Buzz
This article will guide you through the process of reducing video file size, including adjusting resolution and final file size on Windows and Mac computers, as well as on iPhone or iPad.
Steps
Windows
Visit handbrake.fr/ in your browser. Handbrake is a free program that allows you to re-encode videos to reduce resolution or file size.
Click the Download Handbrake button.
Click on the installer. You’ll find it at the bottom corner of your browser or within the Downloads folder.
Press the Yes button when prompted by Windows.
Click the Next button to proceed with the installation.
Click the Finish button once the installation is complete.
Double-click the Handbrake icon on your desktop.
Click the Source button. You can find it in the top-left corner of the Handbrake window.
Press the File button.
Browse for the file you want to reduce in size.
Click the Open button after selecting the file.
Click the Browse button in the Destination section.
Set the location where you want to save the output file.
Locate the Size section under the Picture tab.
Enter a smaller value in the Width field. This reduces the video resolution, which in turn decreases the file size. For example, changing the value from 1920 to 1280 adjusts the resolution from 1080p to 720p, resulting in a significantly smaller file. The resolution change is noticeable when viewed on larger screens.
- You can input values like 1024, 1152, 1366, 1600, or 1920 to resize while maintaining the aspect ratio. Note that these are common resolutions for widescreen videos. If your video has a different aspect ratio, such as vertical mobile footage, you’ll need to use different values.
Click on the Video tab.
Click and drag the Constant Quality slider to the left. Increasing the value will reduce quality, leading to a smaller file size.
- DVD quality is 20. For small screens, you can set it to 30. For larger screens, keep it between 22-25.
Click and drag the x264 Preset slider to the right. Slower settings will result in smaller file sizes. Choose the slowest setting your system can handle.
Click the Preview button. This button is located at the top of the window.
Check the Use system default player checkbox.
Click the Play button.
Watch the preview clip to determine the video quality.
Make adjustments if needed and watch another preview clip.
Click the Start button when satisfied. The encoding process will begin. The time required depends on the video size, settings, and your computer's performance.
Open the encoded file. You will find the new video in the location you specified earlier. Play it to check the quality and ensure the encoding process was successful. You will notice a significant change in file size.
Mac (Handbrake)
Visit handbrake.fr/ in your web browser. This is the official website for the free Handbrake tool, which you can use to adjust video file sizes.
Click the Download Handbrake button. This will download the Handbrake installer to your computer.
Click on the installer once it has finished downloading. You can find it in the bottom-right corner of your screen or in the Downloads folder.
Drag Handbrake to your desktop or into the Applications folder.
Double-click on Handbrake to launch it.
Click the Open button.
Navigate to the video file you wish to convert. The file browser window will appear as soon as you launch Handbrake.
Select the file and press Open.
Enter a new name for the converted file in the Destination field. If you don't rename it, Handbrake will overwrite the original video file.
Click the Picture Settings button. You'll find this button at the top of the program window.
Enter a lower resolution in the Width field. Adjusting the resolution makes the video appear smaller on the screen and reduces the file size. You won't notice the resolution change when viewing on a mobile device, making this an effective way to shrink the file size.
- If the width is "1920", try reducing it to "1280". This effectively changes the video from 1080p to 720p. Common width values corresponding to screen resolutions include 1024, 1152, 1366, 1600, and 1920.
- Don't forget to check the "Maintain Aspect Ratio" option. The program will automatically adjust the video height to match the width, ensuring the proportions remain unchanged.
Click the X button. This action closes the Image Settings window and saves your changes.
- Changing the video resolution isn't always necessary for reducing file size, but it can still be quite effective.
Click and drag the Constant Quality slider to the left. A higher number means lower video quality and a smaller file size. You can experiment with the settings a few times until you're satisfied.
- DVD quality is 20. You can move the slider up to 30 and still watch the video on a small screen.
- If you plan to watch the video on a large screen, keep the slider between 22 and 25.
Click and drag the Encoder Options Preset slider to the Slow setting. If possible, choose a slower setting than Slow. The slower the compression process, the smaller the output file size.
Click the Preview Window button.
Press the Live Preview button to see a real-time preview of your video.
Watch the encoded preview clip to evaluate the output quality.
Make adjustments to the settings if necessary. Depending on the quality of the preview clip, you can revisit and tweak the settings to achieve your desired results.
Click the Start button to initiate the video encoding process with your chosen settings. The completion time depends on the video length and the quality settings.
Mac (iMovie)
Launch iMovie on your Mac. This video editing software is pre-installed and can be found in the Applications folder.
Click on the Projects button to access your existing or new project options.
Tap the + button to create a new project or file.
Select the Movie option to start a new video project.
Choose the No Theme option if you prefer to work without a predefined template.
Enter a new name for your file to save it with a unique identifier.
Navigate to the folder where your video file is stored to locate it.
Drag and drop your video file into the top-left section of the iMovie window to import it.
Move the video clip down to the timeline section to begin editing.
Click on the File menu to access additional options and settings.
Select Share → File.
Click on the Resolution menu and choose a lower resolution. This reduces the actual frame size and file size. You won't notice a difference in resolution on smaller screens.
Click on the Quality menu and select a lower quality. This lowers the display quality of the video, thereby reducing its file size.
Click on the Compress menu and choose a file with a smaller size.
Select Next.
Enter the file name.
Select Save.
Wait for the file to be converted. This process may take longer for larger videos.
Android
Open the Play Store on your Android device. You can find it in the app list or on the home screen. The app icon resembles a shopping bag with the Google Play logo.
Go to the Search bar.
Type video compress into the search field.
Select Video Compress from the results list.
Click Install to download the app.
Tap Open to launch the app after installation.
Press the Allow button. This step grants access to your video files.
Navigate to the folder containing your video file. Typically, this is the "Camera" folder.
Select the video you wish to compress.
Click the Compress Video button.
Enter the desired file size for export. The new resolution and file size will be displayed for each option.
Wait for the file to compress.
Locate the new video. The compressed file is saved in the Super Video Compressor folder on your device's storage. The new video's name is the original file name prefixed with "video compress".
iPhone and iPad
Open the App Store.
Tap on the Search tab.
Type compress video into the search field.
Click the Get button next to Video Compressor.
Press the Install button to proceed.
Tap the Open button to launch the app. You can also find the Compress app on your home screen.
Click OK to grant video access permissions.
Select the video you wish to compress.
Press the Choose button to proceed.
Drag the Target Size slider to adjust the final file size. By default, the app reduces the size by 50%. As you move the slider, the estimated final size will be displayed.
Click the Save button to confirm your settings.
Wait for the video processing to complete. You can monitor the progress at the top of the screen.
Locate the newly compressed video. The compressed file will be saved in your photo library.
