# How to send MP4 files

MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14 video) files are often too big for email and chat apps. Here is how big they get and how to send them exactly as they are.

_Source: https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-mp4-files · Updated 2026-10-13_

**Quick answer:** To send a large MP4 file, upload it to Share Large Video Files (up to 20 GB, no account) and share the download link: the file arrives unchanged. A 1-minute 4K phone video is about 400 MB, more than most email providers accept.

## What is a MP4 file?

MP4 is the most widely supported video format. Android phones, action cameras, drones, screen recorders and almost every editing app export it, and it plays on nearly any device. Inside, the video is usually **H.264** or **HEVC (H.265)**, with AAC audio.

Although MP4 is a delivery format designed to be efficient, long or high-resolution videos still add up fast. The size depends on the bitrate the camera or export setting used: a 4K drone clip recorded at 100 Mbps fills about 750 MB per minute, whereas a 1080p web export may be under 100 MB per minute.

Extensions: .mp4, .m4v.

## How big are MP4 files?

| File | Typical size |
| --- | --- |
| 1 minute of 1080p 30 fps from an Android phone | about 100 to 130 MB |
| 1 minute of 4K 30 fps from a phone | about 300 to 450 MB |
| 1 minute of 4K at 100 Mbps (drones, action cameras) | about 750 MB |
| A 10-minute 1080p export for YouTube (about 10 to 16 Mbps) | roughly 750 MB to 1.2 GB |
| A 1-hour 1080p screen recording | roughly 1 to 4 GB, depending on the recorder's settings |

## Which apps can send one?

Can you send a 1-minute 4K phone video (about 400 MB) as an attachment?

| App | Limit | Fits? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gmail | 25 MB per email | No, send a link |
| Outlook.com | 20 to 25 MB per email | No, send a link |
| WhatsApp (document) | 2 GB per file | Yes |
| Telegram | 2 GB per file | Yes |
| Facebook Messenger | 100 MB per file | No, send a link |
| Discord (free) | 20 MB per file | No, send a link |
| Slack | 1 GB per file | Yes |
| WeTransfer (free) | 3 GB per transfer | Yes |
| **Share Large Video Files** | 20 GB per transfer | Send the link anywhere |

Limits from our [file size limits by app](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/file-size-limits-by-app) table, checked against each service's help pages.

## How to send MP4 files without changing them

1. Open [Share Large Video Files](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/) in any browser and choose **Get a link** (or **Send by email**).
2. Drop MP4 files on the upload box, or pick a whole folder. Up to 20 GB and 1000 files per transfer.
3. Optional: add a password, a download limit or an expiry under More options.
4. Copy the link (or show the QR code) and send it by chat or email. The recipient downloads the original file, byte for byte.

## Tips for sending MP4 files

- Send the file straight from the camera card or the phone's storage rather than a copy downloaded from social media, which is recompressed.
- For a batch of clips, add them all to one transfer so the recipient gets a single link.
- If you exported from an editor, check the bitrate. A higher bitrate means a larger but cleaner file.
- Action cameras and drones split long recordings into several MP4 chapters. Send every part so nothing goes missing.

## How to open a MP4 file

MP4 opens almost everywhere. **Windows:** Media Player and the Films & TV app. **Mac:** QuickTime Player. **iPhone:** the Files app plays it, and you can save it to Photos. **Android:** Google Photos and the built-in gallery or video player. VLC is a good backup on every platform.

## Frequently asked questions

### How can I send an MP4 that is too big for email?

Upload it and share a download link instead of attaching it. Most email services stop at around 20 to 25 MB, while a link can carry a file of up to 20 GB here.

### Does sending an MP4 by link reduce its quality?

No. The recipient downloads exactly the file you uploaded, byte for byte. Quality only drops when an app re-encodes the video, which chat apps often do.

### Why is my drone MP4 split into several files?

Many cameras start a new file every few GB, partly because memory cards formatted as FAT32 cannot hold a single file over 4 GB. The parts are one recording, so send all of them together.