Discord
Video too big for Discord? How to fit the new 20 MB limit
Discord doubled the free limit in August 2026, then quietly made it stricter on phones. Here's what changed, and how to get a clip through on the first try.
Discord’s upload limits, as of September 2026
On 13 August 2026 Discord announced that the free upload limit was rising from 10 MB to 20 MB:
| Plan | Upload limit per file |
|---|---|
| Free | 20 MB (was 10 MB) |
| Nitro Basic | 50 MB |
| Nitro | 500 MB |
Boosted servers can raise the limit for everyone in them.
The catch: phones now measure before compressing
Alongside the increase, Discord changed how the limit is checked on mobile. The file’s size is now measured before Discord’s own compression, the way desktop already worked. The practical effect — especially on Android, where phone recordings run large — is that you can hit the limit more often than before, even though the number is higher.
In other words: a phone video that used to squeeze through because Discord shrank it first may now be refused outright. The reliable fix is to send a file that’s already under 20 MB.
What fits in 20 MB?
20 MB is 160 megabits. At a given total bitrate, that buys roughly:
| Bitrate | Fits in 20 MB | Fits in the old 10 MB | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 Mbps | about 1:43 | about 0:52 | 720p, calm footage |
| 2.5 Mbps | about 1:02 | about 0:31 | 720p, most clips |
| 4 Mbps | about 0:39 | about 0:19 | 1080p30 |
| 6 Mbps | about 0:26 | about 0:13 | 1080p60 gameplay |
Durations allow 3% for container overhead. Gameplay is harder to compress than it looks — fast motion and fine detail change every frame — so it needs the higher bitrates in this table, or a shorter clip.
How to get a clip under the limit
- Trim first. The cheapest megabytes are the seconds you didn’t need. Cut the clip to the moment itself.
- Match resolution to the bitrate. Under 2.5 Mbps, 720p looks better than 1080p: the same bits spread over fewer pixels. At 4 Mbps and up, 1080p is comfortable.
- Keep 60 fps only for motion. A reaction or a voice clip loses nothing at 30 fps and gains sharpness.
- Aim just under the cap. Target 19 MB rather than exactly 20 — a little headroom never hurts.
In Ninja, the Discord preset produces a file that fits the free limit with room to spare. To use all of the new 20 MB, choose Target size and type 19 MB instead. For Nitro, the Discord Nitro preset targets 500 MB.
Frequently asked questions
What is Discord’s file size limit without Nitro?
20 MB per file, since 13 August 2026. Before that it was 10 MB.
Why does Discord still say my video is too big when it’s under 20 MB on my phone?
Check the size of the actual file you’re sending — the one in your gallery may be a different, larger version, and Discord now measures before compressing on mobile. Compress to a file that’s under 20 MB before you share it.
Does Discord compress videos?
On mobile, Discord may reduce what you send. Since August 2026, the size limit applies to your file before that happens, so starting with a small file is the dependable route.
Sources
Every limit above was checked against these on 23 September 2026. Platforms change them; if one has moved, tell us.