What video files are compatible with WhatsApp?

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. A key feature of WhatsApp is the ability to send and receive videos. However, not all video formats are supported by WhatsApp. So what video files can you send and view on WhatsApp?

In this article, we’ll provide a detailed overview of the video formats and codecs that are compatible with WhatsApp. We’ll also look at recommended video settings for getting the best quality and smallest file sizes for WhatsApp videos.

Overview of WhatsApp Video Format Support

WhatsApp supports the following video containers and codecs:

• MP4 file container with H.264 video codec
• 3GP file container with H.264 video codec
• MOV file container with H.264 video codec
• Matroska (MKV) file container with H.264 video codec

Essentially, any video file that uses H.264 video compression inside an MP4, 3GP, MOV or MKV container will work with WhatsApp.

The H.264 video standard provides good quality at relatively low bitrates. It’s the most widely supported codec across platforms which makes it ideal for services like WhatsApp.

WhatsApp also requires that videos be under 16MB in file size and under 5 minutes in length when sending as an attachment. Longer videos can be shared by uploading them to a cloud service and sharing the link in WhatsApp.

MP4 – The Recommended Format for WhatsApp

Of the compatible formats, MP4 is generally the best choice for sending and sharing videos on WhatsApp.

Here are some reasons why MP4 is recommended:

• MP4 has the broadest device compatibility of any format.
• Efficient compression makes MP4 ideal for sharing smaller sized videos.
• Supports higher resolutions like 720p and 1080p HD video.
• Reliable format that handles streaming and downloading well.

When recording a video to send on WhatsApp, saving it as MP4 will ensure maximum compatibility across different phones and operating systems.

Recommended Video Settings

To get videos looking great but also keep file sizes small for WhatsApp, here are some recommended settings:

• Resolution: 720p or 1080p HD. Higher resolution not necessary for small screens.
• Frame Rate: 30fps. Provides smooth motion.
• Bitrate: 2-3Mbps. Balances quality and file size.
• Audio Codec: AAC-LC at 128kbps. Good quality audio.

At these settings, a 3 minute 720p HD video will be around 15MB in size. A good match for WhatsApp’s 16MB limit.

If recording at higher quality settings, you can use video compression software like Handbrake before sending to lower the file size.

Sharing Longer Videos on WhatsApp

For videos longer than 5 minutes or larger than 16MB, they cannot be sent as attachments on WhatsApp.

However, there are couple of ways to share longer videos:

1. Upload the video to YouTube, Google Drive or another cloud service. Send the video link inside WhatsApp.
2. Use a file compression tool to reduce the size below 16MB. Handbrake is a good open source tool for this.
3. Split the video into segments under 5 min and 16MB each. Send the segments individually.

The link sharing method is usually the simplest approach for sharing long videos up to minutes or hours long. Video compression can be tedious and may affect quality. Segmenting works but can be time consuming.

Compatible Video Codecs

As mentioned earlier, H.264 is the only video codec supported by WhatsApp.

Here’s an overview of H.264 and why it’s used:

• H.264 is an industry standard video compression format.
• Provides high quality video at lower bitrates than older codecs.
• Widely supported across all major phones, operating systems and browsers.
• Needs less processing power to encode and decode compared to older formats.

Other modern codecs like H.265 are not yet supported. To ensure video compatibility stick to the H.264 codec.

The audio codec used along with H.264 video is typically AAC-LC. This provides good audio quality at low bitrates.

Converting Videos to WhatsApp Compatible Formats

You may sometimes need to convert existing videos to a WhatsApp friendly format. Here are some tips:

• Use Handbrake or other video converter software to convert videos to MP4 with H.264 codec.
• If the video is already H.264 inside an MOV or MKV container, try remuxing it to MP4 using FFmpeg.
• Lower the resolution and bitrate settings if the file size is over 16MB.
• Re-encode as H.264 if the video is in another codec like H.265 or VP9.

Converting well ahead of time allows you to tweak the settings until you get the right file size and quality combination.

Video File Types and Containers Not Supported on WhatsApp

Here are some common video file types and containers that are NOT supported by WhatsApp:

• AVI – Audio Video Interleave container format. WhatsApp does not support any videos in AVI containers.
• WMV – Windows Media Video file type. WMV does not use the H.264 codec so not supported.
• MKV – Although MKV can contain H.264 video, most WhatsApp apps still do not support it.
• FLV – Flash Video container. Used for online video but not supported by WhatsApp.
• WEBM – Open source container often holding VP9 video. VP9 codec not supported.
• MOV – QuickTime files using other video codecs like H.265, ProRes, etc will not work.
• VOB – DVD Video Object files not compatible as they use MPEG-2 video.

Basically any video not encoded with H.264 video in an MP4, 3GP or MOV container would not be supported. Stick to the recommended formats for best results.

Summary of Key Points

• WhatsApp supports MP4, MOV and 3GP video files using H.264 video codec and AAC audio.
• MP4 is the recommended format – provides greatest compatibility and smallest file sizes.
• 720p or 1080p resolution at 30fps with AAC audio provides good quality.
• Videos must be under 16MB and 5 minutes to send as attachments.
• Longer videos can be shared via YouTube or cloud service links.
• Incompatible formats include AVI, WMV, MKV, FLV, WEBM, and MOV files using other video codecs.
• Handbrake or other video converter tools can be used to convert files to WhatsApp compatible formats.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send videos longer than 5 minutes on WhatsApp?

No, WhatsApp has a 5 minute limit on video attachments. For longer videos, upload to YouTube or a cloud drive and share the link in WhatsApp.

Does WhatsApp support HEIC/HEVC videos shot on iPhone?

No, HEIC/HEVC videos recorded on newer iPhone models are not supported. You need to convert them to H.264 MP4 before sending to WhatsApp.

Can I share videos saved as MKV files on WhatsApp?

MKV files are not officially supported, even if they contain H.264 video. Convert MKVs to MP4 format for best compatibility.

What is the maximum video resolution supported by WhatsApp?

There is no definitive limit, but 720p and 1080p are sufficient. Higher resolutions will lead to very large file sizes.

How can I share a 1 hour video on WhatsApp?

Videos longer than 5 minutes cannot be sent as attachments. Upload the video to YouTube or Google Drive and share the link in WhatsApp.

Conclusion

WhatsApp video calls and chat require files to use the H.264 video codec and AAC audio in MP4, MOV or 3GP containers. Of these, MP4 is the recommended format to use. 720p or 1080p resolution with 30fps provides good quality while keeping files small for sharing. Any videos over 5 minutes or 16MB will need to be shared via YouTube or cloud links rather than direct attachments. Following these guidelines will ensure your videos share smoothly and look great on WhatsApp.