Skip to content

Platform sizes

WhatsApp file size limits

By Updated How we write these

1 min read

The short answer

WhatsApp sends photos, videos and voice notes up to 16 MB as media, and any file up to 2 GB as a document. Media is compressed again by WhatsApp; a document arrives exactly as you sent it.

Compress a video under 16 MB Split a video for Status Compress photos for WhatsApp

Sending files

Sending files
Photos, videos & voice sent as media 16 MB per file
Any file sent as a Document 2 GB per file
Photos in HD mode long edge up to 4096 px

Media or document?

Sent as media, a video plays in the chat but must be under 16 MB, and WhatsApp compresses it again on the way. Sent as a document, it can be up to 2 GB and keeps its full quality, but it arrives as a file to download rather than playing in the chat. For a clip people will watch on their phones, compressing it under 16 MB is usually the better experience; video too big for WhatsApp walks through both.

Questions

How do I send a video longer than WhatsApp allows?

Compress it under 16 MB to send as media, or send it as a document (up to 2 GB). For Status, split it into parts.

Does WhatsApp reduce photo quality?

Yes, photos sent as media are recompressed. Turn on HD when sending for less compression, or send the photo as a document to keep it exactly as it is.

What size are WhatsApp stickers?

512 × 512 pixels, WebP, up to 100 KB static or 500 KB animated. See WhatsApp sticker size.

Where these numbers come from

Checked against these sources on 2026-09-28. Platforms change their rules; if one has, the upload limits page changelog says so.

Other platform sizes

Make a file fit