Best Video Format for Discord: File Size Limits & Upload Tips

Discord Video Upload Limits

Discord is one of the most popular communication platforms for gaming communities, content creators, and professional teams. Sharing video clips — game highlights, tutorials, memes, and screen recordings — is a daily activity for millions of users. But Discord imposes strict file size limits that catch many users off guard.

Understanding these limits and knowing how to optimize your videos to fit within them is essential for sharing content without resorting to external hosting services.

The 10 MB free-tier limit is the most restrictive. A raw 1080p recording can hit 10 MB in under 10 seconds. This guide focuses on getting the most quality possible within these limits.

Best Format: MP4 with H.264

The optimal format for Discord is MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio. This combination offers:

• Universal inline playback: Discord embeds MP4/H.264 videos directly in the chat, so viewers see the video without downloading
• Efficient compression: H.264 provides excellent quality-to-size ratio at the bitrates needed for Discord
• Broad compatibility: Every device and browser that runs Discord can play H.264
• Fast upload processing: Discord processes H.264 uploads quickly for inline preview

What About WebM?

WebM (VP8/VP9) also plays inline on Discord and can offer slightly better compression than H.264 at the same quality. However:

• WebM playback can be inconsistent on mobile Discord apps
• VP9 encoding is significantly slower than H.264
• Some older Discord clients struggle with WebM

MP4/H.264 remains the safer choice. If you are comfortable with WebM and target desktop users, it is a viable alternative. For converting between formats, use our Video Converter or the MP4 Converter.

Format Compatibility on Discord

For converting MKV or AVI files that Discord cannot preview, see our guides on how to convert MKV to MP4 and how to convert AVI to MP4.

Compression Settings by Discord Tier

Free Tier (10 MB Limit)

The 10 MB limit requires aggressive compression. Here are optimized settings for different clip lengths:

# 15-second game clip (best quality at 10 MB)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "scale=1280:720" \
  -c:v libx264 -b:v 4M -maxrate 5M -bufsize 8M \
  -c:a aac -b:a 96k -ar 44100 \
  -movflags +faststart -t 15 discord_clip.mp4

# 30-second clip (moderate quality at 10 MB)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "scale=1280:720" \
  -c:v libx264 -b:v 2M -maxrate 3M -bufsize 4M \
  -c:a aac -b:a 64k -ar 44100 \
  -movflags +faststart -t 30 discord_clip.mp4

# 60-second clip (lower quality but watchable at 10 MB)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "scale=854:480" \
  -c:v libx264 -b:v 1M -maxrate 1.5M -bufsize 2M \
  -c:a aac -b:a 64k -ar 44100 \
  -movflags +faststart -t 60 discord_clip.mp4

Two-Pass Encoding for Precise File Size

When you need to hit a specific file size target exactly, use two-pass encoding:

# Calculate target bitrate: (file_size_in_bits / duration_in_seconds)
# For 10 MB, 30 seconds: (10 * 8 * 1024) / 30 = ~2730 kbps total
# Subtract audio (96 kbps) = ~2634 kbps video

# Pass 1
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "scale=1280:720" \
  -c:v libx264 -b:v 2634k -pass 1 \
  -an -f null /dev/null

# Pass 2
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "scale=1280:720" \
  -c:v libx264 -b:v 2634k -pass 2 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 96k \
  -movflags +faststart discord_precise.mp4

For understanding how bitrate affects quality, see our video bitrate explained guide.

Nitro Basic (50 MB Limit)

With 50 MB, you have much more room. You can afford 1080p for clips under 2 minutes:

# 1-minute clip at 1080p (high quality)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "scale=1920:1080" \
  -c:v libx264 -crf 22 -preset slow \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k \
  -movflags +faststart discord_nitro.mp4

# 3-minute clip at 720p (good quality)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "scale=1280:720" \
  -c:v libx264 -crf 23 -preset slow \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k \
  -movflags +faststart discord_nitro.mp4

Nitro (500 MB Limit)

With a full Nitro subscription, compression is barely needed for clips under 10 minutes:

# High-quality 1080p with minimal compression
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "scale=1920:1080" \
  -c:v libx264 -crf 18 -preset slow \
  -c:a aac -b:a 192k \
  -movflags +faststart discord_hq.mp4

Quick Reference: Max Duration by Quality

This table shows the maximum clip duration you can fit within each tier at common quality settings:

For quick compression without the command line, use the video compressor to resize and compress in one step.

