Guide · GitHub pull requests
Add a video to a GitHub pull request
A screenshot shows a moment; a video shows the change. Here's exactly how GitHub embeds a video in a PR, the size limits to know, and how PR Preview gives you a ready-to-drop before/after MP4.
npm i -D @qwertybit/pr-previewHow it works
From a recording to an embedded PR video
GitHub renders MP4 and MOV files inline when you drop them into a description — no external host, no link rot. PR Preview writes exactly that file.
- 01
Record the journey
Run PR Preview on your branch (or ask Claude Code to). It opens your app in Chrome and captures the flow as a real recording.
$npx pr-preview run - 02
Find the clips
PR Preview writes before.mp4 and after.mp4 to .pr-preview/output/ — small, sharp H.264 files a few hundred KB each.
- 03
Drag the MP4 into the PR description
On github.com, drop the file into the pull request description box. GitHub uploads it to its own CDN and embeds an inline player — no external host, no link rot.
- 04
Open the PR (or let Claude do it)
Reviewers see the before/after change play inline. In agent mode Claude Code can commit the clip and open the pull request with the video already embedded.
Formats & limits
MP4 by default, GIF as a fallback
- MP4 (H.264) — GitHub embeds it as an inline player. PR Preview clips are a few hundred KB, so they load instantly.
- Animated GIF — renders inline as an image. When ffmpeg isn't installed, PR Preview produces a high-quality GIF instead, so you always have something to drop in.
- Size limits — GitHub allows up to 10 MB for images/GIFs and 100 MB for videos. You'll never get close.
Pull request video — questions
How do I embed a video in a GitHub pull request?
Drag the video file into the pull request (or issue/comment) description box on github.com. GitHub uploads it, hosts it on its own CDN, and renders an inline HTML5 player. There's no public API for it — it's a drag-and-drop upload, which is why PR Preview writes a ready-to-drop MP4.
What video formats does GitHub support in a PR?
GitHub embeds MP4 (H.264) and MOV files inline. Animated GIFs also render inline as images. PR Preview outputs MP4 by default and falls back to a high-quality GIF when ffmpeg isn't installed — both drop straight into a PR.
What's the file-size limit for a video in a GitHub PR?
GitHub allows up to 10 MB for images/GIFs and up to 100 MB for videos in Markdown attachments. PR Preview clips are only a few hundred KB, so you stay well under either limit.
Does the video get uploaded anywhere by PR Preview?
No. PR Preview records entirely on your machine and writes the file to your project. The only upload is you (or GitHub, on your behalf) dropping it into the PR — nothing goes to us.
Can I show a before and after in the same PR?
Yes — that's the point. PR Preview records the same journey on the PR base branch (in an isolated git worktree) and on your branch, so reviewers compare the real visual change side by side.
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