How to Bypass Discord’s 8MB/25MB File Limit Without Nitro
You know the feeling. You’ve just clipped the perfect g […]
You know the feeling. You’ve just clipped the perfect gameplay moment or finished a digital painting that took all night. You drag the file into Discord, anticipating the reaction, and then—wall. That annoying popup blocks you, claiming your file is too heavy to handle.
For most free users, Discord draws the line at 8MB. Depending on where you live or how old your account is, you might get lucky with a 25MB cap. To go higher, the app nudges you toward a paid Nitro subscription. But let’s be honest: you don’t always need to pay to get a file from Point A to Point B. There are smarter ways to work around the system.
Use a Free Video or Image Compressor
Sometimes the best solution is the blunt one: shrink the file. This is compression. Think of it like vacuum-packing your winter clothes. You strip away the empty space so everything fits into a smaller box, but the clothes are still there when you unpack them.
plenty of free tools will handle this for you. You feed them a bloated file, they scrub out unnecessary data, and you get a lighter version that looks nearly identical.
How to Compress Video Files
If you’re trying to share a game clip, a video compressor is your best friend. You don’t need expensive software; browser-based tools work fine.
- Upload the video: Drag your file into the converter.
- Select the format: Stick with “MP4.” It plays nice with Discord’s mobile and desktop apps.
- Download the new file: Wait for the processing bar to finish and save the result.
- Check the size: verify it dipped under the 8MB/25MB file limit before you try posting it again.
How to Compress Images
For high-res screenshots or art, use a tool specifically for “PNG” or “JPG” files. Raw images from a camera or a 4K monitor carry way more data than a chat window needs to display.
- Lossless Compression: Tidies up the file code without touching the pixels.
- Lossy Compression: Aggressively shrinks the file. You might lose a tiny bit of detail, but the file size drops dramatically.
Usually, you can slash a file’s weight by 50% or more without anyone noticing the difference on a phone screen.
Share Links via Cloud Storage
When you’re dealing with massive files—like a 1GB project folder or a 20-minute video—trying to squeeze it under 25MB is a waste of time. Don’t put the file in Discord. Park it somewhere else and just hand out the key.
Google Drive and Dropbox
You probably have a Google account gathering dust. Use it. Dropbox works just as well if that’s your preference.
Here is the most reliable workflow:
- Go to Google Drive: Open the app or site.
- Upload the file: Drop your heavy file right into the main window.
- Change permissions: This is the step everyone forgets. Right-click, hit “Share,” and swap the setting from “Restricted” to “Anyone with the link.”
- Send the link: Paste that URL into your Discord chat.
Your friends can grab the file directly from Google’s servers. This completely ignores the Discord file limit because Discord isn’t hosting anything; it’s just displaying text.
Use Temporary File Transfer Services
Not everything needs a permanent home. If you just need to fire off a log file or a quick meme to a friend and don’t care if it exists next week, use a disposable transfer service.
Platforms like WeTransfer let you generate a download link in seconds without even creating an account.
- Pros: It’s fast and handles massive files (usually up to 2GB). Perfect for “burn after reading” scenarios.
- Cons: The clock is ticking. These links usually die after a week. If your friend forgets to download it, the file is gone.
Upload to Media Hosting Platforms
The problem with Google Drive links is that they look boring. Users have to click away from Discord to see anything. If you want your video or image to embed right in the chat—so people actually look at it—use a dedicated media host.
YouTube or Vimeo for Videos
YouTube isn’t just for influencers. It’s unlimited free video storage.
- Upload your clip.
- Set the visibility to “Unlisted.”
- “Unlisted” keeps it off your public channel and search results, but anyone with the link can view it.
When you drop a YouTube link into Discord, the video player expands automatically. It feels native, even though the file is hosted by Google.
Imgur for Images
Imgur is practically built for Reddit and Discord. It hosts images so you don’t have to.
- Upload your art or meme to Imgur.
- Grab the “Direct Link” (this is crucial—it should end in .jpg or .png).
- Paste it.
Discord will render the image instantly. It looks exactly like a direct upload, but it bypasses the file cap entirely.
Comparison of Methods
Here is a quick cheat sheet to help you pick the right tool.
| Method | Best Used For | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Files just barely over the limit (e.g., 30MB) | Easy |
| Cloud Storage | Massive files (Zips, installers) | Medium |
| Media Host | Videos/Images you want to auto-play in chat | Easy |
| Transfer Service | Quick, one-time sharing | Very Easy |
FAQ
Does compressing a file ruin the quality?
It’s a balance. Light compression is invisible to the naked eye. But if you try to crush a 500MB video down to 8MB, it’s going to look like a pixelated mess.
Is it safe to use online file compressors?
generally, yes. But use common sense. Don’t upload tax documents or password lists to a random website. For memes and game clips, it’s fine.
What is the exact file limit for free users?
It’s inconsistent. The baseline is 8MB. However, Discord has been rolling out 25MB limits to random users and regions as a beta test. You might have 25MB today and not know it.
Does Discord Nitro remove the limit entirely?
No, it just raises the ceiling to 500MB. If you need to send a 2GB file, paying for Nitro won’t help you—you’ll still need the cloud storage methods mentioned above.