Compress video for WhatsApp

WhatsApp won't send oversized videos as videos: it asks you to send them as documents, and then the other person gets no preview and can't watch it in the chat. The video limit is usually 16 MB, and the app recompresses whatever you send anyway.

How to do it

1. Open Video Compressor and choose the video.
2. Under Compression, tap Max size and then 16 MB WhatsApp.
3. For videos over a minute or two, pick 720p or 480p under Resolution. With fewer pixels per frame, the picture holds up better at the limit.
4. Tap Compress, download it and send it on WhatsApp as a video.

How much video fits in 16 MB?

It depends on how much quality you're willing to give up. As a rough guide, with audio:

• up to 1 minute: looks good even at 1080p;
• 1 to 3 minutes: 720p is the sweet spot;
• 3 to 10 minutes: use 480p and expect a softer picture;
• longer than that: trim the video or send it as a document.

The estimate below the options shows whether the size you asked for is possible before you compress.

On your phone

It works in Chrome on Android and Safari on iPhone (iOS 17 or later). Long videos take a few minutes; keep the screen on until it finishes. The video isn't uploaded anywhere: compression happens on the device itself.