How to send HD videos on WhatsApp

Weeks after rolling out an update allowing users to share HD photos, WhatsApp is now extending these capabilities to videos. Basically, now users will be able to send good quality videos without WhatsApp’s compression turning them into a blurry mess.  

Like HD images though, it is essential to remember that while one can share videos with more details, they will not be the exact resolution and details as the original file. As of now, the feature allows one to share videos in up to a 720p resolution, even if the original video may have been shot in 1080p or 4K. While there is still some loss of resolution, it is certainly better than the previous 480p cap, which was an inconvenience for many. 

How to share HD videos on WhatsApp

Here’s how to share videos on WhatsApp without having to compromise on resolution and details. 

1. Ensure the WhatsApp app on your device is updated to the latest version.  

2. To share a video, tap on the share icon in the chat box, and select ‘Gallery’. 

3. Select the video you’d like to share. 

4. In the preview window, along with the edit and add caption options, you’ll also see a small option on the top that says ‘HD’. 

5. Tap on HD, and you should get an option to either share the video at 720p or 480p.  

6. At this point, users will also receive a heads-up saying that HD videos are clearer, but standard quality videos use less storage space and can be shared faster. One will also be able to see the difference in the file size options.

7. Once selected, all you have to do is hit “send,” and that’s it. 

It is important to remember that there is no setting for videos to be shared in HD resolution by default. The above steps must be followed every time a video needs to be shared. A receiver can also figure out if a video has been sent in HD quality, by looking for a small HD badge on the bottom left of a video message thumbnail.  

As per WhatsApp, the HD video-sharing feature is gradually being rolled out to users on Android as well as iOS devices. In case one doesn’t see it on their devices yet, they should be able to do so in the coming days. 

Other new WhatsApp features to look out for

HD video-sharing is just the latest in a slew of new features being rolled out by WhatsApp. These include AI-generated stickers, the ability to reply to stories with avatars, as well as creating groups without names, editing media captions and messages for up to 15 minutes after they’ve been sent, and more.  

ALSO READ: How to edit captions for photos, videos on WhatsApp 

Not just that, WhatsApp is also looking to take on mainstream video conferencing platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Google Meet, with features such as screen-sharing and landscape-mode support for video calls.