Premiere Pro export settings for WhatsApp chat.

Resolution

720 x 1280

Frame rate

30 fps, constant

Codec

H.264, profile High, level 3.1

Bitrate

VBR, 2 pass: target 1.9 Mbps (1923 kbps), max 2.1 Mbps

Keyframes

Every 2 s = 60 frames, 2 B-frames, closed GOP

Audio

AAC-LC, 128 kbps, 48 kHz, stereo

Colour

Rec. 709 (BT.709), 8-bit 4:2:0, limited (TV) range

Container

MP4 with Fast Start (moov atom at the front)

Sized so a 1:00 clip fits the 16 MB limit with 4% headroom.

Estimated size: 15.5 MB for 1:00.

• 1080p is above what WhatsApp chat supports here, so this uses 720p.

Step by step in Premiere Pro

1. 1Select the sequence in the Timeline, then open the Export tab at the top of the window (or File > Export > Media, Ctrl+M / Cmd+M).
2. 2In Settings, set Format to H.264 and pick a Match Source preset as the starting point.
3. 3Set the file name and Location. The container is .mp4.
4. 4Open Video. Untick Match Source where needed and set Frame Size to 720 x 1280 and Frame Rate to 30.
5. 5Under Encoding Settings set Profile to High and Level to 3.1. Software encoding tracks the target bitrate more closely than hardware encoding.
6. 6Under Bitrate Settings set Bitrate Encoding to VBR, 2 pass, Target Bitrate to 1.9 Mbps, Maximum Bitrate 2.1 Mbps.
7. 7Under Advanced Settings tick Key Frame Distance and enter 60 frames (2 s at 30 fps).
8. 8Open Audio: Audio Format AAC, Sample Rate 48000 Hz, Channels Stereo, Bitrate 128 kbps.
9. 9Check the estimated file size at the bottom, then click Export (or Send to Media Encoder to queue it).

WhatsApp chat upload limits

Each value links to where it was published.

Common mistakes

• Exporting a 16:9 timeline for WhatsApp chat. Build the edit at 720 x 1280 (9:16) from the start, or WhatsApp chat adds bars or crops your edges.
• Exporting at YouTube quality and then sending it to WhatsApp chat. Set the bitrate for the length of the clip (here 1923 kbps for 1:00) so WhatsApp chat does not refuse or squash it.
• Typing 2 into Premiere Pro's keyframe field. It counts frames, not seconds: at 30 fps that is 60.
• Uploading HDR (10-bit PQ/HLG) to WhatsApp chat. There is no published HDR path, so colours can look washed out; export SDR Rec. 709.
• Key Frame Distance is hidden under Advanced Settings and is off by default; Premiere then picks the keyframe interval itself.
• Hardware-encoded HEVC usually offers only CBR and VBR, 1 pass. Use software encoding if you need VBR, 2 pass.

Shinel Studios

Rather send the footage and get WhatsApp chat-ready edits back?

Our editors cut, caption, colour and export to each platform's spec, with 2 revision rounds. Shorts come back in 48-72 hours, long videos in 5-10 days.