Compression guide

How to compress video for Telegram

Telegram has the most generous file limits of major messaging apps: 2 GB free, 4 GB with Premium. Realistically, you don't need to compress for Telegram unless you're sending raw 4K footage. Quality preservation > file size for Telegram.

Size limit

2000 MB

Target output: 100 MB (with safety margin)

Free: 2000 MB

Premium: 4000 MB

Recommended settings

Codec	H.264
CRF (quality)	23
Audio bitrate	128 Kbps AAC
QuickVid mode	Recommended

ffmpeg one-liner

For terminal-comfortable users, here's the exact command:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -crf 23 -preset medium -c:a aac -b:a 128k -movflags +faststart output.mp4

Install ffmpeg via Homebrew: brew install ffmpeg

Tips

•Don't aggressively compress for Telegram — the 2 GB limit means you can preserve quality
•For mobile recipients, target 100-200 MB to avoid forcing them to wait or burn data
•Telegram's web client renders H.264 perfectly; HEVC may have issues in some clients
•Use 'Send as File' option to preserve original quality with no re-encoding by Telegram

Skip the terminal

QuickVid Compress wraps these settings into a one-click "Recommended" mode. Drop your video, pick the mode, save the result. About 30 seconds end-to-end.

Try QuickVid

Frequently asked questions

What is the video size limit for Telegram?

Telegram's default video size limit is 2000 MB. Free: 2000 MB; Premium: 4000 MB. To fit comfortably below the limit, target 100 MB when compressing.

What's the best codec for Telegram?

H.264 at CRF 23 produces the best balance of size and quality for Telegram. 128 Kbps AAC audio is the right pairing — universal compatibility and small footprint.

How do I compress a video for Telegram on Mac?

Drop the file into a Mac compressor like QuickVid Compress (use the "Recommended" mode) or run the ffmpeg one-liner: ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -crf 23 -preset medium -c:a aac -b:a 128k -movflags +faststart output.mp4. Both produce output that fits Telegram's 2000 MB limit with no visible quality loss.

Why does Telegram reject my video?

Most rejections are file-size related: Telegram caps at 2000 MB. Other reasons include unsupported codec (use H.264 for maximum compatibility, not HEVC), missing the +faststart flag (which keeps streaming usable on slow connections), or audio in a non-AAC container.

Can I send larger videos via Telegram?

Telegram offers higher limits on paid tiers — Premium accepts 4000 MB. Alternatively, host the video elsewhere (YouTube unlisted, Google Drive, Dropbox) and share a link. For sensitive content where you don't want third-party hosting, compress aggressively to fit the free tier.