It need not be challenging or take up a lot of disk space to figure out how to compress a video. We tried a variety of video compression tools (and even made our own) before settling on the following three methods for cutting down on video file size. We’ll show you how to send a huge video clip by email or a link in addition to the simplest techniques to compress videos. This article serves as a guide on how to compress a video on iPhone, how to compress a video on android, how to compress a video without losing quality, and how to compress a video on windows. Let’s dive in!
How to Compress a Video
Size does matter when sending files digitally. If you’re a podcaster and you’ve ever needed to convert a WAV audio file to an MP3, you already know that sending a larger file takes longer and is more challenging. The same holds true with video. In reality, a 60-minute video in regular definition might take up to 70GB, which is why compression is occasionally required. Compressing a video entails re-encoding the file such that fewer bits are needed to store the information, which reduces the file size. However, the process of video compression reduces the size of the original video file by retaining just the most crucial frames.
5 Simple Ways How to Compress a Video
We’ll go over the techniques for compressing videos on various devices down below. But first, here are several “fast fixes,” or quick and easy methods, for reducing a video’s file size. However, one of these solutions might be sufficient for you, depending on your demands. If it doesn’t work, try using multiple approaches, or investigate the resources discussed in the following section on video compression for certain devices.
#1. How to Compress a Video File into a ZIP File
Do you need to send a video that’s bigger than 25 MB through email? In such a case, compressing it into a ZIP archive may also be all that’s required.
Making a ZIP archive is a breeze whether you’re working with a Mac or PC, here is how to compress it:
- To compress a file on a Mac, right-click it and choose “compress [file name]” from the resulting menu.
- When using a Windows computer, right-click the file and choose “Send to” > “Compressed (zip) folder.”
#2. How to Compress a Video by Trimming It
Remember that you can “trim” the video—that is, remove the bits you don’t need—to lower the file size if you only need a portion of the video and not the entire thing. Applications like iMovie and QuickTime for Mac or Video Editor for Windows also make video trimming a breeze. With these tools at your disposal, you can pick and choose which parts of the video to keep.
#3. How to Compress a Video by Changing the Resolution
You might be able to trim the video’s file size by reducing the resolution, depending on your particular requirements. For instance, if your film isn’t going to be seen on a 4K screen, there’s no point in using a 4K resolution. If that’s not an issue, consider switching to a lesser resolution, such as 1080p.
#4. How to Compress a Video by Changing the File Type
Certain video formats are larger than others, and this is especially true when it comes to storage capacity. A typical MP4 file is less in size than its AVI or MOV counterparts. It’s possible that you might reduce the size of your video file by storing it or converting it to a different format. Please remember that MOV and AVI are lossless file types while MP4 is a lossy file type. So, an MP4 is a safe bet if you need a high-quality video that will play smoothly on your device of choice.
#5. How to Reduce the File Size of a Video with an Online Video Compressor
There are numerous internet tools that can be used to compress video files. Here are some of the most common choices:
- Free video compression software from Riverside
- Clideo
- FreeConvert
Since these tools operate in your browser, they have the advantage of being simple to use and accessible from any device. Nevertheless, compared to other video compression methods, these online services may offer fewer customization options and give you less say in the process.
Video Compressor Tools
Here is a list of video compressor tools:
- HitPaw Video Converter
- VideoProc
- WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe
- Aiseesoft Video Converter Ultimate
- PowerDirector 365
- Wondershare UniConverter
- HandBrake
- Movavi Video Converter
- VideoSolo Video Converter Ultimate
- Final Cut Pro X Compressor
- VSDC
- Free Convert
- Freemake Video Converter
- Media.io Video Compressor
- VLC Media Player
How to Compress a Video on iPhone
Compressing a video on iPhone might seem so stressful and confusing. Worry not! Here are some steps on how to compress video on iPhone:
#1. Reduce the Video Size on Your iPhone Using Video Compress
Using a compression tool from a third party is the simplest approach to reducing the size of a movie on your iPhone. You may download Video Compress from the App Store for free if you want to reduce the file size of your films without sacrificing quality. Compression does not require any complicated configuration. The program will automatically minimize the file size of your video after you load it.
Here’s the procedure:
- If you haven’t already, get Video Compress and install it on your iPhone.
- Launch the program and select Settings from the menu that appears.
- Then, pick a file type to export from the Export menu.
- This format will be used to save your compressed video.
- To return to the home screen by tapping the lone icon there.
- Allow the app access to all of your media files.
- Choose the movie you’d like to shrink down and hit the checkbox to the right of it.
- A compression slider will appear, allowing you to fine-tune the quality of your video’s compression. To view the resulting file size, simply drag the slider. When the proportions are right, select the corresponding icon in the upper right corner.
- Watch as the app shrinks your video for you.
- The program will immediately store the clip. After the video has been compressed, you will be taken to a screen where you have the option to erase the original by selecting the Delete Original button.
