Compress audio for WhatsApp
WhatsApp accepts audio as a media file only up to 16 MB. Anything heavier has to be compressed — or sent as a document.
Select the files you want to compress or convert and upload them here.
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Supported compression and conversion formats:
JPEG, JPG, PNG, GIF, WEBP, MP3, TIFF, TIF, BMP, DIB, RLE, JP2, JPF, JPG2, JPX, J2K, JPC, MJ2, OGG, OGV, SPX, WAV, 3GP, AAC, M4A, M4B, OPUS, OGA, MP4, AVI, MKV, MKA, SVG, EXR, RAW, ARW, SRF, SR2, CRW, CR2, CR3, DNG, DCR, KDC, ERF, 3FR, MEF, MRW, NEF, NRW, ORF, PEF, RAF, RWL, RW2, SRW, X3F, PDF, JXL.
What WhatsApp actually limits
The messenger has two different routes for the same file. As media — the kind that plays inside the chat with one tap — the ceiling is 16 MB. As a document — a file the recipient downloads first — almost any size goes through, up to two gigabytes.
So it is a choice: squeeze the recording under 16 MB and let people play it without leaving the chat, or send the original as a document and ask them to download it. For music meant to be heard right away, the first option usually wins.
How much recording fits into 16 MB
16 MB is 128 megabits. Divide that by the bitrate and you get the duration that clears the limit.
If the recording is longer
An hour-long lecture can be made to fit — 32 kbps mono gives you about 68 minutes — but that is distinctly voice-recorder territory. For music, going that low is not worth it: split the album into parts or send the file as a document instead.
One aside on voice notes: the ones recorded with the microphone button inside a chat need no compression at all, since WhatsApp already encodes them as low-bitrate Opus. The limit only becomes a problem for files you attach from your own device.
| Bitrate | Fits into 16 MB | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 128 kbps, stereo | about 17 minutes | music |
| 96 kbps, stereo | about 22 minutes | undemanding music |
| 64 kbps, mono | about 34 minutes | lecture, interview |
| 48 kbps, mono | about 45 minutes | speech, podcast |
| 32 kbps, mono | about 68 minutes | voice recording |
Common questions
Why won't WhatsApp send my audio file?
Most often the file is over 16 MB, which is the ceiling for media. Compress it to size, or send it as a document — that raises the limit to two gigabytes, though the file must then be downloaded rather than played in the chat.
Can I send audio without losing quality?
Yes, by sending it as a document: the file goes exactly as it sits on your device. In media mode there is no choice — fitting 16 MB means lowering the bitrate.
What bitrate should I use for a voice recording?
32–64 kbps in mono. Speech occupies a narrow band and does not need stereo, intelligibility stays complete at those values, and even an hour-long conversation clears the limit.
Does WhatsApp degrade audio on its own?
No. Unlike photos and video, audio files are not re-encoded by the messenger — they are simply refused when they exceed the limit.