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GivenTool

Compress a video for WhatsApp

Shrink a video under WhatsApp's 16 MB (or 64 MB) limit without losing the whole picture.

Drop a file here or click to browse

Accepts MP4, MOV, M4V, WEBM, MKV, AVI, 3GP. Up to 500.0 MB per file.

WhatsApp caps videos sent as media at 16 MB on many older app versions, and at 64 MB on recent versions of WhatsApp for Android and iOS (sent as a document the limit is 2 GB, but recipients then have to download and open the file). The app also re-compresses anything you send as media, so a video that is already small and already H.264 arrives looking much better than a large one WhatsApp squashes itself.

This tool defaults to 16 MB, the number that works on every version; raise it to 64 MB if both you and the recipient are on a current app. It encodes H.264 with AAC audio in an MP4, the exact combination WhatsApp expects, and downscales to 720p when the bitrate would otherwise be too low for a watchable result.

How to use it

  1. Drop the video (MP4, MOV, WebM, MKV, AVI or 3GP) or click to browse. The player reads its length.
  2. The target is preset to 16 MB; change it only if you know the limit is different.
  3. Optionally cap the resolution or pick "Fastest". Leave audio on unless you only need the picture.
  4. Click Compress and keep the tab open until the progress bar completes.
  5. Download the MP4 and share it. The result card shows the exact size and bitrate.

Frequently asked questions

Is the WhatsApp limit 16 MB or 64 MB?

It depends on the app version and platform. 16 MB was the long-standing cap and still applies on some devices; current Android and iOS versions allow 64 MB for media. 16 MB is the safe default. Sending as a document allows up to 2 GB with no re-compression.

Why does WhatsApp still reduce the quality after I compress?

WhatsApp always re-encodes media videos. Starting from a clean 720p H.264 file gives it much less to destroy than a 4K original, so the received copy looks better.

Can I keep 1080p under 16 MB?

For clips under about 40 seconds, yes; set the resolution cap to 1080p. Longer clips would need such a low bitrate that 720p looks better, which is why Auto downscales.

How long does it take?

Encoding runs on one CPU core in your browser. A one-minute 1080p phone clip takes roughly one to three minutes on a laptop and longer on a phone. Choose "Fastest" or cap the resolution at 720p to speed it up.

Is my video uploaded?

No. FFmpeg runs as WebAssembly inside your browser. The 32 MB engine is downloaded once and cached; your video never leaves the device.

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