WhatsApp Won’t Send Videos? Common Causes and Fixes

Quick diagnosis

Notice what happens when you try to send the video. Each symptom points to a different cause:

• Message says the file is too large: file size (cause 1).
• Clock or spinning circle that never goes away: connection or storage (causes 2 and 3).
• “Unsupported format” or the video doesn’t appear to select: file format (cause 4).
• Video sends, but the other person can’t open it: encoding or the recipient’s device (cause 5).
• Video gets cut off in your status: status duration limit (cause 6).

Cause 1: The video is too large

WhatsApp has one size limit for media and a higher one for files sent as documents. The limits can change with updates; if a file exceeds the limit, the app will let you know. Long videos recorded in 4K or at a high frame rate can exceed it quickly.

Solutions:

• Compress the video with Compress video using medium quality and 720p. This usually reduces the file size significantly while keeping it looking good on a phone screen. For recommended settings, see How to compress a video to send on WhatsApp.
• Send only the part you need with Trim video.
• Send it as a document (paperclip › Document). The file size limit is higher, and the video won’t be recompressed, but the recipient will need to download it to watch.

Cause 2: Unstable connection

• Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data, or vice versa, and try again.
• Check your phone settings to make sure WhatsApp isn’t restricted from using data (data saver or background data restrictions).
• In WhatsApp, go to Settings › Storage and data and check whether your media upload quality is set to send large files over a weak connection.
• Incorrect date and time settings on your phone can interfere with secure connections. Set them to automatic.

Cause 3: Not enough space on your phone

Before sending, WhatsApp prepares a copy of the video on your device. If there isn’t enough free space, the upload can get stuck. Free up space by deleting files you don’t need. In WhatsApp, go to Settings › Storage and data › Manage storage and review large files you’ve received. You can also see how to free up space on your phone without deleting photos.

Causes 4 and 5: Format and encoding

WhatsApp works best with MP4 videos. Videos in MKV, WEBM, or AVI format, or downloaded from some websites, may not show up in the app’s gallery or may be rejected. MOV videos from an iPhone usually work, but they may not open on older Android devices because of HEVC encoding.

• Convert the file to MP4 with MOV to MP4 or the Video Converter.
• If the issue is encoding (the video plays on your device but not on the recipient’s), use Compress video to re-encode it as an MP4. Learn about HEVC in iPhone videos won’t open on Windows or your TV.

Cause 6: Status duration limit

Status videos have a maximum length per item. If you choose a longer video, WhatsApp will ask you to select a clip. To choose exactly where to trim it, cut the video beforehand as explained in How to trim a video for WhatsApp Status.

If nothing worked

1. Update WhatsApp from your app store.
2. Restart your phone.
3. Try sending another short video. If it sends, the problem is with the file; if it doesn’t, the issue is with the app or connection.
4. Try sending the same video to another contact to rule out an issue on the recipient’s end.

If you need to send a large video urgently and nothing else works, upload it to a cloud storage service (Google Drive, OneDrive, or iCloud) and share the link on WhatsApp. The recipient can watch or download the original, without the app’s file size limit or recompression.

Frequently asked questions