How to compress video for WhatsApp: step by step
If you’ve ever tried to send a long video over WhatsApp, you might have noticed that the app imposes a file size limit of 16 MB. Given this, you might wonder how to compress a video for WhatsApp.
Fortunately, there are several apps and tools available to compress videos for WhatsApp. Online platforms such as Clideo, YouCompress, and Video Compressor are effective in solving this problem. Furthermore, apps like Compress Video and Fast Video Compressor are also useful options for compression.
In this guide you will learn, step by step, how to compress a video for WhatsApp in a simple and fast way, allowing you to enjoy the messaging application to the fullest with your friends and family.
Why do I need to compress videos before sharing them on WhatsApp?
The reason why you need to compress a video before sharing it on WhatsApp is because of the file size restrictions imposed by the app. WhatsApp places a limit of 16MB on the size of video files that can be sent.
While this limitation is significant, as videos tend to be very large and exceed this limit very easily, this restriction is important for managing bandwidth and preventing excessive data consumption for both the sender and receiver.
In addition, limiting file sizes also helps ensure good application performance and keep WhatsApp servers running smoothly, as storing and processing very large files can overload the service’s infrastructure.
Although the most recent versions of the app contain their own compression system, many times, depending on the size of the file, this is not enough to make it 16 MB or less.
See now the best tools and apps to compress videos before posting them on WhatsApp.
Online platforms to compress video for WhatsApp
Online platforms for compressing videos are a good solution because they are accessible to anyone with internet access, regardless of the device or operating system they are using. This allows you to easily compress videos just by going to the website.
Furthermore, these platforms are generally easy to use, with user-friendly interfaces and clear instructions. Even inexperienced users can compress videos without difficulty. Another advantage is that you don’t need to install additional software on your device, which saves you storage space and time.
We’ve already talked about online and free video compressors here on AppTuts, but to help you choose the best platform, we’ll present three sites below and show you step-by-step how to use them.
1. Clideo
Clideo is an online tool that offers a variety of video-related services. The service is free and supports uploading a variety of file types. Clideo is simple to use, allowing users with little to no video editing experience to use it easily.
In addition to editing, users can also use the platform to compress video files. Clideo’s compression tool is one of the best on the market and works through an algorithm that compresses the video file size without compromising the image quality too much.
Maybe you’re interested in these video editing apps on Android and iPhone, but if what you’re looking for is just an online platform for compressing your videos, check out our step-by-step guide on how to use Clideo.
First, go to the website and select the compression tool by clicking “Compress”:
Afterward, you upload the video you want to compress by clicking on the blue button in the center of the screen called “Choose file”:
After a few seconds of waiting, it’s all set! Now just click “Download”:
The tool offers a significant 75% decrease in file size and makes the video available compressed, with a discreet watermark in the lower right corner. However, you can easily remove it before downloading the file by clicking on the “Remove watermark” option.
An interesting feature of this tool is the possibility of uploading the video you want to compress, even if it is not stored on your computer or cell phone. By clicking “Choose file”, Clideo allows you to upload the video directly from cloud storage services such as Google Drive and Dropbox.
2. YouCompress
YouCompress is an online tool that allows users to compress video, audio, and image files without losing much quality. Being very easy to use, the platform is ideal for reducing file sizes, making it easier to share on WhatsApp.
This tool basically works the same way as other competitors, just access the site and upload the desired file. YouCompress supports many popular formats such as MP4, MOV, MP3, and JPEG. After uploading, the platform processes the file and optimizes its size. Once completed, you can download the compressed file.
Another advantage is that in addition to YouCompress being free, it does not require creating an account. The tool also guarantees users’ privacy, promising to automatically delete uploaded files after a few hours.
Now let’s see how to compress video for WhatsApp on YouCompress.
First, on the home page of the site click on “Select file”:
After selecting the video, click on “Upload File and Compress”:
Finally, wait a few moments until “Done” appears followed by a link to click:
Now just click on the link to download your compressed video. Although it is a considerable compression, the site guarantees that it does its best to reduce the file size without any loss of visual quality.
The site employs a secure connection and therefore guarantees the protection of your files while they are being processed on the server. Another positive advantage is that YouCompress works on any platform or device that has a web browser, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.
Do you know you need a video editor? A great option for those who need to edit videos quickly on their cell phone is Video Candy.
3. Video Compressor
FreeConvert’s Video Compressor tool is an online service that allows users to compress videos quickly without significantly compromising quality. This tool is ideal for anyone who needs to reduce the size of video files for sharing on WhatsApp.
The tool is free and has an intuitive interface, allowing users to compress videos without difficulties, even without knowing much about how it works. Another advantage of this platform is the possibility to customize the settings before compressing, being able to adjust the bit rate, resolution, and other settings of the video to obtain the desired size and quality.
