How to send large files on WhatsApp: 3 easy ways
WhatsApp lets you send files of up to 2 GB when you attach them as a document, so most large files need no workaround at all. Photos and videos sent through the gallery are compressed and capped (100 MB and 720p for video on a fast connection), so send big media as a document instead. For anything over 2 GB, split it into parts or share a cloud link in the chat.
This guide covers the current WhatsApp size limits, the three methods that work in practice, and which one to pick for each kind of file.
What is the WhatsApp file size limit?
The WhatsApp file size limit is 2 GB per document, according to WhatsApp's help page on sending media. Media sent through the Photos and Videos picker follows stricter rules, because WhatsApp compresses it for fast delivery.
| What you send | Limit | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| Document (any file type) | 2 GB | Original file, no compression |
| Video, faster connection | 100 MB | Up to 720p |
| Video, slower connection | 64 MB | Up to 480p |
| Photos and videos per message | 100 items | Standard or HD |
Older guides, including the first version of this article, mention 16 MB and 100 MB caps. Those limits are outdated: WhatsApp raised the document limit to 2 GB in 2022. The 2 GB cap applies per file, so a folder of photos that adds up to 5 GB can still go out in several messages.
Method 1: Send the file as a document (up to 2 GB)
Sending a file as a document is the fastest way to share a large file on WhatsApp, because it skips compression and accepts anything up to 2 GB. It also keeps photos and videos at their original resolution.
On a phone:
- Open the individual or group chat.
- Tap the attach icon (the paperclip on Android, the + on iPhone).
- Tap Document.
- Browse to the file, or choose a photo or video from your gallery, and select it.
- Tap Send.
On WhatsApp Web or the desktop app:
- Open the chat.
- Click the add (+) button and choose Document, or drag the file into the message field.
- Click Send.
The recipient gets the exact file you sent. Keep in mind that a 2 GB upload uses 2 GB of mobile data, and the recipient pays the same cost to download it, so use Wi-Fi for very large files. A step-by-step version for media files is in our guide to sending photos as a document in WhatsApp.
Method 2: Use HD quality for photos and videos
WhatsApp's HD quality option sends photos and videos with less compression than the standard setting, which is the right choice when you want media to display in the chat instead of arriving as a file. You can pick it per message or make it the default.
Per message: after you attach a photo, tap the HD icon at the top of the editor, choose HD quality, and send. On WhatsApp Web the same control is the hd media button, followed by Done.
As the default:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
- Tap Storage and data.
- Under Media quality, tap Upload quality (called Media upload quality on some versions).
- Select HD quality, or Standard quality if you want smaller files and lower data use.
HD still applies the video size and resolution limits from the table above, so a long 4K clip will not fit this way. For full resolution, send it as a document. More on image quality is in our guide on sending pictures on WhatsApp in high quality.
Method 3: Share a cloud link for files over 2 GB
A cloud storage link is the only way to send a file larger than 2 GB through WhatsApp, because the file stays in the cloud and only the link travels in the chat. Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox and iCloud Drive all work the same way.
With Google Drive, which includes up to 15 GB of free storage per Google account:
- Upload the file to Google Drive.
- Select the file and choose Share.
- Under General access, select Anyone with the link and keep the role on Viewer.
- Choose Copy link.
- Paste the link into the WhatsApp chat and send it.
Anyone who gets the link can open the file, including people the chat is forwarded to. For private files, leave access on Restricted and add the recipient's email address instead, as described in Google's file sharing help.
Should you compress or split the file first?
Compressing a file into a ZIP archive helps with documents, spreadsheets and many small files, but it barely shrinks photos and videos, which are already compressed. Its main benefit is bundling dozens of files into one attachment.
On Windows, right-click the folder and choose Compress to ZIP file (Windows 11) or Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder (Windows 10). Tools such as WinRAR or 7-Zip offer stronger compression and can also split an archive into parts. To send a 5 GB folder as documents, create a split archive with volumes under 2 GB each, send every part, and ask the recipient to extract the first part with the same tool.
| File | Best method | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Video or photos under 2 GB, full quality | Send as document | No compression, original resolution |
| Photos to view in the chat | HD quality | Shows inline with less compression |
| Many small files | ZIP, then send as document | One attachment instead of dozens |
| Any file over 2 GB | Cloud link or split archive | Bypasses the per-file cap legitimately |
FAQ
Why does WhatsApp reduce the quality of my videos?
Videos sent through the Photos and Videos picker are compressed to stay within 100 MB and 720p (64 MB and 480p on slow connections). Send the video as a document to keep the original quality.
Can I send a file larger than 2 GB on WhatsApp?
Not as a single attachment. Split the file into archive parts under 2 GB each, or upload it to cloud storage and share the link in the chat.
Do large files take up storage on the recipient's phone?
Yes. Once downloaded, documents and media are stored on the recipient's device, and they count toward the chat's storage use in WhatsApp's Storage and data settings.
Related: WhatsApp Web features compared to the mobile app, WinRAR 6.20 and faster RAR5 compression, Google Drive and Gmail tricks to save storage money
Or use one of the many services where I can send, on easy peasy way how-to-do, 20GB or even larger files.
Since this post is about sending large files and therefore large photo files / in the best quality possible, under “WhatsApp Media Quality” step 5. should be ‘Select Best quality’ – not ‘Data saver’.
Or you can send your photo(s) as ‘Document’ in stead of ‘Photo’.