't say which size limit applies to HD videos. For the original, uncompressed file, use Document.

Sending many photos at once

From a computer, you can send up to 100 photos or videos at once and add a caption to each one. That's handy for sharing an event's photos in one go. If you want the originals uncompressed, send them as Documents instead.

What to do when a file is over 2 GB or still won't send

Over 2 GB: there's no setting inside WhatsApp that gets a file larger than 2 GB through. Upload it to a file host or cloud storage, then paste the download link into the chat. Our guide on how to share large files for free compares options for big files.

Under 2 GB but still failing: check these two things first.

• Did you send it as media or as a Document? As media, a video above the default limit won't go through (on the computer/web version, 100 MB on a faster connection or 64 MB on a slower one). Resend it through the Document option.
• How fast is your connection? On the computer/web version, WhatsApp's default media video limit drops to 64 MB at 480p on a slower connection, so the same video can behave differently depending on your connection. The phone apps may differ.

Sharing a link instead: when it makes sense

A link is the better route when the file is over 2 GB, when the person doesn't use WhatsApp, or when you want the file to disappear after a while.

For files up to 300 MB, InvisHosting is one free option:

• No account needed to upload; a free account adds shorter upload cooldowns and a dashboard to manage your files.
• Up to 300 MB per file. Large uploads are sent in pieces, so they upload reliably.
• Optional expiry from 1 minute to 30 days, after which the file is deleted permanently. Otherwise files stay up until you delete them, they break the Terms of Service, or they get no downloads for 90 days.
• Every upload is scanned for malware with VirusTotal, and executables and other dangerous file types are blocked.

Be aware of the limits. Anyone who has the link can download the file, and files are not end-to-end encrypted, so encrypt anything sensitive before uploading. It also won't help with files over 300 MB, let alone the 2 GB-plus files WhatsApp can't handle; for those, see the large-files guide linked above.

Two small extras: you can tidy a long download link with the link shortener, or turn it into a QR code with the QR code generator so someone can scan it from your screen.

WhatsApp Status video limits

Status videos can be at most 90 seconds long. HD isn't currently available for Status updates or profile pictures, so you can't post a Status in HD. If you need the full-quality clip, send it in a chat as a Document.

How WhatsApp compares with Gmail, Outlook and Discord

Every service sets its own limits. If you're deciding where to send a file, see our guides to the Gmail attachment size limit, the Outlook attachment size limit and the Discord file size limit, each with workarounds for files that are too big.

Is it safe to open large files people send you on WhatsApp?

A Document can be any type of file, so treat unexpected ones with care, especially from numbers you don't know or messages that push you to open something urgently. Before you open a file, run through the steps in how to check if a file is safe.

Frequently asked questions

What is the WhatsApp file size limit in 2026?

2 GB for documents. According to WhatsApp's computer/web help page, videos sent as media default to 100 MB at 720p on a faster connection or 64 MB at 480p on a slower one.

What is the maximum video size on WhatsApp?

As a Document, up to 2 GB. As a regular video, WhatsApp's computer/web help page gives a default of 100 MB (faster connection) or 64 MB (slower connection). The phone apps may differ.

Why does WhatsApp say my video is too long or too big?

You're most likely sending it as media, which on the computer/web version is capped by default at 100 MB or 64 MB depending on your connection. Send it as a Document instead. For Status, the limit is 90 seconds.

How do I send a video larger than 100 MB on WhatsApp?

Open the attachment menu, choose Document and select the video. That works up to 2 GB.

Can I send a file bigger than 2 GB on WhatsApp?

No. Upload it elsewhere and send the link in the chat.

Is the WhatsApp video limit still 16 MB?

No. That was the media limit before WhatsApp's May 2022 update. Pages still quoting 16 MB are out of date.

Does sending a video as a document keep the original quality?

Sending as a Document avoids the media compression that applies to videos sent directly in a chat, so the recipient gets the file rather than a compressed copy.

How long can a WhatsApp Status video be?

90 seconds at most.

Can I post HD photos or videos to my WhatsApp Status?

No. HD isn't currently available for Status updates or profile pictures.

How many photos can I send at once on WhatsApp?

Up to 100 photos or videos at once from a computer, each with its own caption.

Why do my WhatsApp videos look blurry?

Videos sent directly in a chat are automatically compressed, and on the computer/web version the default on a slower connection is 480p. Choose HD, or send the video as a Document for no media compression.

What is the PDF size limit on WhatsApp?

PDFs are sent as documents, so the limit is 2 GB.

Are the WhatsApp limits the same on phone and computer?

Not necessarily. The 100 MB and 64 MB video figures are published on WhatsApp's help page for the computer/web version, and the phone apps may differ.

Sources

• WhatsApp Help Center: How to send media, contacts, or location (web)
• WhatsApp Help Center: About HD photos and videos (Android)
• WhatsApp Help Center: How to edit photos and videos (Android)
• Dropbox: How to Send Large Videos on WhatsApp
• PhoneArena: WhatsApp testing 2GB file size limit
• Mynameiskalam: WhatsApp Media Size and Length Limits (October 2026)
• Lilach Bullock: WhatsApp File Size Limit (2026)
• Vid-crush: Social Media Video Size Limits 2026 (example of the outdated 16 MB claim)

This article was written with AI assistance from the sources listed above and checked automatically against them.