VideoTools

Compress a video for WhatsApp

The WhatsApp preset aims at 16 MB, the media limit its help center lists, so your video sends without trouble.

or drop or paste it here

Target: WhatsApp, 16 MB. You can change it after adding a video. Your video stays on your device.

How it works

  1. Add the video from your phone or computer.
  2. Leave the WhatsApp preset selected: it is 16 MB.
  3. Press Compress. Phone videos in portrait stay in portrait.
  4. Download the MP4, then attach it in WhatsApp as a video.

Why 16 MB is the safe size

The WhatsApp help center lists a 16 MB limit for media on all platforms. A newer page about iPhone mentions larger limits of 64 to 100 MB, so the numbers differ by source. Sixteen megabytes is the value that works everywhere.

The tool measures the finished file, so it lands under 16 MB rather than close to it.

Sending as a document

WhatsApp can also attach a video as a document. The document route does not play inline in the chat, so people have to download it first. Compressing to 16 MB lets the video arrive as a normal video that plays in the conversation.

Videos from your phone

Phone videos are often recorded in portrait, and many carry a rotation flag. The result is turned the right way up for good, so it stays portrait even in apps that ignore the flag. Location and device tags from the original are not copied.

Questions

What size can WhatsApp send?

The WhatsApp help center lists 16 MB for media on all platforms. Some newer pages mention larger limits, but 16 MB is the one that is safe on every device.

Will the sound stay in my video?

Yes, unless you turn on Remove audio. The tool keeps the sound at a bitrate it picks from the size budget, and drops it only when you ask.

Can I compress a video straight from my phone?

Yes. Open this page in your phone browser and choose the video from your gallery. The work happens on the phone, so a long video may take a while and will use battery.

Why does a long video look worse than a short one?

Sixteen megabytes is a fixed budget. A longer video has less data per second, so the tool lowers the resolution to keep each frame clean.