Discord users miffed over new 10MB free file size upload limit

Discord has been going through some growing pains lately. From latency issues messing with profile picture updates to a bunch of new buttons in the chat bar, the platform’s recent tweaks have sparked plenty of chatter. But nothing has stirred the pot quite like the latest bombshell: a significant reduction in the free file upload limit.

Back in April 2023, Discord made a move that users welcomed with open arms: the file upload limit for free users was bumped up to 25MB. This change made sharing game clips, high-res photos, and even the occasional ridiculous video a breeze. Fast forward to a few weeks ago, and users were hit with a rather unwelcome surprise: the maximum file size for uploads had been slashed to a meager 8MB. And now we can confirm this is true, but the file size limit is 10MB.

Discord kept quiet about the shift initially, but the silence has finally been broken after Discord updated its Nitro FAQ page. The company explained that the reduction is a strategic move to manage storage more effectively. Despite the fact that 99% of users typically upload files smaller than 10MB, Discord emphasized the high costs associated with storing the billions of files uploaded daily. They pointed out that maintaining quality storage without compromising the platform’s free services required this adjustment. For those needing more capacity, Discord recommends its Nitro subscriptions, which offer 50MB and 500MB upload limits, depending on the plan.

While the explanation might make sense from a business perspective, it hasn’t done much to soothe the frustration among Discord’s massive user base. A recent Reddit thread that is less than 12 hours old has hundreds of comments, and the general sentiment is that this is less about storage management and more about pushing users towards Nitro. This has been echoed on X, where some even argue that if most users were already under the 10MB threshold, reducing the limit wouldn’t significantly alleviate the storage burden — making the move feels more like a marketing strategy than a necessary cost-cutting measure.

One user humorously noted that they might as well start sending videos in 1MB bits, while another quipped that they might need to switch to PowerPoint slides to get their messages across. The more serious reactions highlighted the disconnect between Discord’s reasoning and user experience, with many feeling this was just another step in the platform’s ongoing push to monetize every aspect of its service. Others, however, pointed out the real costs involved in running a platform as vast as Discord, acknowledging that while the change is disappointing, it’s not entirely unexpected.

In the end, while some users might begrudgingly upgrade to Nitro for the larger file limits, others are left reminiscing about the brief golden era of 25MB uploads. For now, it seems Discord users will have to adjust to the new norm — or find creative ways to share their favorite content without hitting that 10MB wall.