Discord File Size Limits
Upload limits for Discord in 2024
Free Users
Maximum file size per upload
Nitro Basic
2x larger than free tier
Nitro
20x larger than free tier
Detailed Discord Limits
| Feature | Free | Nitro Basic ($2.99/mo) | Nitro ($9.99/mo) |
|---|---|---|---|
| File Upload Size | 25 MB | 50 MB | 500 MB |
| Video Resolution | 720p 30fps | 1080p 60fps | 4K 60fps |
| Screen Share | 720p 30fps | 1080p 60fps | 4K 60fps |
| Message Length | 2,000 characters | ||
| Emoji Size | 256 KB | ||
| Avatar Size | 8 MB (static) | 8 MB (static) | 10 MB (animated) |
| Server Banner | 8 MB | 8 MB | 10 MB |
| Sticker Size | 512 KB (Lottie) / 500 KB (APNG) | ||
What Can You Upload?
📸 Images
- JPEG/JPG: ✅ Supported
- PNG: ✅ Supported
- GIF: ✅ Supported (animated)
- WebP: ✅ Supported
- SVG: ❌ Not embedded
Images auto-compress if over 8MB
🎥 Videos
- MP4: ✅ Best support
- MOV: ✅ Supported
- WebM: ✅ Supported
- AVI: ⚠️ No preview
- MKV: ⚠️ No preview
MP4 H.264 recommended for previews
🎵 Audio
- MP3: ✅ Inline player
- OGG: ✅ Inline player
- WAV: ✅ Inline player
- FLAC: ✅ Inline player
- M4A: ✅ Inline player
Max 1 hour playback inline
📄 Documents
- PDF: ✅ Preview support
- TXT: ✅ Preview support
- DOC/DOCX: ⚠️ Download only
- ZIP/RAR: ⚠️ Download only
- Code files: ✅ Syntax highlight
Code files get syntax highlighting
How to Share Larger Files
1. Compress Your Files
Reduce file size before uploading:
- Videos: Use HandBrake or FFmpeg
- Images: Compress with TinyPNG
- Documents: ZIP compression
2. Use Cloud Storage
Upload to cloud and share link:
- Google Drive: 15 GB free
- Dropbox: 2 GB free
- OneDrive: 5 GB free
- WeTransfer: 2 GB free (7 days)
3. Split Large Files
Break into smaller parts:
- 7-Zip: Built-in splitting
- WinRAR: Multi-part archives
- HJSplit: Simple file splitter
4. Stream Instead
For media content:
- YouTube: Unlimited video
- Streamable: 10 min free
- Imgur: 60 sec video
- SoundCloud: Audio streaming
Quick Compression Tips
🎥 For Videos
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vcodec h264 -acodec aac -crf 28 output.mp4
CRF 28 provides good quality at ~70% size reduction
📸 For Images
- JPEG: 85% quality is usually fine
- PNG: Use pngquant for 50-70% reduction
- Convert PNG to JPEG for photos
🎵 For Audio
- MP3: 128-192 kbps for voice
- Music: 256 kbps is plenty
- Use Opus for best quality/size
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my file still too large after compression?
Some content doesn't compress well. Videos with lots of motion, complex images, and already-compressed files (like MP3s) have limited compression potential. Consider reducing resolution, framerate, or duration for videos, or image dimensions for photos.
Can server boosters upload larger files?
Server boosting increases the server's upload limit for ALL members: Level 1 (2 boosts): 25MB→50MB, Level 2 (7 boosts): 50MB→100MB, Level 3 (14 boosts): 100MB. These stack with Nitro for up to 500MB.
Why can't I upload a 25MB file as a free user?
The 25MB limit is strict - even 25.1MB will fail. Also, mobile apps might have overhead that counts toward the limit. Try compressing to 24MB to be safe.
Do embedded links count toward the file limit?
No, embedded content (YouTube videos, tweets, etc.) doesn't count. Only direct file uploads are limited. You can embed unlimited external content.
What happens to files when Nitro expires?
Previously uploaded large files remain accessible. However, you can't upload new files over 25MB once Nitro expires. Downloaded files are unaffected.