# File Size Limits for Popular Apps and Email A quick reference to the typical file and attachment limits for common messaging and email services, and what to do when your file is too big. _Source: https://sharelargefilesfree.com/file-size-limits ยท Updated 2026-09-29_ **Quick answer:** Typical limits: Gmail 25 MB per email, Outlook.com about 20 MB, WhatsApp 2 GB for documents, Telegram 2 GB (4 GB with Premium), Slack 1 GB and Discord 20 MB on free accounts. For anything larger, share a download link: this site takes up to 20 GB per transfer. ## File size limits at a glance | Service | Typical limit | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | [Gmail](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-large-files-gmail) | about 25 MB per email | Larger files are offered as a Google Drive link. | | [Outlook.com](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-large-files-outlook) | about 20 MB per email | Work accounts may differ; larger files can be shared through OneDrive. | | [WhatsApp](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-large-files-whatsapp) | about 2 GB as a document | Videos sent as media are typically compressed. | | [Discord](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-large-files-discord) | about 10 MB on free accounts | Nitro and boosted servers typically allow more. | | [Telegram](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-large-files-telegram) | about 2 GB per file | About 4 GB with Telegram Premium. | | iMessage | about 100 MB | Larger items may be sent another way or compressed. | | [Slack](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-large-files-slack) | about 1 GB per file | Workspace plans and admins can add restrictions. | | Share Large Video Files | up to 20 GB per transfer | Up to 1000 files, original quality, no account. | **Please note:** these are commonly published figures and services change their limits from time to time. Always check each service's own help pages for the current numbers. ## Email: Gmail and Outlook attachment limits Email providers limit the total size of a message. Gmail typically allows about 25 MB of attachments and Outlook.com about 20 MB. Attachments are encoded when sent, which makes them a bit larger, so a file close to the limit can still be rejected. If your attachment is too large, send a download link instead. Our guide to [fixing the attachment too large error](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/email-attachment-too-large) walks through it step by step, and there are dedicated guides for [Gmail](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-large-files-gmail) and [Outlook](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-large-files-outlook). ## Messaging apps: WhatsApp, iMessage, Telegram and Discord **WhatsApp** typically lets you share documents up to about 2 GB, but videos sent through the normal media option are usually compressed to save data. Sending a video as a document keeps more quality, though the recipient then gets a file rather than an inline clip. **iMessage** handles attachments up to roughly 100 MB. **Telegram** allows much larger files, about 2 GB, or about 4 GB with Premium. **Discord** free accounts are limited to around 10 MB, which rules out most videos. Step-by-step guides: [WhatsApp](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-large-files-whatsapp), [Telegram](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-large-files-telegram) and [Discord](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-large-files-discord). For phone videos, see our guides for [iPhone](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-video-from-iphone) and [Android](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-video-from-android). ## Work tools: Slack Slack typically accepts files up to about 1 GB, although your workspace may set tighter rules or retention policies. For client deliveries or very large video files, many people prefer to post a download link in the channel instead of the file itself. Free workspaces also only show the most recent 90 days of messages and files. See [how to send large files in Slack](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-large-files-slack). ## What to do when a file is over the limit 1. Go to the [homepage](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/) and add your file, up to 20 GB. 2. Choose _Link_ and wait for the upload to finish with the tab open. 3. Paste the link into WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, Slack, Telegram or an email. The recipient downloads the original file with no compression. The link expires after 1 day, and you can add a password or have the file deleted after its first download. Sending video? Read [how to send large video files](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-large-video-files). ## Why limits exist, and why video is hit hardest Every service has to pay to store and deliver files, and chat and email systems are built around small messages that arrive instantly. Setting a size limit keeps those services fast and affordable. Compression serves the same goal: shrinking a video before sending means less data for everyone. Video is affected more than any other kind of file because its size grows with resolution, frame rate and length. A short phone clip may fit under most limits, but a few minutes of 4K footage can be several gigabytes, well beyond email attachments and many chat apps. Photos taken in RAW format and uncompressed audio run into the same problem. That is why a download link is the usual answer. Instead of pushing the file through the chat or email system, you upload it once and send a short link, which every app can carry without trouble. The recipient downloads the file directly, in its original quality. If you work with high-resolution footage, our guide on [sending 4K video](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-4k-video) includes typical file sizes per minute, so you can estimate what you are dealing with before you start. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the WhatsApp video size limit? WhatsApp typically allows documents up to about 2 GB, but videos sent as media are compressed. Check WhatsApp's help pages for current limits. ### What is the Gmail attachment limit? Gmail typically allows about 25 MB of attachments per email. ### What is the Discord file size limit? Free Discord accounts are typically limited to about 10 MB per file; paid plans allow more. ### How large a file can I send on Telegram? Typically about 2 GB per file, or about 4 GB with Telegram Premium. ### What is the iMessage attachment limit? iMessage attachments are typically limited to about 100 MB. ### How can I send a file bigger than these limits? Upload it here, up to 20 GB, and share the download link in any app or email. ### Are these limits guaranteed to be current? No. Services change their limits, so always confirm with the service itself.