Compression guide

How to compress video for WhatsApp

WhatsApp's native video share is capped at ~16 MB after their automatic re-encode. The workaround is sending as a document attachment, which bypasses re-encoding and allows 100 MB. But documents don't play inline — recipient must download.

Size limit

16 MB

Target output: 15 MB (with safety margin)

Native video (compressed by WhatsApp): 16 MB

Document attachment: 100 MB

Recommended settings

Codec	H.264
CRF (quality)	30
Audio bitrate	64 Kbps AAC
QuickVid mode	Tiny

ffmpeg one-liner

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

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -crf 30 -preset medium -vf scale=-2:480 -c:a aac -b:a 64k output.mp4

Install ffmpeg via Homebrew: brew install ffmpeg

Tips

•16 MB is post-WhatsApp-recompress; the raw file you upload should be ~30 MB or less to avoid quality loss after their re-encode
•Send as 'Document' instead of 'Video' to bypass auto-compression and use the 100 MB limit
•WhatsApp Business has slightly higher limits in some markets
•Recipients on slow connections may not see your video at full quality even at the limit

Skip the terminal

QuickVid Compress wraps these settings into a one-click "Tiny" 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 WhatsApp?

WhatsApp's default video size limit is 16 MB. Native video (compressed by WhatsApp): 16 MB; Document attachment: 100 MB. To fit comfortably below the limit, target 15 MB when compressing.

What's the best codec for WhatsApp?

H.264 at CRF 30 produces the best balance of size and quality for WhatsApp. 64 Kbps AAC audio is the right pairing — universal compatibility and small footprint.

How do I compress a video for WhatsApp on Mac?

Drop the file into a Mac compressor like QuickVid Compress (use the "Tiny" mode) or run the ffmpeg one-liner: ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -crf 30 -preset medium -vf scale=-2:480 -c:a aac -b:a 64k output.mp4. Both produce output that fits WhatsApp's 16 MB limit with no visible quality loss.

Why does WhatsApp reject my video?

Most rejections are file-size related: WhatsApp caps at 16 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 WhatsApp?

WhatsApp offers higher limits on paid tiers — Document attachment accepts 100 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.