Compress a video for WhatsApp on iPhone
WhatsApp’s default video limit on iPhone is 100 MB at 720p on a fast connection and 64 MB at 480p on a slow one, and it compresses videos as it sends them. To keep control of the quality, send a copy that is already under 64 MB, or send the video as a document, which goes as it is, up to 2 GB.
What are WhatsApp’s video limits on iPhone?
| How you send it | Limit | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| Video, fast connection | 100 MB | Up to 720p |
| Video, slow connection | 64 MB | Up to 480p |
| Document | 2 GB | Sent as it is, without recompression |
| Status video | 90 seconds | Separate limit for status updates |
WhatsApp also says media is usually compressed when shared, so a 4K clip arrives at 720p or less even when it is under the limit. You can pick Standard or HD quality before sending.
Which size should you aim for?
64 MB works on both kinds of connection, which is why ClipLeve’s For messages preset stops there. At that size, a clip this long still fits at each resolution:
| Resolution | Longest clip that fits |
|---|---|
| 1080p | 2 min 04 s |
| 720p | 5 min 31 s |
| 540p | 9 min 41 s |
| 360p | 17 min 22 s |
A one-minute 4K video at 30 fps is about 170 MB on an iPhone, so it needs a smaller copy before WhatsApp will take it as a video.
How do you send a long video on WhatsApp from iPhone?
- In ClipLeve, open the video and tap Send a smaller version.
- Choose For messages (up to 64 MB). If it still won’t fit, choose Send only a clip.
- In the share sheet, pick WhatsApp and the chat.
To send the full-quality file instead, open the chat in WhatsApp, tap the plus button, choose Document and pick the video from Files or iCloud Drive. Save it there from Photos first. The person receives it as a file.
Video or document: which should you choose?
| As a video | As a document | |
|---|---|---|
| Size limit | 100 MB, or 64 MB on a slow connection | 2 GB |
| Quality | Recompressed by WhatsApp, up to 720p | The file you chose |
| How it arrives | A video in the chat | A file |
| Best for | Quick viewing on a phone | Keeping the original, sending to edit |
Questions
Why is my WhatsApp video blurry?
WhatsApp recompresses videos when it sends them, to 720p on a fast connection or 480p on a slow one. Choosing HD quality before sending helps; sending as a document keeps the file untouched.
Does a smaller copy from ClipLeve change my original video?
No. Send a smaller version makes a separate file for sharing and deletes it afterwards. It is never added to Photos.
How long can a WhatsApp status video be?
90 seconds, according to WhatsApp’s Help Center. A longer clip has to be trimmed.
Sources
- WhatsApp Help Center: How to send media on iPhone (100 MB and 64 MB video limits, 2 GB documents), checked
- iOS Settings › Camera › Record Video, with High Efficiency: the size of a minute of video for each setting, checked
- ClipLeve’s size model, the same one the app uses before processing (app version 1.0.0), checked
