How to Compress/Reduce a Video File Size Without Losing Quality

Understanding Video Compression: The 3 Core Methods

To compress videos, there are mainly 3 core methods: lower bitrate, change codec, and reduce resolution. We will simply introduce you to the meaning of these 3 methods to help you reduce file sizes.

Lower bitrate

• • What it does: Reduces the data per second used to encode the video.
• • Effect: Smaller files with gradual loss of fine detail and motion fidelity as bitrate drops.
• • When to use: When you need a specific target file size or lower bandwidth for streaming.

Change codec

• • What it does: swaps the compression algorithm (for example H.264 to H.265 or AV1).
• • Effect: Newer codecs deliver equal or better visual quality at lower bitrates, producing much smaller files for the same perceived quality.
• • When to use: When target devices and platforms support the newer codec and you want the best quality-per-size.

Reduce resolution

• • What it does: Lowers the pixel dimensions of the video (for example 4K to 1080p).
• • Effect: Large file-size savings because fewer pixels need encoding; fine detail is lost but playback is lighter on bandwidth and devices.
• • When to use: When viewers will watch on small screens or when bandwidth/storage is the primary constraint.

Method 1: Compress Videos With Professional Compression Software (Maximum Speed & Quality)

To compress video file without while keeping the original quality, you can turn to the professional solution. Here we strongly recommend an all-featured video editing and converting tool, Video Converter Ultimate for you to lower video file size.

• 1. Video Converter Ultimate is a powerful video editor and converter which can compress video to smaller size without quality loss.
• 2. Carry toolbox of video compressor, GIF maker, 3D maker, video enhancer and more.
• 3. Powerful editing features like cut, crop, rotate, watermark, 3D, enhance, effects and more.
• 4. Convert 8K/5K/4K, 1080p HD and SD video to over 500 formats like MKV, MP4, AVI, FLV, MP3, etc.
• 5. Rip DVD disc to DVD folder, ISO file or video/audio format, and convert 2D to 3D.

1. Double click on the download button above and follow the instructions to free install this video compressing software on your computer. It allows you to reduce video file size on either a Mac or a Windows PC.

2. Launch it and click Toolbox to show more tools. Select the second Video Compressor feature to compress your video.

3. Click the big + icon to load the video you want to compress.

4. Now you can see some options offered there to reduce the video file size. You can custom output video format, resolution, bitrate, duration and more to compress video. Also, you are allowed to directly move the slide bar to control the compression. You can see clearly about the output file size.

5. Select a path to save your compressed file. Then click the Compress button to start compressing this video file. When the compressing is finished, you can click OK button to complete the whole process. There will be a pop-up window for you to directly check the compressed video.

You can also use its editing feature to cut unwanted part. With this method, you can compress video to a smaller file without any quality loss.

Method 2: Compress Videos With the Best Free Online Tools

2.1 Compress Videos with AnyMP4 Online Video Compressor

Now, we would like to show you a free online way to compress video. There are a large number of video compressing tools offered on the internet that can help you compress MP4 video to smaller size online free. Here we introduce you with the popular Online Video Compressor to compress your video to a smaller file.

This online video compressing tool supports any popular video formats including MP4, MOV, WMV, MKV, AVI, FLV, 3GP, MXF, WebM, TS, and more. More importantly, there is no limitation for video file size and video resolution. It even allows you to compress a 4K UHD video with a large file size.

1. Go to the Free Online Video Compressor site on your browser like Google Chrome, IE, Safari or Firefox.

2. Click the Launch Free Compressor button to quickly download a small-size video launcher file. After installing, you can browse and select the video file that you want to compress from the pop-up window.

3. Now you can move the slide ball to control the compression degree. Also, you can adjust the video size, format, and resolution from the drop-down options to reduce the video file size with ease.

4. Click Compress button to start compressing video to smaller size online free. During this step, you can select a suitable destination file folder for the compressed video.

2.2 Compress Videos with FreeConvert Video Compressor

Besides the Online Video Compressor we recommended at the first part; you can also rely on other compressing tools to lower a video's file size online free. Here we introduce you with the popular FreeConvert Video Compressor. The following guide will show you how to use it to compress video.

1. Open your browser and navigate to the FreeConvert Video Compressor site. Click on the Choose Files button to add the video you want to compress. Here you are also allowed to upload a file through Dropbox, Google Drive and URL.

2. Click the Advanced settings icon to open the main compressing window. Then you are offered 3 options to adjust the output video quality and size. You can move the compression slide bar to change the output file size.

3. Click the Apply Settings button and then click Compress Now to start uploading and compressing your video. It will take a long time to complete the process. Be patient. After that, you can click the Download MP4 button to save the compressed file on your local hard drive, or save it to Dropbox and Google Drive.

As a free online video compressor, you will see many ads during the compression. But compared with other online compressing tools, FreeConvert can offer a relatively faster compressing speed.

Method 3: Compress Videos With Built-in Player Compression Tools

3.1 Compress Videos with VLC

If you have installed VLC media player on your Windows 10/8/7, Mac, or Linux computer, you can use it to compress video.

1. Open VLC media player on your computer. If you don't have one, you can go to its official site, VideoLAN to free install it.

2. Click Media on the menu bar and then select the Convert/Save option from the drop-down list.

3. When you see the Open Media window, click on the Add button to browse and load the video you want to compress.

4. Click Convert/Save to bring up the convert options. Check the box ahead of the Display the output. You can click Profile to get more output formats. Also, you can click on the Edit selected profile icon to open Profile edition window. Here you are allowed to adjust video codec, resolution, bitrate, frame rate and quality, and so on to reduce video file size.

5. Click Save button to confirm your operation. Now you will be guided to the Convert window. Click Browse to select the destination file, and then click Start button to move on.

6. The compressed video will replace the original one if you choose Overwrite. Here you can also select the Keep existing file option.

7. After all these operations, click Start button to start compressing this video to a smaller file.

Note that, if you choose the Overwrite option, you may easily get an output video with some playback issue. So here you'd better choose Keep existing file.

VLC is a powerful media player, and it also has other features like convert video, crop video, cut video, and more.

3.2 Compress Videos with QuickTime

If you are a Mac user and want to compress video, you can rely on the built-in media player, QuickTime to reduce the video file size.

1. Open QuickTime Player on your Mac. Click File on the top menu bar and then click Open File from the drop-down list to browse and add the video you want to reduce its file size.

2. Click File again and this time choose the Export As option. Then you can get a list of export options including 4K, 1080p, 720p, 480p and Audio Only. You can select a lower resolution to compress your video.

If you are using a Windows PC, you can also download and use QuickTime to compress video. But you should know that, QuickTime can only allow you to change video resolution between 4K, 1080p, 720p and 480p. You can't compress video to another resolution. Learn more information about QuickTime export video.