Discord AV1 compression in 2025

AV1 shrinks Discord uploads by 30-50% so you can stay under the 10MB free cap (50MB Nitro Basic, 500MB Nitro) without losing clarity. Here's how to use it safely.

Encode a Discord-ready AV1 file

Drop a clip into FitToMB and we'll handle the libsvtav1 encode plus MP4 packaging. Pick the preset that matches your server tier and ship it immediately.

Open AV1 compressor 8MB fallback 50MB Nitro preset

Nitro Basic and boosted servers allow larger uploads, but keep a H.264 export handy for legacy clients.

Discord & AV1 at a glance

Support: AV1 streaming is live on RTX 30/40, RX 7000, and Intel Arc GPUs. Canary/desktop builds play AV1 uploads inline (mid-2025); older clients may show only a download button.

When should you stick with H.264?

Send a fallback H.264 clip for teammates on older phones or laptops. AV1 is incredible for size, but legacy hardware can stutter without hardware decode.

Discord limits & AV1 readiness (2025)

Plan / Context Upload limit AV1 recommended? Notes
Free 10MB Yes* Great for clips under ~30s. Share a fallback H.264 if teammates report playback issues.
Nitro Basic 50MB Yes AV1 fits longer 720p/1080p videos; hardware playback is common on 2024+ GPUs and browsers.
Nitro 500MB Optional Plenty of headroom-compress to AV1 when bandwidth matters or for archiving.
Server Boost - Level 2 50MB (server members) Yes Same as Nitro Basic but server-scoped. AV1 reduces upload time.
Server Boost - Level 3 100MB (server members) Optional Use AV1 for faster downloads; otherwise H.264 is fine.

*AV1 still relies on modern hardware. If a channel uses older devices, keep a H.264 copy ready.

AV1 presets to try

AV1 - 10MB (default)

Perfect for free tier uploads. Expect ~15-35s at 720p with crisp UI text.

Open AV1 Discord tool

AV1 - 8MB

Use for bot-enforced or legacy channels. Downscale to 480p for longer clips.

Preset to 8MB

AV1 - 50MB

Nitro Basic or boosted Level 2 servers; ideal for longer 1080p gameplay.

Preset to 50MB

How to compress Discord videos with AV1

  1. Upload or drag your video into the FitToMB AV1 tool.
  2. Select the 10MB preset (or 8MB/50MB) and keep AV1 as the codec.
  3. Optionally cap resolution to 720p and set audio to 96 kbps for speech-heavy clips.
  4. Run the compression-FitToMB uses two-pass AV1 (libsvtav1) with Opus audio.
  5. Download, test playback in your Discord server, and keep a fallback H.264 export handy.

FAQ

Does Discord accept AV1 uploads today?

Yes for most desktop users-Canary and production builds began supporting inline AV1 playback in mid-2025. Older clients may force a download; always test in your target channel.

What hardware handles AV1 decoding well?

NVIDIA RTX 30/40-series, AMD RX 7000-series, Intel Arc GPUs, and modern Chromium/Firefox browsers. Many 2024+ mobile devices also support AV1, but older phones may stutter.

What if teammates can't play the AV1 file?

Share a fallback H.264 or HEVC encode alongside the AV1 version. You can also upload to a streaming platform or send a download link.