WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion users globally. A key feature of WhatsApp is the ability to send and receive videos, making it easy to share moments and memories with friends, family and colleagues.
But what exactly is the file format for videos sent over WhatsApp? When you record or select a video within WhatsApp to send to someone, what type of video file is it? Understanding the video format can help explain WhatsApp’s video compression techniques, maximum file sizes, and overall capabilities.
WhatsApp Video Format
The file format for videos sent on WhatsApp is MP4, specifically the MPEG-4 Part 14 or MP4 format with H.264 video encoding and AAC audio encoding.
MP4 is a popular standardized container format for storing audio and video streams, supported by most media players and websites. The H.264 video encoding provides high quality video in a compressed format by analyzing images across frames for redundant information. AAC audio encoding similarly compresses the audio efficiently while maintaining quality.
By using the advanced MP4 container and efficient H.264 and AAC compression formats, WhatsApp is able to deliver high quality videos with reasonable file sizes that can stream smoothly and quickly across the app.
Key Details
- File format: MP4
- Video encoding: H.264
- Audio encoding: AAC
- Containers, codecs and compression allow high quality videos in small files
WhatsApp Video Size Limits
Due to its use of MP4 and advanced compression techniques, WhatsApp imposes a file size limit of 16MB per video. This ensures videos can transfer quickly across the app while limiting storage and bandwidth demands.
The 16MB limit corresponds to around 30 seconds to a few minutes of video footage, depending on the quality, frame rate and complexity of motion. Higher resolution or smoother frame rate videos will use up more data per second when compared to simpler videos.
If you attempt to send a video larger than 16MB over WhatsApp, it will automatically be compressed to fit under the size limit. This could potentially reduce the video quality if the compression is too aggressive.
Besides the 16MB file size limit, WhatsApp also restricts the physical dimensions of videos to a maximum of 720 pixels tall and 1280 pixels wide. Together, the size limit and resolution limit help ensure smooth video transfer capabilities across the range of smartphones and networks used worldwide.
Key Limits
- Maximum file size: 16MB
- Maximum resolution: 1280 pixels wide, 720 pixels tall
- Higher quality/longer videos are compressed to fit 16MB size limit
Recording WhatsApp Videos
When recording videos directly within WhatsApp to send to contacts, the app automatically encodes and compresses the footage into MP4 format as you record. This allows minimizing file size while recording so you don’t exceed the 16MB limit.
The settings available when recording WhatsApp videos include:
- Front or rear camera selection
- Flash on or off
- 15 or 30 second recording duration limit
WhatsApp continually optimizes its video encoding algorithm when recording videos, aiming to provide the best visual quality possible under the 16MB cap. You don’t have to manually select video settings as the app handles it automatically.
Key Recording Features
- Automatic MP4 encoding and compression
- Camera selection and flash toggle
- Fixed duration up to 30 seconds
- Auto optimization for quality within file size limits
Sending Existing Videos
Besides recording, you can also send existing videos from your smartphone’s storage to WhatsApp contacts. When selecting a video to send, WhatsApp will check its file size and resolution. If below the 16MB and 1280×720 limits, it will send the original file unmodified.
For videos exceeding the size or resolution limits, WhatsApp will automatically re-encode the video to fit the constraints. This compression can reduce visual quality, especially on very long or high resolution videos. But it ensures the video can send successfully through WhatsApp.
Some tips for minimizing quality loss when sending existing videos:
- Use a video editing app to downscale large videos before sending
- Trim long videos into 15-30 second segments
- Use lower resolution settings when recording original videos
WhatsApp will still automatically compress when necessary, but starting with optimal source files reduces potential quality loss.
Key Points
- Files below 16MB send unmodified
- Larger/higher resolution files are auto compressed
- Editing videos before sending minimizes quality loss
Receiving WhatsApp Videos
When receiving a video file sent from another WhatsApp user, the process works similarly in reverse. The sender’s app handles the compression and encoding to MP4 format before transmission.
