01
What is the fastest way to get under the limit?
Paste a link instead of uploading, where the source is one of the seven supported addresses, because nothing is transferred from your device at all. Failing that, exporting at a lower bitrate typically halves a file with no visible difference, since most recordings carry far more data than the picture needs.
02
Three ways under the limit
Limits run two gigabytes on the free video, four on Lite 10, eight on Lite 30 and twelve on Lite 50.
| Route | Quality cost | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Paste a supported link | None, nothing is transferred | Least |
| Export at a lower bitrate | Usually invisible | A few minutes |
| Trim dead time at the ends | None | A few minutes |
| Split into two runs | None, but it is two videos | Moderate |
| Lower the resolution | Permanent and visible after cropping | Avoid |
03
Trimming before anything else
Look at the start and end of the recording. Pre-show setup, test counts, long pauses and goodbyes often add many minutes. Cutting them reduces the file size proportionally and loses nothing of value. It is the quickest and safest first step.
Keep the untrimmed original stored separately in case you need it later.
04
Reducing bitrate safely
If trimming is not enough, export a copy at the same resolution with a lower bitrate. Many recordings carry far more data than a phone screen needs, so a moderate reduction is invisible to viewers. Compare the result with the original on a phone before relying on it.
Avoid reducing resolution unless you must, since lost pixels cannot be recovered.
05
Splitting a long recording
A very long recording can be split into two or more parts at natural breaks, such as between segments or topics. Each part stays under the limit and can be handled separately. Name parts clearly so they stay in order.
Split at a pause rather than mid-sentence.
06
Using a link where possible
If the recording is already published online, providing a link can avoid uploading the file at all. Check which sources are supported and that the video is publicly accessible.
Private or restricted videos usually cannot be fetched.
07
Preventing oversized files next time
Check your camera or recording software settings. Many default to very high bitrates or resolutions. Choosing a sensible setting for the kind of content you make keeps files manageable from the start.
Test a short recording to confirm quality.
08
Keeping the original
Whatever you do to make the file smaller, work on a copy.
The original is your safety net.
09
A worked example
A two-hour webinar recorded at a high bitrate comes out at nine gigabytes. Trimming the fifteen-minute pre-show and ten-minute close cuts it by about a fifth. Exporting a copy at a moderate bitrate at the same resolution brings it under two gigabytes, with no visible difference on a phone. Total time spent: around twenty minutes, most of it waiting for the export.
The original stays untouched on the drive in case it is ever needed.
10
Get a large recording in anyway
- Try a supported link first. It sidesteps the size question completely.
- Export again at a lower bitrate. The most common single saving, and usually invisible.
- Split a long recording in two. Two halves under the limit beat one file over it.
Try a link and skip the transfer entirely. First video costs nothing.
Questions people ask
- What are the limits by plan?
- Two gigabytes free, four on Lite 10, eight on Lite 30, twelve on Lite 50.
- Will compressing hurt the clips?
- Below a certain point it will, and most recordings sit far above that point. Halving a bloated file usually changes nothing you can see.
- Which sources can be pasted as a link?
- YouTube, Vimeo, Google Drive, Zoom, Dropbox, Facebook and X.
- Does splitting a recording cost extra?
- Each video is its own run, so two halves are two videos. Whether that matters depends on your plan and how many clips you need.
- Is upgrading the simplest answer?
- It is if you regularly record large files. For a one off, exporting again is faster and free.