How to Compress Video for WhatsApp Without Losing Quality (2026 Guide)

Complete guide to compressing videos for WhatsApp's 16MB limit using free tools on any device.

February 23, 2026

You've recorded the perfect video — a birthday surprise, a product demo, a funny moment — and WhatsApp refuses to send it. The culprit is almost always the same: WhatsApp's strict 16MB file size limit for video attachments. Even a 30-second clip shot on a modern iPhone or Android can exceed that cap with ease.

The fix is straightforward: compress video for WhatsApp before you hit send. Do it correctly and your recipient won't notice any quality difference. Do it wrong and you'll end up with a pixelated mess that's barely watchable. This guide covers exactly what WhatsApp requires, the best compression settings to use, and the fastest tools on every platform to get there.

WhatsApp Video Size and Format Requirements

WhatsApp enforces one of the tightest file size limits of any major messaging platform. Understanding the rules before you compress saves you from guessing.

Specification	Requirement
Maximum file size	16 MB
Supported formats	MP4, MOV, 3GP, AVI
Recommended codec	H.264 (AVC)
Audio codec	AAC
Maximum recommended duration	3 minutes (longer videos often require additional compression)
Maximum resolution	1280 × 720 px (720p) recommended for under 16MB

The 16MB ceiling is non-negotiable. WhatsApp will outright block videos that exceed it — there's no workaround except compression or trimming. For context, one minute of uncompressed iPhone 4K video sits around 400MB. Even a 60-second clip at 1080p can hit 150–250MB depending on content complexity.

WhatsApp also applies its own re-compression when you send a video, which degrades quality further if your source file is already poorly compressed. Pre-compressing with the right settings minimizes that second pass of quality loss.

Status Videos vs. Chat Videos

WhatsApp Status updates have a separate 16MB limit per clip and a 30-second duration cap. Videos sent directly in chats share the same 16MB ceiling but can be up to three minutes long. Both share the same compression strategy — but for Status videos, you have less runtime to work with, making hitting the limit easier.

How to Compress Video for WhatsApp on Mac

Mac users have the fastest and most convenient options for compressing videos to WhatsApp's 16MB limit. Here are three approaches, ordered from easiest to most technical.

Using Compresto (Fastest Method)

Compresto is a native macOS app built specifically for quick, high-quality video and image compression. It uses Apple Silicon hardware acceleration on M1/M2/M3/M4 Macs, which makes encoding dramatically faster than software-based tools.

Download and install Compresto
Drag your video file into the app window
Select H.264 as the output codec and MP4 as the format
Set the resolution to 720p (1280 × 720) for videos over one minute
Adjust the quality slider to target a file size under 16MB
Click Compress — most clips process in seconds on Apple Silicon

Compresto's drag-and-drop interface makes it the fastest option when you need to compress video for WhatsApp on the go. It works equally well for batch compression, so if you have multiple clips to send in the same WhatsApp conversation, you can queue them all at once.

Download Compresto to compress videos and images on your Mac with one click.

Using QuickTime Player (Built-In, No Download Required)

QuickTime Player is already on every Mac and handles basic compression without any setup.

Open your video in QuickTime Player
Go to File > Export As
Choose 480p for aggressive compression (good for 1–2 minute videos) or 720p for shorter clips
Pick a save location and click Save
Check the output file size — if still over 16MB, repeat at a lower resolution

QuickTime exports use H.264 by default, which is exactly what WhatsApp prefers. The downside is you can't set a specific target file size — you're picking a resolution tier and hoping the output lands under 16MB. For predictable results, Compresto or FFmpeg give you more control.

Using iMovie (Free from Apple)

iMovie is a free video editor that exports to compressed MP4 files suitable for WhatsApp.

Open iMovie and create a new project
Import your video and drag it to the timeline
Go to File > Share > File
In the export dialog, set Resolution to 720p and Quality to Medium or Low
Click Next, choose a save location, and click Save
Check the output file size before sending

iMovie gives you slightly more quality control than QuickTime's simple export. Use Medium quality for clips under 90 seconds and Low quality for anything approaching 3 minutes.

How to Compress Video for WhatsApp on Windows

Windows doesn't have a built-in tool as capable as QuickTime for video compression, but two free applications cover all use cases.

Using HandBrake (Best Free Option)

HandBrake is the gold standard for free video compression on Windows. It's open-source, actively maintained, and provides precise control over every encoding parameter.

