# How to Send Large Files and Videos on WhatsApp WhatsApp shrinks videos sent from your gallery and caps files at 2 GB. Here is how to send in full quality, what to do when the file is too big, and how to share a download link right in the chat. _Source: https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-large-files-whatsapp ยท Updated 2026-09-29_ **Quick answer:** WhatsApp compresses photos and videos sent from the gallery and caps documents at 2 GB. To keep full quality, send the video as a document, or upload it here (up to 20 GB) and paste the download link into the chat. ## WhatsApp file size limits and compression WhatsApp treats a file differently depending on how you send it: | How you send it | What the recipient gets | | --- | --- | | Photo or video from the gallery | A compressed copy that plays inline in the chat | | Photo or video with the HD option | A higher-quality copy, but still compressed | | As a document | The original file, up to 2 GB | | A download link | The original file, of any size the link service allows | Compression is why a sharp video looks soft or blocky after it arrives: WhatsApp lowers the resolution and bitrate to save data. That is fine for a quick clip, but not for footage you want to keep, edit or print stills from. WhatsApp's help pages have the current limits. ## Send a video as a document to keep the quality Sending the video as a document skips compression, as long as it is under 2 GB: - **iPhone:** open the chat, tap **+**, then **Document**. Choose _Choose Photo or Video_ to pick from your library, or browse the Files app. - **Android:** open the chat, tap the **paperclip**, then **Document**, and browse to the video, usually in the DCIM or Movies folder. - **WhatsApp on a computer:** click the attach button, choose **Document** and select the file. The recipient gets a file to download rather than a video that plays in the chat, and it uses their mobile data and storage at full size. Large documents can also take a long time to send on a weak connection. ## When the file is over 2 GB: send a link in the chat Long 4K clips, screen recordings and whole folders of videos quickly go past 2 GB. Instead of trimming or compressing them, send a link: 1. **Open [Share Large Video Files](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/)** in Safari, Chrome or any browser. No app or account is needed. 2. **Add your videos or files**, up to 1000 files, totalling up to 20 GB. 3. **Choose _Link_** and keep the tab open while the upload finishes. 4. **Tap share** and pick WhatsApp from your phone's share sheet, or copy the link and paste it into the chat. On a computer you can also show a QR code for someone to scan. Your contact taps the link and downloads the original file, byte for byte, with no compression. The link works for 1 day, and you can add a password or choose delete after first download. The same link also works in group chats, so everyone gets the full-quality version without it being re-sent to each member. ## Getting the original file on iPhone and Android For the best quality, make sure you upload the original, not a copy that has already been shrunk: - **iPhone:** save the video from Photos to the Files app first, then choose it from Files in Safari. If you use iCloud Photos with _Optimise iPhone Storage_, let the full-size video download first. Our [iPhone guide](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-video-from-iphone) shows each step. - **Android:** choose the video through the file browser rather than a gallery app that might hand over a smaller copy. See the [Android guide](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-video-from-android). - **Videos you received on WhatsApp** were probably compressed already. Ask the sender for the original, or for a link. ## More tips for WhatsApp - **Use Wi-Fi** for big uploads, and keep the browser tab open until the upload completes. - **Need a smaller video on purpose?** For a status update or a quick preview, a lower-resolution copy is perfectly fine. We are building a free video compressor for this site; in the meantime, the gallery send in WhatsApp does the shrinking for you. - **Private videos:** add a password and send it in a separate message, or tell the recipient in person. - **Check delivery** on the Transfers page, which shows how many times the files have been downloaded. Sending to Telegram too? See [how to send large files on Telegram](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-large-files-telegram). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the WhatsApp file size limit? WhatsApp allows documents of up to 2 GB. Photos and videos sent from the gallery are compressed. Check WhatsApp's help pages for the current limits. ### How do I send a video on WhatsApp without losing quality? Send it as a document instead of from the gallery, or upload it here and share the download link in the chat. ### Does the HD option send the original video? No. HD sends a higher-quality version than the standard option, but the video is still compressed. ### How do I send a video larger than 2 GB on WhatsApp? Upload it here, up to 20 GB, and paste or share the download link into the chat. ### Does my contact need to install anything? No. They tap the link and download the file in their browser, with no account. ### Can I send the same link to a WhatsApp group? Yes. Anyone in the group with the link can download the files until the link expires after 1 day.