Sharing Longer Videos on Discord

When your video exceeds the upload limit, you have several options:

Option 1: Trim to the Best Part

Most game clips and highlights can be trimmed to the essential moment. A 30-second clip of the key play is more engaging than 5 minutes of context:

# Extract 30 seconds starting at the 2-minute mark
ffmpeg -i full_game.mp4 -ss 02:00 -t 30 \
  -c:v libx264 -crf 22 -preset fast \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k \
  -movflags +faststart highlight.mp4

Use the video trimmer for a visual trimming interface, or see our guide on how to trim and cut video.

Option 2: Upload to a Host and Share the Link

Discord automatically embeds links from these platforms:

• YouTube — Best for public content
• Streamable — Popular for short clips, auto-embeds in Discord
• Medal.tv — Game clip platform with Discord integration
• Imgur — For shorter clips and GIFs

Option 3: Convert to GIF

For very short clips (under 10 seconds), a GIF or animated image often works well on Discord:

# Convert to GIF (10 seconds, 480px wide, 15 fps)
ffmpeg -i clip.mp4 -vf "fps=15,scale=480:-1:flags=lanczos,\
  split[s0][s1];[s0]palettegen[p];[s1][p]paletteuse" \
  -t 10 clip.gif

For better quality at smaller sizes, convert your GIF to MP4 or WebM. See our guide on how to create GIF from video or use the GIF maker tool.

Game-Specific Recording Tips

Optimizing OBS/Shadowplay Output for Discord

Game recording software often outputs large files that need compression before uploading to Discord:

NVIDIA ShadowPlay: ShadowPlay records in H.264 MP4 at high bitrates (typically 50-130 Mbps). A 30-second clip can be 200-500 MB. Compress before uploading:

ffmpeg -i shadowplay_clip.mp4 -vf "scale=1280:720" \
  -c:v libx264 -crf 24 -preset slow \
  -c:a aac -b:a 96k \
  -movflags +faststart discord_ready.mp4

OBS Studio: Configure OBS recording settings to produce smaller files from the start:

• Encoder: x264
• Rate Control: CRF
• CRF Value: 22-25
• Resolution: 1280x720 for Discord-targeted recordings
• Output Format: mp4

Screen Recordings

Screen recordings (tutorials, bug reports, UI demos) compress exceptionally well because most of the frame is static:

ffmpeg -i screen_recording.mp4 -vf "scale=1280:720" \
  -c:v libx264 -crf 26 -preset slow \
  -c:a aac -b:a 64k \
  -movflags +faststart screen_for_discord.mp4

The high CRF of 26 works because screen content has large areas of uniform color that H.264 handles efficiently. For screen recording format considerations, see our best screen recording format guide.

Discord Bot Integration for Video Processing

If you run a Discord server, you can set up a bot that automatically compresses uploaded videos. Here is a basic concept using discord.js:

// Concept: Discord bot that compresses videos over the limit
const { exec } = require("child_process");

client.on("messageCreate", async (message) => {
  const attachment = message.attachments.first();
  if (!attachment || !attachment.contentType?.startsWith("video/")) return;

  // Check if the file is too large for inline preview
  if (attachment.size > 10 * 1024 * 1024) {
    message.reply("Compressing your video for inline playback...");
    // Download, compress with FFmpeg, re-upload
  }
});

For API-level video processing, see our file conversion API guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum video length on Discord?

There is no explicit duration limit — only a file size limit. A highly compressed 10-minute clip could theoretically fit in 10 MB, though the quality would be poor. Practically, aim for clips under 1 minute on the free tier.

Does Discord compress my videos?

Yes, Discord generates a compressed preview version for inline playback. The original file is preserved and can be downloaded at full quality. This means you should optimize for the upload limit, not for the preview quality.

Can I upload 4K video to Discord?

Yes, but it wastes your file size budget. Discord's video player maxes out at 1080p, and most users watch in a small embedded player. Downscale to 720p or 1080p before uploading. Use the video compressor for quick downscaling.

Why does my video show as a download link instead of playing inline?

This happens when the format is not supported for inline playback (MKV, AVI, WMV) or when the file exceeds the preview size limit. Convert to MP4/H.264 using the MP4 Converter to enable inline playback.

How do I share clips longer than my upload limit?

Trim to the highlights using the video trimmer, upload to YouTube or Streamable and share the link, or subscribe to Discord Nitro for a 500 MB limit.

Conclusion

For Discord, MP4 with H.264 at 720p is the sweet spot for free-tier users. It maximizes visual quality within the 10 MB limit and plays inline across all Discord clients. Nitro users can afford 1080p and longer clips.

The workflow is: record, trim to the essential moment, compress to fit your tier's limit, and upload. Use the video compressor for quick compression, the video trimmer for precise cutting, and the Video Converter for format conversion. For more platform-specific optimization guides, check our social media video specs 2026 and best video format for social media.