X posts cut videos short
A post is for watching a video. The video is compressed again. It is shortened. The 160 MB explainer video does not fit this format. Adapting it changes the original. The accompanying image and PDF are not attachments to the post either.
Messages have tighter limits. You cannot send a large file in its original form in a message.
| Method | 210 MB package |
|---|---|
| Post | Compressed and shortened |
| Message attachment | Lower file size limit |
| Public reply | Everyone can see the link |
| We upload to your account | No |
| Link | Original download, no account needed |
The example above includes an explainer video, an image, a PDF attachment, a cover image, and a note.
Publishing vs. delivery
You can show a short clip in a post. That clip is not the original. The full file is available through the link. We do not create the clip for you. We do not shorten the video either.
| Clip on X | File shared by link | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Viewing | Delivery |
| Duration | X shortens it | Full video duration |
| Does not fit in the post | Available through the same link | |
| Who downloads | Not the viewer | Whoever receives the link |
| Account required | X account | None; a browser is enough |
For Instagram’s publishing rules, see sharing files through Instagram. For video transfer details, see sending large video files.
Password-protect files shared publicly
Anyone who sees the reply also sees the link. Set a password for private files. Do not add the password beneath the same post. Share the link in a private message instead.
| Location | Result |
|---|---|
| Public post | Viewed, not delivered as a file |
| Public reply | Everyone can see the link |
| Private message | More limited access |
| Password in the same post | Protection is undone |
| Account access | None |
210 MB is a file size, not X’s video duration limit
This file package is under 250 MB, so it stays available for up to 90 days. Longer videos are also free to send up to 5 GB. Free transfers over 250 MB stay available for 7 days. X shortens that video in a post. A link does not.
| Total | X | SendGB |
|---|---|---|
| Short clip | Published | Original sent separately |
| 210 MB example | Original is not sent | Free |
| 2 GB | Post shortens it | Free |
| Over 5 GB | Cannot be sent | SendGB Extra or SendGB Exceed |
| View count | X’s statistics | Not a download notification |
Do not upload a video to X as if it were the original. Send the link.
How to send
- 1
Add the original
Add the explainer video to the upload box. Do not upload it to an X post. Sending 210 MB is free.
- 2
Paste the link
Paste the link into a reply or message. Do not attach the video to the post. Do not include the password in a public post.
- 3
The recipient downloads
The recipient downloads from the link and does not create an X account. A browser is enough. The link stays available for up to 90 days. The video is not compressed.
What happens to your file?
- The video is not converted to X’s publishing format. It is not shortened.
- The image and supporting text share the same link.
- The file is not hosted in a public post.
- If you provide your email address, you receive one notification when the download starts.
What we don’t do
- We do not access your X account. We do not publish posts.
- We do not turn X’s compressed copy back into the original.
- Anyone who sees the link in a public reply can download the file.
- A download notification does not mean the post was viewed.
Frequently asked questions
Does X publish videos in their original quality?
No. Videos uploaded to posts are compressed. They are also shortened. The recipient gets a shorter, smaller version of the 160 MB explainer video. The original file can be downloaded from the link.
Can I send the video in an X message?
Large files cannot be sent in their original form through X messages either. Messages have a file size limit, and that limit may change. Include only the link in your message.
Do you access my X account?
No. We do not publish posts. We do not send messages. There is no app that connects to X.
Is a public reply safe?
Anyone who sees the link can download the file. Set a password for private files. Do not include the password in the same reply. Share the link in a private message.
Can recipients open PNG and PDF files?
PNG and PDF files can be opened on the download page. The full video does not play on the page. Files are downloaded unchanged.
Is sending 210 MB free?
Yes. No registration is required for transfers up to 5 GB. This example is under 250 MB, so it stays available for up to 90 days. Free transfers over 250 MB stay available for 7 days. X’s video duration limit does not determine this retention period.
Does this work the same way with TikTok or Instagram?
All three convert videos to a publishing format. On all three, you send the original file with a link. We do not access your accounts.
Does a download notification count as a view?
No. If you provide your email address, you receive one notification when the download starts. This notification does not confirm that the post was viewed. X’s view count and the download notification are different.
Does the recipient need an X account?
No. The recipient opens the link in a browser and downloads without creating an X or SendGB account.
How do I send a long video?
You can send up to 5 GB for free with a link. Larger files require SendGB Extra or SendGB Exceed. The duration limit for X posts shortens the video. Sending it with a link does not shorten it.
Do not upload the video to X. Send a download link.
The explainer video in the 210 MB package will not retain its original form in a post. You can share the link without registering.
Start sending