How to Increase the MMS File Size Limit on Android

Have you ever tried to text a video to a friend, but you got a “Message size limit reached” error? Or perhaps you sent the message, but your friend received a blurry video instead of the original? That’s probably because your message exceeded the Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) file size limit.

In this article, we’ll cover what the MMS file size limit is, how to work around it, and what MMS resources are available for businesses.

What is the MMS file size limit on Android?

First of all, your carrier is the one that limits the MMS file size, not your phone. For example, Verizon only allows images up to 1.2 MB and videos up to 3.5 MB, while T-Mobile has a 1 MB limit for sending (3 MB for receiving).

A recipient’s carrier can also limit the size. For example, if the intended recipient’s carrier doesn’t support your large file size, it will reject or compress the file. This will happen even if your carrier supports the large file size.

Ways to increase your MMS file size limit on Android

While there’s no way to increase your MMS file size limit directly, fortunately, there are several ways to send large MMS files. Here are a few solutions:

1. Use a messaging app

The best option to send large MMS files is to use another messaging app. Apps such as WhatsApp, Signal, and Facebook Messenger don’t use MMS to send multimedia files and have much less restrictive file size limits. For example, Signal allows for videos up to 100 MB.

Read more about the best SMS apps for Android.

2. Try Advanced Messaging

Another option is to enable Advanced Messaging, also known as Rich Communication Services (RCS). You can use Google's default Messages app or enable Advanced Messaging in the settings of your default messaging app to send large videos and other files.

If you’re using Google’s default Messages app, tap Agree on the Messages just got better prompt.

Otherwise, you’re limited to carrier support. And while all the major carriers in the United States (and several smaller ones) support RCS, the feature's rollout varies. That means you may encounter incompatibility issues when trying to send RCS messages to people on other carriers.

3. Send your file using cloud storage

If you upload your file or video to cloud storage, you can bypass the carrier altogether. Cloud storage services, such as Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox, allow you to upload files of almost any size and share them with as many people as desired. Just create an account, upload your file, then copy the sharing link. From there, you can send your sharing link over SMS, email, or any other messaging platform.

4. Enable MMS compression (not preferred)

Another work-around is to enable MMS compression under Settings > MMS > Advanced > Compression. This allows you to compress images or files that are too large before sending them as MMS, reducing the likelihood that the carrier will reject your message. However, MMS file compression results in sending a poor-quality image to your recipient. So this solution is a last resort.

More MMS resources for businesses

Text messages aren’t just useful for individuals—these are also an increasingly popular way for businesses to engage with customers. Interested in learning more? Check out our post on business messaging and its benefits.

SMS is great for sending short messages, but MMS allows you to send longer text messages as well as small images and videos. To learn more about this channel, check out MMS? and What Are SMS and MMS and How Do They Differ for a more detailed treatment of the differences.

Finally, if you’re having trouble downloading MMS messages to your Android phone, we have some helpful tips to get you past this issue.

Send MMS messaging with Twilio

Twilio’s Programmable Messaging API enables your business to communicate with customers via SMS, MMS, and WhatsApp. With just a few lines of code, your business can be up and running quickly to send and receive messages over any of these channels. So whether you need to send customer account notifications, one-time passcodes, or marketing campaign messages, Twilio has your back with reliable messaging.

And when it comes to delivering highly personalized customer experiences, you can take advantage of Twilio’s Conversations API. Our Conversations API enables you to engage customers in conversation over SMS, MMS, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger, equipping your business to take customer relationships to the next level.

Ready to give messaging a try? Read our documentation on How to Send SMS and MMS Messages, and sign up for a free Twilio account to get started.