How to Send a Large Audio File or Voice Recording (Email, Android, iPhone, WhatsApp)
A long recording usually fails because it is bigger than the attachment limit of the app you are using. The fix is one of three things: make the file smaller, use a feature that uploads it for you, or send a link instead of the file. This page lists the limits and the steps for each.
Why an audio file is too large to send
Audio file size is the bitrate multiplied by the length. Format decides the bitrate, so the same recording can be ten times larger in one format than in another. These sizes are calculated from the bitrates, not measured from a particular app:
| Format | 1 minute | 10 minutes | 60 minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAV, 16-bit, 44.1 kHz, mono | 5.3 MB | 53 MB | 317 MB |
| MP3, 128 kbps | 0.96 MB | 9.6 MB | 58 MB |
| MP3, 64 kbps | 0.48 MB | 4.8 MB | 29 MB |
An uncompressed WAV passes a 20 MB limit in under 4 minutes. A 64 kbps MP3 stays under 25 MB for about 50 minutes. Stereo doubles the WAV figures. Email also encodes attachments, which makes them about a third larger in transit, so a file close to the limit can still be rejected.
If your recording is a WAV or a high-bitrate file, converting it to MP3 is often enough. The free audio converter does this in your browser, so the file is not uploaded anywhere.
Attachment size limits by app
I checked each figure against the provider's own help pages on October 16, 2026. Providers change these numbers, so confirm on the linked page if it matters.
| Service | Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail (personal) | 25 MB | Above that, Gmail adds the file as a Google Drive link. Work and school accounts use limits set by the Workspace admin. Source |
| Outlook.com and other internet accounts | 20 MB | Counts the attachment and the message together. Source |
| Outlook with an Exchange account | 10 MB by default | Set by the Exchange administrator, so it can be higher or lower. Source |
| Yahoo Mail | About 25 MB | Yahoo says other factors may change the exact size you can attach. Source |
| iCloud Mail | 20 MB, or 5 GB with Mail Drop | With Mail Drop, each attachment is kept for 30 days. Source |
| WhatsApp (sent as a document) | 2 GB | From WhatsApp's announcement of 2 GB file sharing. I could not verify a separate limit for recorded voice messages. Source |
| SMS and MMS | Set by your carrier | There is no single figure. Some carriers cap attachments well below what a few minutes of audio needs. Check your carrier's documentation. |
| RCS (Google Messages) | Not published | Google describes RCS as supporting larger files than MMS but I could not find an official number. It also needs RCS on both phones. |
| SendMyVoice link | 25 MB and 10 minutes | Per recording or uploaded file, on the free share tool. |
10 minute recording
Size limit
Send a large audio file by email (Gmail and Outlook)
If the file is under the limit, attach it with the paperclip as usual. If it is over, the providers handle it differently.
Gmail
Over 25 MB
Gmail uploads the file to Google Drive and puts the link in the email.
Outlook
Over 20 MB (Exchange: 10 MB)
Outlook shows an error and suggests a shared location. You upload to OneDrive and paste the link.
iCloud Mail
Over 20 MB
Mail offers Mail Drop. The file is held for 30 days, up to 5 GB.
Gmail
- 1
Attach the file
Click the paperclip in the compose window and choose the audio file.
- 2
Let Gmail switch to Drive
When the attachments total more than 25 MB, Gmail uploads the file to Google Drive and puts a link in the email. Gmail may ask you to change the sharing setting so the recipient can open it.
Outlook
- 1
Try to attach the file
Outlook rejects attachments over its limit (20 MB for Outlook.com, 10 MB by default for Exchange accounts) and suggests putting the file in a shared location and sending a link.
- 2
Upload to OneDrive and paste the link
Upload the file to OneDrive, create a sharing link, and paste it into the message. Microsoft recommends the same workaround on its support page.
The recipient needs to open the Drive or OneDrive page and then play or download the file. For the full email walkthrough, see how to send a voice message by email.
Send a link instead of the file
Record or upload audio up to 25 MB and 10 minutes, then paste the link into an email or message. No signup.
Record or upload audioSend a large voice recording on Android
Sending the file itself in a text is the least reliable option, because the limit is set by your carrier and the recipient's. Sending a link works on every phone.
- 1
Open the recording and tap Share
In Recorder, Voice Recorder or whichever app you used, open the recording and tap the share icon.
- 2
Save it to Google Drive
Choose Drive in the share sheet and save the file.
- 3
Copy the link
In the Drive app, open the file's menu, choose Share, set access to anyone with the link, and copy the link.
- 4
Paste the link into Messages, WhatsApp or email
The recipient taps the link and plays the audio in their browser or the Drive app.
