Discord's file size limit is one of the most common frustrations for gamers sharing clips. You capture an epic moment, go to drop it in a server, and Discord tells you the file is too large. Here's everything you need to know.
Discord's File Size Limits
- **Free accounts**: 10MB per file
- **Discord Nitro Basic**: 50MB per file
- **Discord Nitro**: 500MB per file
These limits apply to all file types — videos, images, audio files, and other attachments.
How to Share a Gaming Clip Under 10MB
For clips under 60 seconds: 10MB is actually enough for decent 720p quality. A 30-second clip at 720p typically needs only about 3-4Mbps of video bitrate to look good, which fits comfortably in 10MB.
For longer clips: You'll need to either: 1. Trim to the best 30-60 seconds 2. Reduce resolution to 480p 3. Use a video hosting service (YouTube unlisted, Streamable, Imgur)
The math: 10MB = 80 megabits. Subtract ~8Mbps for 60 seconds of 128kbps audio. That leaves 72Mbps for video over 60 seconds = 1.2Mbps video bitrate. At 720p, this looks okay but not great.
Should You Get Nitro for the File Size?
Nitro's 500MB limit is massive for gaming clips. Most clips you'd want to share are under 50MB anyway, so even Nitro Basic ($3/month) covers the vast majority of use cases. If you share long gameplay recordings regularly, Nitro is worth it.
But if you share clips occasionally, compress to 10MB and keep your money.
Best Format for Discord
**Always use MP4 with H.264**. It plays inline in Discord's video player on all platforms — desktop, browser, Android, and iOS. WebM also works in the browser but may not play on mobile. MKV files won't play inline at all.
Tips for Gaming Clips
- **30fps is fine**: Gaming clips often look better at a stable 30fps than variable 60fps with heavy compression artifacts
- **Capture at 720p**: If your capture card or OBS is set to 1080p, drop it to 720p — you're often saving the clip for Discord, not archival purposes
- **Cut ruthlessly**: The 15 seconds where you pulled off the clutch is what people want to see, not the 3 minutes of warmup before it
- **Use Discord's built-in GIF**: Short moments (under 5 seconds) can be even more impactful as looping GIFs — and GIFs have no file type restrictions