Is Discord upload file size limit back to 8MB?

Discord is facing backlash from its user community after quietly reducing the maximum upload file size for free users from 25MB back to a measly 8MB.

In April 2023, Discord graciously increased the file upload limit for free users to 25MB, making it easier to share memes, game clips, and high-res photos without a hitch. Fast forward to mid-July 2024, and users are greeted with a perplexing message: “Your files are too powerful. The max file size is 8MB.”

The sudden change has left users voicing their frustration on Reddit and X. “Anyone else getting this? This is a ridiculous ‘update’. 8MB max file size is tiny in 2024,” one user lamented. Another speculated that it might be a new experiment, testing whether Nitro’s upload limit should be bumped up to 1GB while bringing free users back down to 8MB. Interestingly, the prompt says the maximum file size for Nitro users is 1GB, but the official support page still has 500MB as the maximum limit.

So far, Discord has remained mum on the issue, leaving users in a state of uncertainty. Is this a permanent downgrade or just a temporary glitch? The silence from Discord has only fueled the frustration. Some users suspect that the change aims to encourage more Nitro subscriptions by making the free tier less appealing. Others, however, remain unconvinced. “If Discord is going back to doing this, it will still not convince me to pay for Nitro. I’d use a third-party service to upload and paste the link there instead,” one user declared.

For longtime Discord users, this feels like a blast from the past. “Welcome back to 2015-2021 or whenever the limit was raised to 25MB from 8,” a user reminisced. The rollback has reignited old frustrations and sparked new ones, especially for those with large media files.

While this might be a strategic move by Discord to gauge user reactions and incentivize Nitro upgrades, user feedback suggests this gambit might backfire. Reducing the file size limit feels like a step back in time, and in a world where digital communication thrives on convenience, it’s a misstep Discord can ill afford.

As the community waits for an official word from Discord, the platform’s future hangs in the balance. Will Discord revert to the 25MB limit, or is this the new normal? Only time will tell. In the meantime, keep those files under 8MB and stay tuned for updates.

In other news, did you know YouTube videos now have ads in some Discord embeds? Well, now you know. Also, Discord is testing ability to add GIFs to favorites on mobile and a new group DM feature to handle blocked users.