How do you send a video that is too large?
The Fotelya team ·
Send a link, not an attachment. Gmail and Outlook.com stop at 25 MB per message, while a transfer service takes far larger files: 3 GB on WeTransfer's free plan, 50 GB on SwissTransfer. On WhatsApp, a video sent the normal way is limited to 100 MB at 720p; sent as a document, it can be up to 2 GB.
The limit of each option
| Option | Limit | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail | 25 MB per message | Beyond that, Gmail inserts a Google Drive link |
| Outlook.com | 25 MB per message | Beyond that, a OneDrive link of up to 2 GB |
| WhatsApp, as a video | 100 MB at 720p, 64 MB at 480p on a slower connection | The video is usually compressed when sent |
| WhatsApp, as a document | 2 GB | Arrives as a file to open |
| Mail Drop (Apple) | 5 GB | Available for 30 days |
| WeTransfer, free plan | 3 GB; 10 transfers or 3 GB per 30-day period | Link valid for 3 days |
| SwissTransfer | 50 GB | Free, no sign-up, available for up to 30 days |
The right method for each recipient
- A video for a friend or relative: your email's sharing link, Google Drive or OneDrive, or Mail Drop on an Apple device. Between two Apple devices close to each other, AirDrop does the job.
- A large file for a professional, such as a videographer or an editor: a transfer service. Keep an eye on the link's lifetime, only three days on WeTransfer's free plan.
- A video that will be watched on a phone: trimming it or lowering its resolution makes the file much lighter, and it then fits through ordinary messaging.
Watch out for expiring links
A transfer link is not storage: WeTransfer says its free transfers expire after three days, SwissTransfer keeps files for up to 30 days, Mail Drop for 30 days. If the recipient waits too long, the video is gone for them: download it as soon as it arrives and keep a copy.
Videos from every guest at a party
After a wedding, the videos are scattered across dozens of phones. With Fotelya's Event and Premium plans, guests add their videos to the shared album by scanning a QR code, up to 100 MB each, and they are kept as they are, without recompression. For anything heavier, a transfer service remains the right tool.
Related questions
What is the maximum video size on WhatsApp?
100 MB at 720p by default on a faster connection, 64 MB at 480p on a slower one, according to WhatsApp's help center. Sent as a document, the limit rises to 2 GB.
How long does a WeTransfer link last?
Three days on the free plan, according to WeTransfer. Download the video as soon as you receive the link.
How do you send a large video from an iPhone?
With Mail Drop, the Mail app sends attachments of up to 5 GB, which the recipient can download for 30 days. An iCloud link, also valid for 30 days, or AirDrop to a nearby Apple device work too.
Sources
- WhatsApp Help Center: How to send media, contacts, or location (Android), accessed 11 September 2026
- Google Gmail Help: Send attachments with your Gmail message, accessed 11 September 2026
- Microsoft: Sending limits in Outlook.com, accessed 11 September 2026
- WeTransfer Help Center: Plan limits, accessed 11 September 2026
- WeTransfer: Send files free, accessed 11 September 2026
- SwissTransfer (Infomaniak), accessed 11 September 2026
- Apple Support: Mail Drop limits, accessed 11 September 2026
- Apple iPhone User Guide: Share long videos on iPhone, accessed 11 September 2026