How to Reduce Video File Size: 7 Methods To Try Now

We’ve talked about video communication a lot, so you now know how to record a video with Zight’s screen recorder, how to edit the video, and even how to share a large video file. But let’s rethink the last step for one minute. Imagine this scenario:

You’ve just finished recording a detailed product demo for your biggest client. The walkthrough is perfect – clear explanations, smooth transitions, everything they need to see. Then you try to send it, and you’re met with the “File size is too large for email“ warning. No problem, you think – you try a file-sharing service and get “Upload will take 2 hours.” Oh dear… and your client’s waiting for this right now!

You must stay clear-headed and look for a solution, which brings us to why you’re here reading this article. Today, I want to guide you on how to reduce video file size and still maintain video quality. I’ll start by explaining video file size and then how to compress or convert it for the best results.

A Quick Look Into Video File Size and Compression

Video files are basically just a bunch of images (frames) played really fast, plus some audio. As you can see from the properties of my video above, you can define video size based on certain parameters:

1. Frame dimensions: My video is 1280 (width)x720 (height) pixels. This also means a 720p HD quality
2. Frame rate: Playing at 30 frames per second
3. Duration: 13 seconds long
4. Audio setup: Using stereo sound (2 channels) at 258kbps

All these combine to create a 5.20 MB file. To put this in perspective, my 13-second video contains about 390 individual images (13 × 30 frames), each at 720p quality, plus the audio track. This explains why even short videos can take up significant space!

Now, there are two ways to make these files smaller: lossy and lossless compression.

Lossy video compression means the file gets smaller by permanently removing some data – hence the term lossy. This can be bits of color information and tiny details your eyes might not even notice. The result is a much smaller file that still looks good, but you can’t get back to the original quality.

Lossless compression is different – it makes your file smaller by finding smarter ways to store the same information. Nothing is removed, so you can always get back to the original quality. However, your files won’t get as small as they would with lossy compression.

You can use lossy compression when you’re ready to share your final video – especially for emails or uploading to platforms like YouTube. Use lossless when you might need to edit the video again later or if you’re dealing with high-stakes content where every pixel matters.

How to Reduce Video File Size Post-Production

If you’ve already hit the wall with a very large video that needs to be sent ASAP, you can reduce the file size with these methods:

1. Choose a Smaller Video Format

We’ve talked about video file formats in our guide and explained that they are just different ways to store your files, and they have two parts – a container and a codec. File formats affect your video file size, quality, and even compatibility. So, when you find yourself with a large file, the easiest way to reduce size should be to change the file format!

The best video footage format for a smaller filer size is MP4. While formats like MOV and AVI maintain pristine quality (great for editing), they create larger files.

You can convert videos to MP4 with Zight – you can easily upload your MOV or WebPM files and convert them to MP4 for that sweet spot between quality and size.

Remember, though, once you convert, you can’t go back to the original quality, so keep your source file as a backup if you need to edit again later.

2. Lower Video Resolution

You’re familiar with image quality on your screen – that’s resolution. It’s measured in pixels, like 1920 x 1080 (also called 1080p). Each pixel is a tiny dot of color, and more pixels mean sharper images but larger files. For example, a 1-minute video at 4K (3840 x 2160) can be 350MB, while the same video at 1080p might only be 85MB.

For most business videos, especially screen recordings, 4K is overkill. Your software demo or product walkthrough will look just as professional at 1080p, and your viewers probably won’t notice the difference. Plus, most business monitors display at 1080p anyway.

You can use a video editor to convert from 4K to 1080p and shrink your file by around 75%, or from 1080p to 720p to save another 44% (pro tip: most AI video generators also do this in seconds!)

Just run a quick test first – make sure any text or small details stay clear and readable after the change.

3. Optimize the Video Frame Rate

Frame rate (fps) determines how many images play per second in your video. At 30fps, every second shows 30 images. Combined with the resolution, this impacts file size directly. For perspective, a 1-minute video at 1080p/60fps could be 100MB, while the same video size at 30fps would be about 50MB.

Now, you will pick the ideal frame rate depending on what type of video you want for your business. For most screen recordings, especially software demos or general training videos, 30fps will give smooth playback. You might only need 60fps for gaming content or fast-motion videos.

To reduce the frame rate post-production, you will need a good video editor, then follow these simple steps:

1. Open your video editor
2. Find video properties/settings
3. Look for ‘frame rate’ or ‘fps’
4. Change from 60fps to 30fps
5. Preview a section to ensure smooth playback
6. Save with new settings

4. Trim Unnecessary Parts

With Zight’s editing features, you can easily remove dead air, long pauses, or repetitive content from your videos. Think of those awkward “umms,” false starts, or that 30-second pause while you were finding the right window – all those add to your file size unnecessarily.

Here’s how to trim in Zight:

1. Open your video in the editor
2. Look for sections that don’t add value
3. Use the trim tool to select start/end points
4. Cut the section and click Done

5. Compress Video Audio

Audio adds bulk to your video file in two ways: quality settings (bit rate) and number of tracks. A high-quality stereo track at 320 kbps could add 2.4MB per minute to your file size, while mono at 128 kbps only adds about 0.9MB per minute.

For most business videos, especially those with just voice narration, you don’t need high-quality stereo audio. Here’s how to optimize:

1. Convert stereo to mono if you’re only recording voice
2. Lower bit rate to 128 kbps for voice (still clear for speech)
3. Remove any unnecessary audio tracks

Quick tip: You can also use Zight to mute your video’s audio if it’s not necessary for the final output.

To do so:

1. Upload your video to Zight, or access it from your dashboard if you recorded with Zight
2. Click edit
3. Toggle off the audio
4. Save as a new file

6. Use Video Compression Software

Suppose you don’t want to go through all this trouble reducing single aspects like resolution, frame rate, format, or trimming to make a video smaller. You can get an online video compressor for simple yet advanced settings to compress a video.

These tools let you fine-tune compression settings to balance quality and size with lossy or lossless compression. A popular option includes Veed.io, which I’ve used to demonstrate above. Here’s a general compression process after you upload a video:

1. Choose compression level (low/medium/high)
2. Select output format (usually MP4 with H.264)
3. Adjust resolution if needed
4. Set target file size or quality level
5. Preview compressed result
6. Compress if quality is acceptable

7. Save the Video As a Zip File

Compressing your video into a ZIP file can reduce size by 5-10% without affecting quality – ZIP uses lossless compression, so you won’t lose any data.

To ZIP a video:

1. Right-click your video file
2. Select “Compress” on Mac or “Send to > Compressed folder” on Windows
3. Share the ZIP file

Note: ZIP works best with already compressed videos (like MP4). For uncompressed formats (like AVI), you might see better size reduction.

Wrapping Up…

With these methods, you can finally stop worrying about sending large video files. But what if I told you there is still a simpler way, one that doesn’t even require you to reduce video file size?

Of course, you can use Zight to record and share your high-quality videos! You can capture content in 4K resolution with high frame rates and never worry about file size limits.

Instead of downloading and uploading large files, Zight generates a shareable link to your video. Recipients can watch online instantly – no Zight account needed. Plus, your videos stay in the cloud and are accessible anytime, anywhere. This means you can save storage space on both your device and your recipient’s while maintaining professional quality.

So, no more waiting for uploads or dealing with email size limits. Just record, get your link, and share in a chat, email, social media comment section, or otherwise!