Upon receipt, the video file is decoded and reconstructed into a viewable format. No further compression or downscaling occurs as WhatsApp already enforced the limits on the sender’s end.
The encoding and decoding process happens seamlessly in the background. All the recipient sees is the incoming video automatically appearing in the chat thread interface.
WhatsApp’s networked infrastructure manages the transfer of the encoded video file securely across the internet between the sender and recipient while their apps handle the compression/decompression process in a standardized way.
Key Points
- Sender’s app compresses and encodes video file into MP4
- Encoded file transfers securely across WhatsApp network
- Recipient’s app decodes MP4 into viewable video
- Process is invisible to both parties
Sharing and Saving Received Videos
When you receive a video file on WhatsApp, the app stores it on your device’s local storage the same as any other attached media. You can then access received videos in the chat history.
From there, WhatsApp provides options to:
- View – Play the video within WhatsApp
- Share – Forward the video to another contact or app
- Save – Download the video file to your camera roll
- Delete – Remove the video from chat history
Saving a received WhatsApp video downloads the file in its MP4 format to your device storage outside of WhatsApp’s databases. You can then view it with any media player or editor app.
Sharing lets you attach the video to send via email, social media or other messaging platforms. WhatsApp packages the video in its compressed MP4 format optimized for that app’s constraints.
Options for Received Videos
- View in WhatsApp player
- Share to other apps or contacts
- Save to camera roll
- Delete from chat history
Data Usage
Due to optimized MP4 encoding and reasonable file size limits, sending and receiving videos on WhatsApp is fairly data efficient compared to uncompressed video files.
As an example, a 30 second 720p MP4 video may be around 10MB in size. At moderate cellular bitrates of 5Mbps, this would take just 2 seconds to download. Even at slower 2G speeds of 100kbps, it would take about 1 minute to receive.
Here are some approximate mobile data requirements for WhatsApp video based on encoding bitrates and durations:
| Video duration | File size range | Data required |
|---|---|---|
| 15 seconds | 3-5 MB | 24-40 Mb |
| 30 seconds | 6-10 MB | 48-80 Mb |
| 1 minute | 12-20 MB | 96-160 Mb |
| 5 minutes | 60-100 MB | 480-800 Mb |
As the above table shows, most WhatsApp video files require reasonable amounts of data that can stream quickly across 3G to LTE networks.
Key Data Usage Points
- Efficient MP4 encoding minimizes file sizes
- Even at lower bitrates, videos can send in under a minute
- Higher quality or longer videos use more data
Network Compatibility
The ubiquitous MP4 container format and H.264 video codec used by WhatsApp for videos are supported by all modern smartphones and operating systems. This ensures excellent cross-platform compatibility.
MP4 and H.264 are also designed efficiently for transmission across mobile networks. As 3G and LTE networks became widespread during the 2010’s, MP4 and H.264 emerged as ideal video standards.
By adopting MP4 early on, WhatsApp videos seamlessly work across the range of Android, iOS, Windows phones and other mobile devices. The videos also stream reliably across slower 2G connections up through fast LTE in most regions worldwide.
The main exception is users on very outdated devices or networks unable to support MP4. For these cases, WhatsApp automatically downgrades videos to less efficient formats like 3GP when needed.
Key Compatibility Points
- MP4/H.264 ideal for modern smartphones
- Works across Android, iOS, other platforms
- Streams well on 2G to LTE networks
- Downgrades format if device lacks MP4 support
Conclusion
In summary, WhatsApp uses the ubiquitous MP4 container with H.264 video and AAC audio encoding for its videos. This provides high quality and efficient compression to meet the 16MB file size limit.
Recording, sending and receiving videos seamlessly translates between encoded files for transmission and standard playback on devices. Strict file size and resolution constraints ensure smooth sharing across all users globally.
By using the most advanced and compatible format standards available, while fine tuning its compression algorithms over the years, WhatsApp delivers reliable video messaging to its broad user base. Understanding the technical processes and formats behind WhatsApp video sharing provides insight into this key communications app.