WhatsApp could soon let you send files up to 2GB in size

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WhatsApp logo
WhatsApp logo (Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / iMore)

What you need to know

  • WhatsApp is currently testing a new file size cap of 2GB when transferring between people.
  • The file size limit for transfers is currently 100MB.
  • Some beta testers ion Argentina can now take advantage of the change.

WhatsApp is testing a change that will allow people to send and receive files of up to 2GB in size, according to a new report. The instant-messaging service currently limits files to just 100MB when being sent via its apps.

The new move would allow WhatsApp users to send much larger files than they currently can, something that opens up new file transfer possibilities. File sizes have ballooned in recent years and 100MB does seem a little on the small side in 2022.

Now, WABetaInfo reports that WhatsApp is testing the ability to send 2GB files, although the option is currently limited to a small number of beta testers who are in Argentina.

Whatsapp Beta 2gb File Limit

Whatsapp Beta 2gb File Limit (Image credit: WABetaInfo)

WhatsApp is starting a small test in the last few days, and some people can now share media files up to 2GB! Unfortunately, this is only available in Argentina and it is limited to a certain number of beta testers. In fact, we don't even know if WhatsApp is planning to roll out the same feature to more people in the future, since this is a test. WhatsApp may even roll back the changes by restoring the previous limit after the test: only time will tell.

As the original report notes, there is no guarantee that this feature will be available to everyone but it does seem likely that it's only a matter of time before it rolls out to people worldwide and beyond the beta program.

WhatsApp is one of the best iPhone apps for communicating securely with people on non-Apple devices. Adding support for larger file transfers is something that many would be pleased to see happen.

Oliver Haslam
Oliver Haslam
Contributor

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too. Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.