How to Bypass Discord's File Size Limit (Without Nitro) in 2025
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We’ve all been there. You just clipped an insane play in your favorite game, or you recorded a funny moment to share with your server. You drag the file into Discord, hit enter, and…
“Your files are too powerful!”
Discord’s file size limit (currently 25MB for free users) is one of the most frustrating hurdles for gamers and communities. While Discord Nitro offers higher limits (up to 500MB), not everyone wants to pay a monthly subscription just to share a 30-second clip.
The good news? You don’t have to. Here is the ultimate guide to bypassing Discord’s file size limit in 2025 — for free.
Understanding the Limits: 8MB vs 25MB
For years, the limit was a tiny 8MB. Recently, Discord generously bumped the free tier limit to 25MB. While that’s an improvement, modern 1080p or 4K recordings from tools like OBS, ShadowPlay, or your iPhone can easily hit 100MB+ for just a minute of footage.
If you’re seeing the error, your video is likely just a bit too big. You have two main options: pay for Nitro, or compress your video.
Method 1: The Smart Way (Compress with TinyVid) ⚡
The fastest way to “bypass” the limit is to make your file smaller without ruining the quality. This allows the video to play natively inside Discord (unlike YouTube links, which people often ignore).
Why use TinyVid.io?
- No Uploads: It runs in your browser, so you don’t have to wait to upload a 500MB file to a server just to shrink it.
- Privacy: Your personal clips stay on your device.
- Discord Optimized: It targets the efficient H.264/MP4 format that Discord loves.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Go to TinyVid.io (or our dedicated Discord Video Compressor).
- Drag and drop your large video file.
- Watch the file size estimate. TinyVid usually shrinks files by 60-90% automatically.
- Click Compress and save the new file.
- Drag the new file into Discord. Success!
Method 2: The “Link” Method (YouTube/Streamable)
If your video is truly massive (like 1GB+) and you don’t want to compress it down to 25MB, your best bet is to host it elsewhere.
- YouTube: Good for long content, but requires an account and processing time.
- Streamable: Quick, but free clips are deleted after a while.
- Google Drive: Works, but doesn’t always play inline.
The Downside: Links get fewer clicks. People on Discord prefer to watch videos that autoplay or play directly in the chat. That’s why Method 1 is usually better for engagement.
Method 3: Trim the Fat
Sometimes you don’t need the whole video.
- Trim the start/end: If you have 10 seconds of “dead air” at the start of your clip, cutting it might be enough to drop below 25MB.
- Remove Audio: If the sound isn’t important (e.g., a visual glitch or a speedrun strat), removing the audio track can save 10-20% of the file size.
Summary: Which method is best?
| Method | Cost | Plays Inline? | Privacy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discord Nitro | $9.99/mo | Yes | High |
| TinyVid Compression | Free | Yes | High (Local) |
| YouTube Link | Free | Sometimes | Public |
| Google Drive | Free | No | Private |
Final Tip for 2025
Don’t let a file size limit stop you from sharing your best moments. For 99% of clips, a quick pass through a compressor like TinyVid is faster than uploading to YouTube and cheaper than Nitro.
Ready to fix that error? Compress your video for Discord now.