How to do it
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Check the limit of the app you want to use
Look up the attachment limit on that service’s own help page, and compare it with the table below. A one-minute 4K video can already be over 400 MB.
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Pick a route that fits the size
For email, Mail Drop handles attachments up to 5 GB. For apps with small limits, make a smaller copy of the video first.
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Make a smaller copy with PicWay
Tap Compress on PicWay’s home screen, pick the video, and tap Compress. Use Strong compression if Standard is still too big. Tap Compare to check the result.
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Send the smaller video
Send the smaller video the way you normally share videos. Delete the original only when you no longer need it.
Why the limit gets hit
Most apps and email providers set their own size limits. Apple’s sharing guide notes that the size limit of attachments is determined by your service provider. A short iPhone video can pass those limits quickly: according to Compresto, a one-minute 4K iPhone video can exceed 400 MB.
Rough limits by service
These figures come from one third-party source and may change, so check each service’s own help page before relying on them.
| Service | Rough limit according to Compresto |
|---|---|
| iMessage | about 100 MB, though it applies its own compression |
| 16 MB for videos | |
| typically 25 MB |
For email, Compresto suggests aiming for under 20 MB, which leaves room for the message itself.
Option 1: Mail Drop for email
Apple says Mail Drop lets you send attachments up to 5 GB through iCloud, right from the Mail app on your iPhone. Attachments do not count against your iCloud storage. If a message and its attachments are larger than your Internet Service Provider limit, Mail asks you to send the attachments using Mail Drop. Recipients have 30 days to download them, and Apple notes the recipient’s email app might have a smaller message size limit that prevents delivery.
Option 2: Make a smaller copy first
If the app you want has a small limit, shrink the video before sharing. PicWay offers two levels, Standard compression (the default) and Strong compression. Standard caps the long edge of the picture at 1920 pixels and Strong at 1280, so 4K videos come out smaller in pixels as well as in size. You can tap the level on the card to switch to Strong compression if the first result is still too big.
PicWay makes a new video and keeps the original. Tap Compare to look at the two versions, then share the smaller video the way you normally would. It is not guaranteed to fit a limit as small as 16 MB, so check the size after compressing. Compression happens on your iPhone. If a compressed video would save less than 10% of the original, PicWay does not delete the original.
What PicWay does here
PicWay’s part is making the smaller copy of a video. Which app you send it with, and that app’s own size limit, are separate.
Quick answers
What is the video size limit for iMessage?
Compresto puts it at roughly 100 MB, and says iMessage applies its own compression. Treat it as a rough figure.
How do I send a video bigger than my email limit?
Use Mail Drop, which Apple says handles attachments up to 5 GB. Mail offers it when a message is larger than your provider’s limit.
Will compressing make the video blurry?
PicWay lowers the resolution for videos above 1920 pixels (Standard) or 1280 pixels (Strong) on the long edge. Use Compare to judge the result before sharing.
Do I lose the original?
No. The original stays in your library until you delete it yourself.