File Too Large Error

You'll see this error when the input file exceeds the maximum allowed size for your plan.

File Size Limits by Plan

Plan	Max Input File Size
Free	100 MB
Starter	1 GB
Pro	2 GB

The limit is per file. A job with several inputs is judged on its largest one.

Limit Enforcement

File size is checked in two places.

The first is at upload. POST /v1/upload/presigned-url refuses a file of 1.9 GB or more straight away, with a 400.

The second is after a transcode job is created. The API fetches each input and measures it. A file over 1 GB stops at the fetch, and the job fails with the third message under Error Messages below. Otherwise the largest input is compared against your plan, and a job over the limit ends with status failed and the first message. No tokens are charged either way.

When the plan limit blocks a job you also get an in-app notification, and an email if your address is verified, at most once a day.

Common Causes

Raw or uncompressed video files. Screen recordings and camera exports are often very large before compression. Compress locally first or use a smaller clip.

Very long videos. A 2-hour 1080p video can easily exceed 1GB. Consider splitting into shorter segments.

High bitrate sources. 4K or high-framerate video at high bitrates adds up quickly.

Solutions

Compress before uploading

ffmpeg -i input.mov -c:v libx264 -crf 28 compressed.mp4

Split long videos

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -t 600 -c copy first10min.mp4

Upgrade your plan

If you regularly work with larger files, upgrade to a plan with a higher limit. See Pricing.

Error Messages

"File too large: this input is 250.0 MB and your plan allows up to 100 MB per file." The job's largest input is over your plan's limit. The numbers are your file's and your plan's.

"File size too large. Maximum allowed size is 2GB." The upload request named a file of 1.9 GB or more.

"File too large. Maximum input file size is 1GB for URL-based inputs." The file was over 1 GB when the API fetched it.

"Downloaded file is empty (0 bytes)." The URL returned no data. Check that it is reachable and points to a real file.