WhatsApp's file size limit is 2 GB for documents, including PDFs. Videos sent as media have a lower default limit as of October 2026: 100MB at 720p on a faster internet connection, or 64MB at 480p on a slower one.
Those figures come from WhatsApp's own help page for sending media from a computer, so treat this as the desktop and web picture. The phone apps may differ, and I won't quote phone limits that page doesn't give.
Every WhatsApp media limit in one table
| What you're sending | Limit as of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| A document, including a PDF | 2 GB |
| Video on a faster connection | 100MB at 720p, by default |
| Video on a slower connection | 64MB at 480p, by default |
| Photos or videos in one go | Up to 100, with a caption on each |
| Status video | 90 seconds maximum |
| HD quality | Not available for status updates or profile pictures |
Notice what's missing: WhatsApp's help gives no size limit for a single photo, so I won't invent one. What it does give you is a quality choice. Before you send an attached photo, you can pick Standard quality or HD quality.
Why a video and a document get different limits
The gap between 2 GB and 100MB is the useful bit. A video sent through the photos and videos option counts as media, and WhatsApp's default limit for it depends on your connection speed. That's why the same clip can go through from one person's computer and stall on someone else's slower connection.
Documents work differently. The Document option lets you select files from your computer, including PDFs, and the maximum allowed document size is 2 GB whatever your connection. You can also drag and drop a document straight into the text field instead of using the menu.
Sending photos and videos in bulk
From a computer, you can send up to 100 photos or videos at once and add a caption to each one. Here's the routine as of October 2026:
- Open the individual or group chat.
- Open the attachment menu and choose Photos and Videos, then select the files from your computer. You can also drag and drop them into the text field.
- To change the quality of a photo, choose Standard quality or HD quality, then Done.
- Add a caption to each photo or video if you want one.
- Send.
If you're sending from your phone instead, my guide to sending photos on WhatsApp covers that side.
Status, profile pictures and the 90-second cap
Status has its own rules. A status video can run for a maximum of 90 seconds, and HD media isn't currently available for status updates or profile pictures. So if a status clip looks softer than the file you started with, the lack of HD for status is the likely reason, not your camera.
If the problem is that some people can't see your status at all, that's a different issue: here's why a WhatsApp status isn't showing to some contacts.
Video formats WhatsApp accepts
WhatsApp's help lists six supported video formats: 3GP, AVI, FLV, MKV, MOV and MP4. It also warns that a high audio sample rate or professional cameras may be unsupported. If footage from a dedicated camera won't send, the format and audio settings are what I'd look at before blaming the file size.
PDFs get extra help on the computer. You can preview a PDF and make basic edits directly in WhatsApp without downloading it: zoom, scroll, jump to a page, draw, highlight, underline or strike through text. For more advanced editing there's an Edit in Acrobat option, which opens Adobe Acrobat in your browser.
Finding big files you've already received
Large files pile up fast on a business number. Your Media screen shows the documents, links and media you've received across all your chats in the past 14 days. You can view media from all chats, sort by newest, oldest, largest file or file name, and search by sender, caption or group name. Select several at once and you can forward, download, star or delete them in one batch.
To open it on a computer, use the Media icon in the left-side navigation menu, or, inside a chat, click Contact info, then Media, links and docs. To keep a single photo or video, click it, then click the download icon and Save if you're prompted.
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Sorting by largest file is the quickest way to see what's eating your storage, and to save the documents you need before you clear the rest.
What I'd do when a file won't send
I'd send a long video through the Document option, where WhatsApp's limit is 2 GB, and skip compressing the file unless it still won't go. Compressing costs you quality, and sending it as a document avoids the connection-based video limit.
Over 2 GB, there's no setting that gets it through. WhatsApp lets you share a link by copying it and pasting it into the chat, so upload the file to the cloud storage your business already uses and send the link instead. Your customer gets the full-quality file and the chat stays light.
If a file under 2 GB still won't send, check two things: whether the video format is on WhatsApp's list, and whether it came from a professional camera with a high audio sample rate. For the wider set of WhatsApp figures beyond files, WhatsApp by the numbers has them in one place.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the WhatsApp file size limit?
The maximum document size is 2 GB. For videos, the default limit is 100MB at 720p on a faster connection and 64MB at 480p on a slower one, as of October 2026.
How long can a WhatsApp status video be?
Status videos have a maximum duration of 90 seconds.
How many photos can I send at once on WhatsApp?
From a computer you can send up to 100 photos or videos at once and add a caption to each.
Which video formats does WhatsApp support?
WhatsApp lists 3GP, AVI, FLV, MKV, MOV and MP4.
Can I post HD photos to my WhatsApp status?
No. WhatsApp says HD media isn't currently available for status updates or profile pictures.
