Compress Images & Videos for WhatsApp
Reduce photo and video file sizes for smooth WhatsApp sharing. WhatsApp compresses media aggressively when you send it — but if you pre-compress with the right settings, you control the quality instead of letting WhatsApp's algorithm decide. Compresso processes files entirely in your browser, so your private photos and videos are never uploaded to any server.
Drop images here or click to upload
PNG, JPG, WebP, HEIC — up to 50MB each
Compress photos to send faster on WhatsApp
Reduce video sizes to fit WhatsApp's 16MB media limit
Better quality than WhatsApp's built-in compression
Convert HEIC (iPhone) photos to JPG for universal compatibility
Resize photos to WhatsApp's optimal dimensions
Works on iPhone, Android, and desktop browsers
Batch compress multiple photos for WhatsApp albums
No watermarks, no sign-up, completely free
WhatsApp File Size Limits
- Photos (as media): 16MB limit, but WhatsApp compresses to ~100-200KB
- Videos (as media): 16MB limit
- Documents: 2GB limit (no compression applied)
- Voice messages: No practical limit (compressed to Opus format)
- Status/Stories: 30 seconds for video, heavily compressed
Why Pre-Compressing for WhatsApp Matters
WhatsApp is notorious for destroying photo quality. It compresses every photo you send as media, often reducing a beautiful 8MP photo to a blurry 100KB version. You can't prevent this, but you can minimize the damage.
When you send a pre-compressed 500KB photo at 80% quality, WhatsApp applies much lighter additional compression because the file is already small. The result looks significantly better than sending the original 8MB photo and letting WhatsApp crush it down to 100KB. Pre-compression gives you control over the quality tradeoff.
Related Tools
- Compress JPG — optimal format for WhatsApp photos
- Compress Video — fit videos under 16MB
- Resize Image — resize to WhatsApp's optimal dimensions
- HEIC to JPG — convert iPhone photos for compatibility
- Compress Under 1MB — optimal pre-compression for WhatsApp
- Compress Under 5MB — high-quality photo sharing
- Compress for Email — email attachment limits
- Compress for Discord — Discord file limits
Frequently Asked Questions
What is WhatsApp's file size limit?
WhatsApp allows media files (photos and videos) up to 16MB when sent as media. Documents can be up to 2GB. When you send a photo as media, WhatsApp compresses it further on its end. When you send as a document, the original file is preserved but the recipient doesn't see an inline preview.
Why does WhatsApp reduce my photo quality?
WhatsApp automatically compresses all photos sent as media to reduce bandwidth usage. It typically reduces photos to around 100-200KB regardless of original quality. To get better results, pre-compress your photos to 500KB-1MB at 80% quality with Compresso — WhatsApp will apply lighter compression since the file is already small.
How do I send full quality photos on WhatsApp?
Send photos as documents instead of media — tap the attachment icon, select 'Document', and choose your photo. This sends the original file without WhatsApp compression. The downside is no inline preview. For a middle ground, pre-compress with Compresso at 85% quality so the file looks great and WhatsApp applies minimal additional compression.
What is the WhatsApp video size limit?
WhatsApp limits videos sent as media to 16MB. For a typical 1080p video, that's roughly 90 seconds to 3 minutes depending on content. Longer videos need to be compressed or trimmed. You can also send videos up to 2GB as documents, but they won't play inline in the chat.
How do I compress videos for WhatsApp?
Upload your video to Compresso and set the target size to 16MB or less. The compressor will reduce resolution and bitrate just enough to fit. For best results, trim your video to only the essential clip before compressing — shorter videos maintain higher quality at the same file size.
Does WhatsApp support HEIC photos?
WhatsApp can receive HEIC photos but may not display them correctly on all devices, especially older Android phones. Use Compresso to convert HEIC to JPG before sending — this ensures every recipient can view your photos, and the conversion also reduces file size.
What dimensions should WhatsApp photos be?
WhatsApp displays photos at a maximum of 1600x1600 pixels. Sending larger images is wasteful since WhatsApp resizes them anyway. Use Compresso to resize photos to 1600px on the longest side before sending — this gives you control over the resizing quality instead of leaving it to WhatsApp's algorithm.
How do I send multiple photos on WhatsApp without losing quality?
Select all photos in Compresso, compress at 80% JPG quality, and download them. Then send through WhatsApp. Even though WhatsApp will still compress them slightly, pre-compressed photos look noticeably better because you started with a higher-quality, appropriately-sized file.
Last updated: April 2026