#2. Use iPhone’s “Compress Videos & Resize Video” Function to Compress a Large Video
Compress Videos & Resize Video is a paid upgrade to the free software that allows you to alter the video quality on your iPhone. This program significantly decreases the file size of your iPhone films, allowing you to share them via your iPhone in places where their size is restricted.
To reduce the file size of your iPhone films, follow these steps:
- Therefore, fire up Compress Videos & Resize Video and give it permission to access your media files.
- Click the Choose Videos to Compress button to add a clip for encoding.
- Choose an item to compress and continue.
- Choose a Frame Rate and Video Dimensions for the output file on the next screen. The smaller you set these values, the smaller your video file will be.
- Afterward, you can wait while the program compresses your video by tapping the Compress button.
- You can compare the original and compressed versions of your video. Choose Delete Original to permanently remove your original video. Choose Retain 1 original if you want both the original and the compressed version of a video saved on your phone.
#3. Compress a Video on Your iPhone Using Media Converter
Certain video formats are better than others at keeping file sizes down. Because the quality of your videos is more important to you than their size, your iPhone employs a format that provides for higher quality at the expense of storage space. You can also reduce the file size of your iPhone videos by converting them to a different compressed format. You won’t lose too much quality in the process, and the resulting movie file will be a lot smaller.
People use apps like Media Converter, another free program with a paid version available, to compress and convert videos. This is how to compress a video there:
- Get yourself a copy of Media Converter for iPhone.
- Choose Import From Picture Library by tapping the plus sign (+) at the top.
- Give the program permission to access your media library, then select the clip you wish to shrink in size.
- Choose the import video quality by tapping Done and then using the pop-up menu.
- Low, medium, high, and lossless quality settings are available in Media Converter. To prevent quality loss during compression, select High Quality.
- When Media Converter has finished importing the video, tap the I icon next to it to bring up a menu. From there, choose Convert Video.
- The video can be trimmed using the editing controls provided in the compression screen. Choose the video output format and compression ratio you want to use if you merely want to reduce its size.
- To begin video compression, tap the single icon in the top right.
- The output file will be displayed on the main screen after the conversion is complete.
How to Compress a Video on Android
Your Android video camera is great for capturing moments, but the files are sometimes too large to easily share online. A video that might not normally be shareable via email or multimedia messaging services can be made smaller by adjusting the camera’s settings.
- Open the lock screen on your Android handset by waking it up.
- Click “Application Menu” at the bottom of the display. After that, select the camera icon.
- Set the camera’s mode to “Video Camera” using the slider towards the window’s bottom.
- To change the resolution of the window, click the “Resolution” button. Next, choose the sharing method by tapping the corresponding option. Tap the “MMS” option, for instance, if you wished to transmit the movie as an MMS message.
How to Compress a Video without Losing Quality
More data is contained in high-quality videos, which results in the clearer video but slower upload and transmission speeds. Video compression will, by definition, cause some information to be lost in the process of lowering file size. Lossy compression and lossless compression are the two main kinds of compression. When a file is compressed using a lossy method, information is permanently lost. Lossy image formats like JPEG are common. With lossless compression, there is no data loss and the image quality is maintained. Compressed files can also be restored to their original size and quality after they have been uploaded or delivered. Lossless formats include Portable Network Graphics (PNG).
Video quality degradation or file corruption may occur if compression is performed improperly. Video quality can be preserved during compression if one is diligent and uses the right tools and techniques.
How to Compress a Video on Windows
The audio or video files in the presentation should be opened.
Choose Info from the File menu, and then Compress Media from the Multimedia submenu.
Choose one of the following to specify the video quality, which will in turn determine the video’s size:
- Full HD (1080p) Minimize storage needs without sacrificing video or audio quality.
- HD (720p) The level of quality will be on par with online streaming media.
- Standard (480p) Useful for when you need to minimize file size before sending something over email, such as a presentation.
How to Compress a Video with VLC
Almost any video and audio file may be played by VLC, making it one of the most widely used media players worldwide. The fact that VLC can compress videos to make them smaller is one of the many things it can do in addition to simply playing media files, which you might not be aware of. If you don’t already have it, you can download the software from the official VideoLan VLC media player website and install it on your Windows computer.
Tips on How to Compress a Video on VLC
- Launch VLC after installing it on your computer. Choose Convert / Save from the Media menu. Alternatively, you can just simultaneously hit the Ctrl and R keys.
- This displays the Open Media window. Click or tap the Add button on the right-hand side of the File tab, which is already selected by default.
- Choose the video you wish to shrink by searching through your Windows PC. Afterward, select Open by clicking or tapping.
- The video is now included in the list of files that VLC will transcode. In the bottom-right corner of the window, click or tap the Convert / Save button.
- Choose one of the predefined video profiles by clicking or tapping the field next to Profile. I’ve found that the last option, Video for Youtube HD, is among the better options because it is compatible with practically all media players and online video-sharing websites. Moreover, it provides one of the finest video compression rates without significantly sacrificing quality. Use Video for Youtube SD if you want an even reduced file size.
