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Discord video size limit: fit your clips under 20 MB without Nitro.
Free Discord accounts can upload files up to 20 MB (raised from 10 MB in August 2026). To share a longer clip without Nitro, compress it to just under 20 MB as an MP4. Clips up to about a minute look great at 1080p; longer ones look better at 720p.
What changed with Discord's upload limit
In 2024 Discord cut the free upload limit from 25 MB to 10 MB, which made sharing game clips painful. In August 2026 it doubled the free limit to 20 MB. Nitro subscribers can still upload much larger files; check Discord's File Attachments FAQ for the current Nitro numbers, as they change from time to time.
How much video fits in 20 MB?
| Clip length | Best resolution | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 45 seconds | 1080p at 60 fps | Fast gameplay highlights |
| 45 seconds to 1.5 minutes | 1080p at 30 fps or 720p at 60 fps | Most clips and memes |
| 1.5 to 3 minutes | 720p | Longer moments, tutorials |
| Over 3 minutes | 480p, or upload elsewhere and share a link | Full matches, streams |
Gameplay is harder to compress than normal phone footage because the whole screen moves constantly. If your clip has a lot of motion, choose a slightly lower resolution rather than letting the picture turn blocky.
How to compress a clip for Discord
- Open the Discord video compressor.
- Drop in your clip. MP4, MOV, MKV and WebM recordings from OBS, ShadowPlay, Xbox Game Bar or your phone all work.
- Leave the preset on Discord free (under 20 MB). On Nitro, pick Custom size and enter your plan's limit.
- Click Compress videos. It runs on your own GPU or CPU, so long recordings never need uploading.
- Download the MP4 and drag it into your Discord chat. It will embed and play inline.
Best recording settings to avoid huge files
- Record shorter replays. Set your replay buffer to 30 to 60 seconds so clips start small.
- Trim before compressing. Cut the waiting around before and after the highlight.
- Use MP4 output. MKV recordings are safer while recording but Discord embeds MP4 more reliably.
- Remove sound if it is just game noise. Choosing "Remove sound" gives the picture more room.
Why compress in the browser instead of an app?
Desktop tools like HandBrake are powerful but have dozens of settings. Most online compressors upload your file to a server and limit the size or add a watermark. CompressPixel does one thing well: pick the limit, and it fits the clip under it on your own computer, with no upload, no account and no watermark.
Frequently asked questions
What is Discord's file size limit for free users?
20 MB per file since August 2026. It was 10 MB from 2024 until then, and 25 MB before that.
How do I send a video larger than 20 MB on Discord without Nitro?
Compress it to under 20 MB, trim it, or upload it to YouTube, Google Drive or similar and share the link.
Why does my Discord video not play inline?
Discord embeds MP4 (H.264) and WebM files most reliably. Converting MKV or HEVC recordings to MP4 usually fixes playback.