Download HandBrake from handbrake.fr and install it
Open your video file with Open Source
Select the Fast 720p30 preset from the Presets panel on the right
In the Video tab, set the encoder to H.264 (x264)
Switch from RF (constant quality) to Avg Bitrate and enter 1500 kbps for a 1-minute video or 800 kbps for a 2–3 minute video
In the Audio tab, set codec to AAC at 128 kbps
Output format: MP4
Click Start Encode

HandBrake's bitrate control is the most reliable way to hit a target file size. For a 60-second video at 1500 kbps total (video + audio), the output should land around 12–13MB — safely under WhatsApp's 16MB cap.

Using VLC Media Player (Already Installed for Many)

If you already have VLC installed, it can compress videos without any additional downloads.

Open VLC and go to Media > Convert / Save
Click Add and select your video, then click Convert / Save
In the profile dropdown, choose Video - H.264 + MP3 (MP4)
Click the settings wrench icon next to the profile
Under Video Codec > Encoding Parameters, set bitrate to 1000–1500 kbps
Under Audio Codec, set bitrate to 128 kbps
Set a destination file, click Start

VLC is less intuitive than HandBrake for compression tasks, but it works. See our guide on compress video with VLC for a detailed VLC compression walkthrough.

How to Compress Video for WhatsApp Online

Online tools require no installation and work on any device with a browser. The tradeoff is upload time and privacy — your video travels to a third-party server.

Clideo

Clideo (clideo.com/compress-video) provides a simple interface for compressing videos in the browser.

Go to clideo.com/compress-video
Upload your video file (up to 500MB on the free plan)
Choose a compression level — "Low" or "Basic" usually lands under 16MB for short clips
Click Compress and wait for processing
Download the compressed file

Clideo processes videos on its servers, so upload speed determines how long you wait. For a 100MB video on a typical home connection, expect 1–3 minutes of upload time before compression starts.

FreeConvert

FreeConvert (freeconvert.com/video-compressor) offers slightly more control than Clideo with options for target file size.

Visit freeconvert.com/video-compressor
Upload your video
Under Advanced Settings, set Target Size to 15MB (leaving a 1MB buffer)
Choose MP4 as the output format and H.264 as the codec
Click Compress Now
Download when processing completes

Setting a specific target file size is FreeConvert's biggest advantage — you can tell it exactly where to land, which eliminates the guesswork from the process.

How to Compress Video for WhatsApp on iPhone and Android

Most WhatsApp videos are sent directly from phones, so mobile compression tools matter.

iPhone: Using iMovie for iOS

iMovie is free from the App Store and works well for compressing videos before sending via WhatsApp.

Install iMovie from the App Store
Create a new Movie project and import your video
Tap the Share icon and select Save Video
Choose a lower resolution — Medium (540p) or Low (360p) for longer videos
The compressed version saves to your Camera Roll
Share from WhatsApp by attaching from the Camera Roll

iPhone: Using Files App Export

For quick compression without an extra app, use the native Files app.

Copy your video to the Files app
Long-press the video and tap Quick Look
Tap Share from Quick Look
Choose Save to Files and select a lower quality option if prompted

This method offers limited control but works in a pinch.

Android: Using Video Compress App

"Video Compress — Shrink Vids" is a free Android app with a straightforward interface.

Install Video Compress from the Google Play Store
Select your video from the gallery
Choose a compression level — aim for 720p or lower for WhatsApp
Tap Compress Video
The compressed version saves to your gallery for sharing

Android: Using Google Photos

Google Photos has a built-in video compression option accessed through sharing settings.

Open your video in Google Photos
Tap Share and choose Send a copy
Select the video quality — choose a lower option to reduce file size
Share to WhatsApp or save to your device first

Best Settings to Compress WhatsApp Videos

These are the optimal compression settings across all platforms and tools for getting videos under 16MB while keeping them watchable.

Setting	Value
Resolution	1280 × 720 px (720p) for clips under 90 seconds
Resolution	854 × 480 px (480p) for clips 90 seconds to 3 minutes
Video codec	H.264 (AVC)
Video bitrate	1000–1500 kbps for 720p; 600–800 kbps for 480p
Audio codec	AAC
Audio bitrate	128 kbps
Frame rate	30 fps (or match your source if under 30 fps)
Container format	MP4

Quick Size Estimation

A useful rule of thumb: total bitrate (video + audio) × duration in seconds ÷ 8 ≈ file size in bytes.