- Making the video smaller would still produce good results if you left this profile exactly as it is. You can further modify the profile’s settings to make sure the result is small enough for your needs. You can access all the available settings by clicking or tapping the tiny wrench button next to the Profile box on VLC.
- Reduced resolution is one of the best techniques to make sure the video is smaller than the original. You may do it on the Video codec > Resolution tab of the profile’s settings. There, you can either select to scale down the movie or manually enter a new resolution that is smaller. You may notice, for instance, that the movie will be reduced to a height of 720 pixels in the screenshot below (720p). After making the necessary changes, click or tap Save at the bottom.
- Click or tap on Browse to the right of the “Destination file” field in the Convert window to return there.
- Choose the place and name for the freshly converted video by navigating via your Windows PC.
- Click or tap the Start button to return to the Convert window.
- Watch as the new video file is converted and saved by VLC. The VLC window’s bottom displays the progress in real-time for your observation.
- When it’s finished, you may locate the new video in the location where you saved it. I was able to reduce a video that was approximately 26 MB in size to a smaller video file of just 2.5 MB using the settings previously indicated while maintaining acceptable visual quality.
How to Compress a Video with Handbrake
HandBrake is another well-known program for transforming video files. It is available on the company’s official website. Download, set it up, then launch it. Drag and drop the movie you wish to resize onto it after that, or pick “File (Open a single video file.)” to navigate through your Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer to find the video file.
You only need to use a handful of these settings and buttons to reduce the size of a video, so don’t be intimidated by the abundance of possibilities.
Tips on How to Compress a Video with Handbrake
- Choose the video profile that best reflects your goals for the video that you want to make smaller by clicking or tapping on Presets on the Summary page. Remember to select a preset with a lower resolution than the original in order to guarantee that the converted video will be smaller than the original. The easiest method to get a smaller video without suffering too much quality loss from this step’s many options is to explore.
- Choose MP4 video compression in the format area and Web optimization to make your smaller video as compatible with a variety of platforms and devices as feasible.
- Choose H.264 as the video encoder under the Video tab.
- Click or tap on Browse in the bottom-right corner of the window.
- Choose the location where you wish to save the smaller video file by navigating through your Windows computer. Choose a name for it as well. then click Save.
- Click or tap the Start Encode button located on the ribbon at the top of the HandBrake window to return there.
- At the bottom of the window, HandBrake begins encoding the video file and updates you on its progress. The HandBrake software can be closed after you have waited for it to finish.
How to Compress a Video Using Microsoft’s Clipchamp
You can use Clipchamp – Video Editor, a preloaded program that comes with Windows 11, to compress your videos. If you enjoy using it, you can also utilize Windows 10; however, in that case, you’ll first need to download and install it from the Microsoft Store.
Tips on How to Compress a Video Using Microsoft’s Clipchamp
In any case, follow these instructions on how to compress video:
- Open Clipchamp – Video Editor, and then from the dashboard, click or touch “Make a new video.”
- Put your video in the Clipchamp – Video Editor window by dragging it there. Alternatively, you can also select the video by navigating your PC and clicking the Import media button.
- Drag and drop the video in Clipchamp – Video Editor into the storyboard at the bottom of the window.
- To continue, you could immediately start compressing the video. But I would suggest giving it a name first. To do that, choose the Untitled video field from the window’s top by clicking or tapping on it, then type the preferred title.
- Then, in the top-right corner of the Clipchamp – Video Editor window, click or tap the Export button to reduce the size of the video.
- Choose the preferred video quality from the menu that Clipchamp – Video Editor displays. Make careful to select a lesser resolution to get a little video. 480p is too lossy in terms of visual quality, thus I suggest 720p. If your original video was shot in 4K or a higher resolution, 1080p is also a fantastic option for downsizing it. Notably, this is also Clipchamp – Video Editor’s highest setting.
- Following your selection, Clipchamp – Video Editor begins encoding your video instantly. Simply wait for it to finish its task. After finished, the new, presumably smaller video will be saved in the Downloads folder for your user.
- The new video should be smaller depending on the original video’s size and quality.
How Do I Reduce the Size of an MP4 File?
Here are the steps you need to follow to reduce the size of an MP4 file:
- Choose your MP4 file and upload it. Drag & drop your MP4 video into the box after you click on Choose MP4 File.
- Adjust your compression settings. Set the video resolution from the compression options.
- Click on ‘Export’ Save your changes if you’ve made any and click Export.
How Do I Reduce the MB Size of a Video in KB?
These are the steps to take when you want to compress your video:
- Upload a video. Choose a file up to 500 MB for free from any of your devices: Android, iPhone, Mac, or Windows.
- Compress the file. Wait a few moments while the tool is setting up the necessary parameters for your video.
- Save the result. Watch the preview to make sure everything is okay.
Final Thoughts
You can use any of these to compress your videos, making them easier to upload and distribute online. A video’s quality must be sacrificed in order to reduce its size, even if the sacrifice is imperceptible to the naked eye. What approach do you favor, ultimately? Do you use methods other than those I mentioned to reduce the size of video files? Please feel free to post them in the comments for everyone’s benefit.
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