Video uploads — for incident reports, supporting documents — are the most demanding thing the BEHCA mobile app does. This article explains what's supported and what to expect for big files.
Supported formats
- MP4 (
.mp4) - WebM (
.webm) - MOV (
.mov)
.AVI is not supported — it's an older format that's unreliable for processing.
Maximum file size
- 100 MB server cap on upload.
- On mobile, the app compresses videos before upload so the file sent to the server stays under that limit.
Mobile vs website — different flows
| Mobile app | Website | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Every video is compressed on your phone first, then uploaded | Most clips under 100 MB upload as-is; the server downscales to 720p afterward |
| Very large clips (> 100 MB) | Phone compression runs until the file fits the cap | Browser compression (slow) runs only when the raw file exceeds 100 MB |
| Typical status after upload | Usually Ready once upload finishes | Often Processing briefly while the server compresses |
Plan for CPU use and wait time on mobile even for short clips — compression always runs locally before anything is sent.
What happens when you upload on mobile
- You pick or record a video.
- The app compresses it on your device (downscales toward 720p). This can take from a few seconds to several minutes depending on length and phone speed. Your phone may get warm — that's normal.
- The compressed file uploads to BEHCA's secure storage.
- Status is typically Ready when the upload completes — the server does not run a separate compression job for standard mobile uploads.
What happens on the website (for comparison)
- You pick or record a video.
- If it's 100 MB or less, it uploads unchanged; the server compresses to 720p (status may show Processing briefly).
- If it's over 100 MB, the browser compresses first (can take many minutes), then uploads; the server step is skipped when the client already compressed the file.
How long does it take?
- Mobile — compression time dominates; then upload time on top. A 30-second clip is usually quick; long HD recordings can take several minutes end-to-end.
- Web, small files — often a few seconds of upload plus brief server processing.
- Web, files over 100 MB — browser compression can take many minutes before upload even starts.
You can keep editing the IR or document while video processes on web server jobs — on mobile, wait for the on-device compression step to finish before leaving the upload flow if possible.
Tips for video on mobile
- Keep clips short. A 30-second focused clip compresses and uploads faster and is more useful to reviewers than a 10-minute recording.
- Trim before uploading. Use your phone's built-in video editor (iOS Photos / Android Gallery) to cut to the relevant moment first.
- Stable connection helps. WiFi is faster and more reliable than mobile data for uploads after compression.
- Don't close the app mid-compression or mid-upload. Background work is best-effort; staying in the app improves completion rates.
- Charge your phone. Compression uses CPU and battery.
What gets played back
- Videos play in BEHCA's video viewer.
- The viewer doesn't have a download button by design.
- Right-click is disabled to discourage casual extraction.
- Picture-in-picture is disabled.
The "no download" guard is best-effort. A determined viewer with technical knowledge can extract the video stream from devtools. This is a practical limitation of web video, not a BEHCA bug. Don't put video into BEHCA assuming it's impossible to extract.
Privacy reminders
- Videos contain everything in frame, including bystanders. Be careful where you film.
- Audio is recorded — what's said in the background goes into the record.
- Don't film people who haven't consented to being recorded.
Common questions
- My video is stuck on "Processing" for over an hour. — More common on web uploads. On mobile, if upload finished but status looks wrong, try opening the IR again or contact support.
- My upload failed partway through. — Connection blip or compression error. Try again on WiFi with a shorter clip.
- My phone got hot during compression. — Normal on mobile — every upload compresses locally first.
- Can I upload from the web instead? — Yes. The website skips on-device compression for most files under 100 MB and lets the server handle downscaling.
- Can I upload multiple videos at once? — Add them one at a time. They upload separately on the IR or document.