For a 60-second video at 1500 kbps total bitrate: 1500 × 60 ÷ 8 = 11,250 KB ≈ 11 MB ✓

For a 180-second (3-minute) video at 1500 kbps: 1500 × 180 ÷ 8 = 33,750 KB ≈ 33 MB ✗ (too large)

For a 180-second video at 600 kbps total: 600 × 180 ÷ 8 = 13,500 KB ≈ 13 MB ✓

Use this calculation to set your bitrate before encoding rather than re-compressing after the fact.

When to Drop Resolution vs. Bitrate

If your video is under 60 seconds, stay at 720p and reduce bitrate. The extra resolution helps when WhatsApp re-encodes on the receiving end.

If your video is 1–3 minutes, drop to 480p and keep bitrate moderate (700–900 kbps). The longer runtime means you have less bitrate budget per second, and 480p holds up better at lower bitrates than 720p.

How WhatsApp Compresses Your Videos

Even after you compress your video, WhatsApp may apply additional compression on the receiving device. This is WhatsApp's adaptive quality system — it degrades video quality for recipients on slow connections or limited data plans.

Since 2022, WhatsApp has offered an HD quality option for video sharing. When you attach a video, you may see a prompt to send in Standard Quality (more compressed) or HD Quality (closer to your original file quality). Always choose HD Quality if you've already pre-compressed your video — it tells WhatsApp to skip the aggressive additional re-encoding.

Even with HD Quality selected, WhatsApp still processes the video. Pre-compression ensures the video WhatsApp receives is already optimized, minimizing the quality loss from its own pipeline.

If you're sending videos to recipients on multiple platforms, a well-compressed WhatsApp video often works across other messaging apps too. Related guides for other platforms:

Compressing for social media: compress video for Instagram, compress video for TikTok, compress video for Facebook
Compressing for other messengers: compress videos for Discord
General compression techniques: compress video without losing quality, how to reduce video size
File-specific guides: how to compress video on Mac, make MP4 smaller

If you're also looking to compress images before sending via WhatsApp, see our guide on compress JPEG to 100KB for image-specific techniques.

FAQ: Compress Video for WhatsApp

What is WhatsApp's maximum video file size?

WhatsApp limits video attachments to 16MB across all platforms — iOS, Android, and WhatsApp Web. This limit applies to videos sent in individual chats and group chats. WhatsApp Status videos also have a 16MB limit per clip, with a 30-second duration cap. Documents shared as files (not as media) follow a higher 2GB limit, but they lose the inline preview experience.

Does compressing a video for WhatsApp reduce quality?

Compression always involves some quality trade-off, but the difference is often invisible at typical WhatsApp viewing sizes. The key is using the right settings: H.264 codec, 720p resolution for short clips, and a bitrate of 1000–1500 kbps. At these settings, most viewers cannot distinguish a compressed video from the original on a phone screen. WhatsApp also applies its own re-compression after receiving the file, so sending a well-compressed source file actually results in better final quality than sending a large, unoptimized file.

What video format works best with WhatsApp?

MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio is the best format for WhatsApp. It's universally compatible, produces small file sizes at good quality, and both iOS and Android support it natively. WhatsApp also accepts MOV, 3GP, and AVI, but MP4 is the most reliable across all devices and produces the most predictable results after WhatsApp's re-encoding.

How long can a WhatsApp video be?

WhatsApp allows videos up to 3 minutes in length for chat attachments, with the 16MB file size limit applying regardless. Status updates cap at 30 seconds. Longer videos need more aggressive compression to fit under 16MB — a 3-minute video typically requires 480p resolution and around 600–700 kbps total bitrate to land under the cap.

Why does my video look blurry after sending on WhatsApp?

Blurry WhatsApp videos have two common causes. First, your original file may have been large and poorly optimized, forcing WhatsApp's own re-encoding to work harder and degrade quality more. Second, the recipient may have "Standard Quality" selected in their WhatsApp media download settings, which delivers a more compressed version. Pre-compressing your video with the settings in this guide addresses the first issue — the second is on the recipient's end. Also, when attaching a video, choose HD Quality in WhatsApp's send options to minimize additional compression on WhatsApp's end.

Send Better Videos on WhatsApp

WhatsApp's 16MB limit is frustrating but manageable. With the right settings — 720p resolution, H.264 codec, 1000–1500 kbps bitrate, MP4 container — almost any video under 2 minutes can be compressed to fit without visible quality loss.

For Mac users, Compresto is the fastest path to WhatsApp-ready videos. Drag in your clip, compress in seconds with hardware acceleration, and send without worrying about file size limits.