How to Compress a Video for Discord (Under 10 MB) on Windows

You recorded a great clip, dragged it into Discord, and got the message that your file is too big. On a free account, Discord's upload limit is 10 MB per file. Nitro and server boosts raise it, but you shouldn't need to pay just to share a 30-second clip.

The fix is to compress the video until it fits. This guide shows you how to do it on Windows, offline, in a couple of minutes, and how to keep the clip looking good while you do it.

Why your video is too big for Discord

Phones, screen recorders and game capture tools save video at a high bitrate: lots of data every second, so the picture stays sharp while recording. A one-minute 1080p recording is often 50–150 MB. That's 5 to 15 times Discord's limit.

File size comes down to just two things:

• How long the video is.
• How much data each second uses (the bitrate).

To get under 10 MB, you lower the bitrate, the length, or both. Everything else, like resolution and presets, is just a way of controlling those two.

How long a video can you fit in 10 MB?

Here's a rough guide for a 9 MB target (leaving a little room for safety). Bitrate is measured in kbps (kilobits per second), and here it includes both video and sound:

If your clip is longer than a minute or two, trim it to the part that matters. That makes a bigger difference than any setting. You can trim for free with the Windows Photos app (open the video, then choose Trim) or Clipchamp, which comes with Windows 11.

How to compress a video for Discord with Fast Video Compressor

Fast Video Compressor is a free Windows app that shows the new file size before you compress, so you know it will fit before you wait for anything.

• Add your video. Drag the file into the app, or click to browse. The free edition works with MP4 files up to 2 GB.
• Choose Smallest File. This tells the app to aim for the smallest size that still looks acceptable.
• Lower the resolution if needed. For clips over about 30 seconds, set the resolution to 720p. Discord shows videos in a small player, so most people won't notice.
• Check the estimated size. The app shows a range, like "7.8 – 9.4 MB". If the top of the range is under 10 MB, you're good.
• Compare before you save. Use the side-by-side preview to check the busiest moment of the clip.
• Click Start Compression. The new file is saved next to the original, so the original stays untouched.

A worked example

Say you have a 45-second 1080p clip that's 85 MB. Here's how to think it through:

• Target: 9 MB, so it safely fits under 10 MB.
• Bitrate that fits: 9 MB over 45 seconds is about 1,600 kbps for video and sound together.
• Is that enough for 1080p? For a calm clip, maybe. For fast movement, no; it would look blocky.
• Decision: switch to 720p and choose Smallest File. At 720p, 1,600 kbps is plenty for a clean picture.
• Check: if the app's estimate shows a range ending below 10 MB, compress. If not, trim a few seconds from the start or end.

That's the whole process: pick the target, see what bitrate fits, and choose a resolution that can look good at that bitrate.

Want an exact size? Use the bitrate calculator

If you'd like to hit a precise target, our file size calculator works out the bitrate for any size and length. Enter 9 MB and your video's length, and it gives you the number to use.

If it still doesn't work

The estimate is still over 10 MB. Lower the resolution one more step, or shorten the clip. Length is the strongest lever: cutting a 60-second clip to 30 seconds doubles the data each second can use.

It fits, but it looks blocky. The bitrate is too low for the amount of motion. Go down to 720p (or 480p for long clips) instead of keeping 1080p with too little data. A slightly softer picture looks much better than blocky squares.

Discord still says the file is too large. Make sure you're uploading the new compressed file, not the original. The compressed copy is saved next to the original with a different name.

Tips that keep Discord clips looking good

• Cut the dead time. The first and last few seconds of most clips are empty. Removing them saves space for the part people want to see.
• Prefer 720p over a low bitrate at 1080p. A clean 720p video looks better than a blocky 1080p one at the same size.
• Gameplay needs more data. Fast motion and lots of detail are harder to compress. For game clips, keep them short, or give them a bit more size by trimming everything else.
• Don't compress twice. Each compression loses a little quality. Always start from your original file.

Other ways to share long videos on Discord

Compressing is best for short clips. For longer videos, these work better:

Common questions

What is Discord's file size limit?

Free accounts can upload files up to 10 MB. Nitro and server boosts allow larger files.

Can I send a longer video on Discord without Nitro?

Yes, but quality drops as the length goes up. For anything over two minutes, upload the full video to YouTube or Google Drive and share the link instead.

What's the best resolution for Discord?

720p for most clips. It looks sharp in Discord's player and leaves enough room in 10 MB for 30–60 seconds of video.

Why won't my video play inside Discord?

Discord plays common formats like MP4 (H.264) directly in the chat. Other formats, such as MKV or some H.265 files, may only show as a download. Compressing to H.264 MP4 makes the clip play for everyone.

Can I use a free online tool instead?

You can, but you'd have to upload your clip first and accept whatever settings the site picks. Compressing it yourself shows you the size and quality before you share it, and the clip stays on your PC.

In short

For Discord, aim for 9 MB: short clips at 720p, the Smallest File preset, and a quick check of the estimated size before you compress. If your file somehow got bigger after compressing, here's why that happens and how to fix it.