How to Compress iPhone Videos for iMessage and Email
Stop getting "message failed to send" errors. Learn how to compress iPhone videos to fit iMessage 3.5MB limits and email attachment restrictions. Send any video, anywhere, instantly.
Understanding iPhone Video Size Limits
iMessage Limits
- • 3.5MB maximum file size
- • Videos auto-compressed by iOS
- • Quality reduced significantly
- • Failed sends for large files
Email Provider Limits
- • Gmail: 25MB attachment limit
- • Outlook: 20MB attachment limit
- • Yahoo: 25MB attachment limit
- • Apple Mail: 20MB attachment limit
⚠️ Why iPhone Videos Are Too Large
A 1-minute 4K iPhone video can be 190MB - that's 54x larger than iMessage's limit! Even 1080p videos average 65MB per minute, far exceeding most email limits.
Step-by-Step: Compress iPhone Videos for iMessage
Method 1: Using HEVCut (Recommended)
HEVCut provides precise control over file sizes, ensuring your videos fit iMessage and email limits while maintaining the best possible quality.
- Download and Open HEVCut
Install HEVCut from the App Store and grant access to your Photos library.
- Select Your Video
Choose the video you want to send via iMessage or email. The app will display the current file size.
- Choose Target Size
For iMessage: Set target to 3MB or less
For Email: Set target to 20-25MB depending on provider - Select Quality Settings
Choose "High Quality" preset for best results, or customize:
- Resolution: Keep original for short videos, reduce for longer ones
- Bitrate: Adjust automatically based on target size
- Format: Use HEVC for maximum compression efficiency
- Process and Send
Tap "Start Processing" and wait for compression to complete. The compressed video will be saved to your Photos, ready to send.
Method 2: Using Built-in iOS Mail App Compression
For email only (not iMessage), iOS offers automatic compression:
- Open the Mail app and create a new email
- Tap to add an attachment and select your video
- iOS will prompt you to choose video quality:
- Small: Heavily compressed, fits most email limits
- Medium: Balanced compression
- Large: Minimal compression, may exceed limits
- Actual Size: No compression, likely too large
- Choose "Small" or "Medium" for reliable delivery
Platform-Specific Compression Tips
📱 iMessage Optimization
- • Target 2-3MB for reliable delivery
- • Keep videos under 60 seconds when possible
- • Use 720p resolution for longer videos
- • Test send to yourself before important messages
📧 Email Optimization
- • Gmail/Yahoo: Target 20-25MB maximum
- • Outlook/Apple Mail: Target 15-20MB maximum
- • Corporate email: Often limited to 10MB or less
- • Alternative: Use cloud links for very large files
⚡ Quick Sharing Alternatives
- • AirDrop: No compression needed for nearby devices
- • iCloud Link: Share original quality via iCloud
- • Google Drive/Dropbox: Upload and share link
- • WeTransfer: Free service for files up to 2GB
Common Issues and Solutions
"Message Failed to Send" Error
This usually means your video exceeds iMessage's 3.5MB limit.
- Compress video to under 3MB using HEVCut
- Try sending as "Small" quality in Mail app first
- Switch to AirDrop for nearby recipients
- Share via iCloud link instead
"Attachment Too Large" Email Error
Your video exceeds your email provider's attachment limit.
- Compress video to under 20MB for most providers
- Use cloud storage link instead of attachment
- Split longer videos into multiple parts
- Consider using file transfer services
Poor Video Quality After Compression
Over-compression can significantly reduce video quality.
- Use HEVC codec for better compression efficiency
- Reduce video length instead of just quality
- Try 720p resolution instead of lower
- Use cloud sharing for highest quality needs
File Size Guidelines by Platform
| Platform | Size Limit | Recommended Target | Video Length (1080p) |
|---|---|---|---|
| iMessage | 3.5MB | 2-3MB | 15-30 seconds |
| Gmail | 25MB | 20MB | 5-8 minutes |
| Outlook | 20MB | 15MB | 4-6 minutes |
| Apple Mail | 20MB | 15MB | 4-6 minutes |
| 16MB | 12MB | 3-4 minutes |
Advanced Compression Tips
📹 Recording Settings
Optimize before recording to avoid compression later:
- Use 1080p at 30fps for sharing
- Enable HEVC in Camera settings
- Avoid 4K unless necessary
- Keep videos under 2 minutes when possible
⚙️ Compression Settings
Fine-tune compression for best results:
- Use HEVC codec when available
- Maintain 16:9 aspect ratio
- Set bitrate to 2-4 Mbps for sharing
- Use variable bitrate (VBR) encoding
Related Guides
Batch Compress Multiple Videos
Process multiple iPhone videos at once for efficient sharing.
Share Large Videos Without Cloud
8 alternative methods to share large video files.
Best HEVC Settings for Mobile
Optimize HEVC compression settings for iPhone sharing.