WhatsApp API: Maximum Media Size & Supported Formats
Guide: WhatsApp API: Maximum Media Size & Supported Formats
Updated 10 February 2026
When sending images, videos, documents, or audio through the WhatsApp Business API, each file must be within the allowed size limit and in a supported format. Most media upload failures happen because the file is too large or in the wrong format.
Maximum File Sizes
| Media Type | Max Size |
|---|---|
| Images | 5 MB |
| Audio | 16 MB |
| Video | 16 MB |
| Documents | 100 MB |
| Stickers (static) | 100 KB |
| Stickers (animated) | 500 KB |
Supported Formats
Images
| Format | Extension | MIME Type |
|---|---|---|
| JPEG | .jpeg, .jpg | image/jpeg |
| PNG | .png | image/png |
Note: WhatsApp does not support GIF, BMP, TIFF, or SVG. If you need to send a GIF-like animation, convert it to MP4 video.
Audio
| Format | Extension | MIME Type |
|---|---|---|
| AAC | .aac | audio/aac |
| AMR | .amr | audio/amr |
| MP3 | .mp3 | audio/mpeg |
| MP4 Audio | .m4a | audio/mp4 |
| OGG (Opus codec) | .ogg | audio/ogg |
Video
| Format | Extension | MIME Type |
|---|---|---|
| MP4 | .mp4 | video/mp4 |
| 3GPP | .3gp | video/3gp |
Important: Videos must use H.264 video codec and AAC audio codec. Other codecs (like H.265/HEVC) will fail silently — the message sends but the video won't play on the recipient's phone.
Documents
| Format | Extension | MIME Type |
|---|---|---|
| application/pdf | ||
| Microsoft Word | .doc, .docx | application/msword |
| Microsoft Excel | .xls, .xlsx | application/vnd.ms-excel |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | .ppt, .pptx | application/vnd.ms-powerpoint |
| Plain Text | .txt | text/plain |
Stickers
| Format | Extension | MIME Type |
|---|---|---|
| Static sticker | .webp | image/webp |
| Animated sticker | .webp | image/webp |
Common Issues and Fixes
Image not sending — Check if it's under 5 MB. Phone cameras often produce 8-12 MB photos. Resize or compress before sending. Also make sure it's JPEG or PNG — WhatsApp doesn't support HEIC (common on iPhones).
Video won't play on recipient's phone — Most likely a codec issue. Re-encode the video with H.264 video codec and AAC audio codec. Many screen recording tools and newer phones use H.265 by default, which WhatsApp doesn't support.
Document upload fails — Check the file size (100 MB limit) and make sure it's a supported format. Password-protected PDFs and encrypted documents may also fail.
Audio file rejected — OGG files must use the Opus codec specifically. Other OGG codecs (like Vorbis) are not supported.
Sticker too large — Static stickers must be under 100 KB and animated stickers under 500 KB. Both must be in WebP format, exactly 512x512 pixels.
Tips
- All size limits apply to the encrypted file size, which is slightly larger than the original file
- When sending media through templates, the same size and format limits apply
- For the best image quality in messages, use JPEG at around 800x800 pixels
- If you regularly send large documents, consider hosting them and sending a link instead
- Video thumbnails are generated automatically by WhatsApp — you cannot customize them
Related Articles
What is WhatsApp Business API? — Overview of API features and capabilities
Handy Links for WhatsApp Business API Settings — Quick access to WhatsApp Manager and settings