As FreeConvert’s Video Compressor is a web-based service, there is no need to download or install any software on your device. The tool is designed to efficiently compress videos, offering quick results so that users can get on with their tasks.
Without further ado, let’s go to Video Compressor step by step.
The first thing when arriving on the website is to upload your video, uploading it to the platform. To do so, click on “Choose Files”:
Before compressing your file, Video Compressor optionally offers customization ways. To access them, you must click on “Advanced Settings (optional)”:
After customizing your compression, click “Apply Settings” to save your settings:
Now, click “Compress Now” to start the compression:
After some time the blue “Download” button will appear! Now just click on it and download:
Improved codecs
Video Compressor employs two widely recognized video encoding methods supported by most modern devices and browsers, H.264 and H.265. However, H.265 is noteworthy for providing more efficient compression, particularly at higher resolutions such as 1080p or 4K. However, keep in mind that a lot of devices can’t run videos encoded in H.265.
The codecs used by Video Compressor are compatible with all major browsers and devices, ensuring smooth playback for users, including WhatsApp itself.
Apps to compress video for WhatsApp
Apps to compress videos are as efficient as online platforms. With them, you can compress your videos and not exceed the 16 MB WhatsApp limit.
Another advantage of this type of application is that they generally offer options to adjust the quality and size of the file before compressing it, allowing you to find the ideal balance between the two.
In addition to WhatsApp, videos compressed in these applications can also be shared more easily on other social networks and communication platforms, after all, everything is already inside your cell phone.
There are many options for video compression applications available on the market, but we will highlight the two most popular ones, accompanied by a practical guide to using them.
1. Video Compress
The Video Compress application is a widely used and effective solution for compressing videos on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Designed with ease of use in mind, the application allows users to quickly reduce the size of video files.
With an intuitive interface and a straightforward compression process, Video Compress becomes a valuable tool for anyone looking to optimize the size of their videos for sharing on WhatsApp.
This app is perfect if you’re low on space on your smartphone’s internal storage. In addition, the software offers video editing options such as rotation and audio extraction in MP3 format. With an interface offered in many languages, the application facilitates navigation, organizing the videos in an internal gallery, categorized by folders, to provide quick and efficient access.
Learn now how to compress video for WhatsApp with the Compact Video app.
Open the app and choose the video you want to compress:
Then select the “Compress Video” tool:
On this screen you will select the video resolution and the new size of your choice:
Wait a few moments for your video to process:
Done, now all you have to do is share your video with someone or a group on your WhatsApp, by clicking on the share symbol.
Compact Video – New Features
Recently, Compacta Video released a significant update, which not only included improvements in performance and compression speed but also the integration of new features such as adding subtitles and the possibility to add custom watermarks to videos.
Compacta Video is a compression app downloaded by millions of users around the world, who started using the tool not only to share videos on WhatsApp but also on other social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.
The app’s popularity surpassed Brazil’s borders, and the team decided to launch versions in other languages in order to meet the demands of an even wider audience.
2. Fast Video Compressor
Fast Video Compressor app is an efficient and practical tool for compressing video files on mobile devices. It stands out for its processing speed, allowing you to significantly reduce the size of your videos without compromising too much on the visual quality.
With a user-friendly interface, Fast Video Compressor makes it possible to compress videos with just a few taps on the screen. It offers various customization options such as adjusting resolution, bit rate, and frame rate. In addition, the application allows previewing the video before compression, which helps users choose the best one for their needs.
Now let’s go step by step on how to compress video for WhatsApp with the Fast Video Compressor app. First, install the app available on the Google Play Store, for Android. The app is not yet available for iPhone device users.
Now open the application and look for the folder where the video you want to compress is located:
On this screen, you will select the video to be compressed:
Select the “Compress Video” tool:
Now, choose from the available options the level of compression you want to apply:
After a few seconds (or minutes in some cases) your compressed video will be available to be shared on WhatsApp:
It is worth mentioning that the Fast Video Compressor application also stands out for other advanced functions such as editing, audio extraction, and speed customization.
Conclusion
Sharing videos with friends and family on WhatsApp is a lot of fun, but sometimes it can be difficult due to the file size. As seen in this article, the size of a video recorded with your smartphone camera, for example, can sometimes prevent you from sharing it with your friends on WhatsApp, as WhatsApp imposes this 16MB file size limit.
Fortunately, there are several online tools available to help you compress your videos and make them compatible with WhatsApp. In addition to these web platforms, there are also apps that can help you compress your videos for WhatsApp.
With all the options we present, there is no reason not to share your videos on WhatsApp. Just choose the tool or application that best suits your needs and start compressing your videos.
Now that you know everything about video compression tools, check out these 50 best apps to record videos or the best pranks for WhatsApp, or the best phrases for WhatsApp status.