More options, including voice clips in Google Messages, are in the guide to sending a voice message on Android.
Send a large voice recording from an iPhone
- 1
Share the recording to Mail
In Voice Memos, open the recording, tap the share icon, and choose Mail.
- 2
Accept Mail Drop if Mail offers it
When the message is larger than your email provider's limit, the Mail app asks whether to send the attachment with Mail Drop. Apple's limit is 5 GB per message, and each attachment is kept for 30 days.
- 3
Or save it to iCloud Drive
In the share sheet choose Save to Files, then share the file from the Files app and copy the link.
See how to send a voice message on iPhone for recording and messaging steps.
Send a large audio file over WhatsApp or SMS
Send the file as a document, not as a voice message. Open the chat, tap the attach icon, choose Document, and pick the audio file. WhatsApp's stated limit for documents is 2 GB, which covers almost any recording. The recipient taps the file to play or save it. Voice messages recorded in the app are meant for short clips, see the WhatsApp voice message guide.
SMS and MMS
Your carrier sets the attachment limit, and the recipient's carrier can set a lower one. A long recording often arrives compressed or does not arrive at all. If the recording is more than a minute or two, paste a link into the text instead. The guide to sending a voice message by text covers SMS, iMessage and RCS in more detail.
Send a link instead of the file
A link is a few dozen characters, so it fits in an email, a text or a chat on any app. With SendMyVoice you can record in the browser or upload an existing file:
- 1
Open the share tool
Go to sendmyvoice.com/send-online-voice-message. Record with your microphone, or upload a WebM, WAV, MP3, MP4 or OGG file.
- 2
Choose an expiry and an optional password
Expiry options are 1 hour, 24 hours, 7 days and 30 days. After that the audio is deleted.
- 3
Copy the link and send it
Paste it into an email, a text or a chat. The recipient plays the audio in their browser without installing anything.
1. Record or upload
Up to 25 MB and 10 minutes
2. Get a link
Expires after 1 hour to 30 days
3. Paste it in a chat
The limit for this tool is 25 MB and 10 minutes per file. That covers a 10 minute MP3 or M4A easily, but not a 10 minute WAV (about 53 MB). Convert it to MP3 first with the audio converter above.
For recordings longer than 10 minutes, such as a meeting or an interview, use Google Drive, OneDrive, iCloud Drive or Mail Drop as described above.
Which method to use
- Under 10 minutes, any phone or app: Use a link from the share tool. The recipient does not need the same app as you.
- Over 10 minutes: Upload to Drive, OneDrive or iCloud Drive and share that link.
- Recipient only uses email, file under 20 MB: Attach it as MP3 or M4A.
- Both of you use WhatsApp: Send it as a document, up to 2 GB.
- iPhone, sending by email, file over your provider's limit: Accept Mail Drop when Mail offers it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I send a large audio file by email?
Attach it if it is under your provider's limit (25 MB for personal Gmail, 20 MB for Outlook.com, 20 MB for iCloud Mail). If it is bigger, upload it to Google Drive, OneDrive or iCloud Drive and paste the link into the email, or turn on Mail Drop in iCloud Mail, which raises the limit to 5 GB. You can also convert the file to MP3 to make it smaller.
How do I send a large voice recording on Android?
Open the recording in your recorder app, tap Share, and save it to Google Drive. In Drive, copy the link and send it in Messages, WhatsApp or email. Texting the file itself often fails because MMS size limits are set by your carrier. You can also send the audio over WhatsApp as a document.
How do I send a long voice recording from an iPhone?
Share the recording from Voice Memos to Mail. If the message is larger than your email provider allows, Mail offers to send the attachment with Mail Drop (up to 5 GB, each attachment kept for 30 days). Another option is to save the file in iCloud Drive and share a link.
Why is my audio file too large to send?
File size is bitrate multiplied by length. An uncompressed WAV recording (16-bit, 44.1 kHz, mono) is about 5.3 MB per minute, so it passes a 20 MB limit in under 4 minutes. The same recording as a 64 kbps MP3 is about 0.5 MB per minute.
What is the largest audio file I can send on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp's announcement of document sharing says files up to 2 GB can be sent. To send an audio file that size, attach it as a document rather than as a voice message.
Is there a size limit for sending a voice message as a link with SendMyVoice?
Yes. The free tool accepts a recording or upload of up to 25 MB and 10 minutes. Longer files need to be trimmed, split, or shared through a cloud storage link instead.
Record or upload audio and share the link
Up to 25 MB and 10 minutes per file. No app, no signup.
Send a voice message, free, no signup
Record a voice message in your browser and share it with a link. Password protection, auto-delete, and no account required.
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