How to Make a Video Smaller: 5 Effective Ways without Losing Quality

In today's digital age, knowing how to make a video smaller is essential for efficient sharing and storage. Large video files can be cumbersome, leading to slow uploads and difficulties in sharing across various platforms. Whether you're looking to reduce file size for quick emailing or to save space on your device, there are several effective methods to achieve this without compromising quality. In this guide, we will explore five reliable techniques that will help you make your videos smaller while maintaining their visual integrity.

What makes a video file larger

Understanding the factors that contribute to a video's file size is crucial in finding effective ways to reduce it.

• Resolution: Higher resolution means more pixels, resulting in larger file sizes because there's more detail to store.
• Bitrate: A higher bitrate increases the amount of data processed per second, leading to improved quality but also significantly larger files.
• Frame rate (FPS): Increasing the frame rate captures more frames per second, which adds to the overall data and increases file size.
• Video length: Longer videos naturally require more data, leading to larger file sizes as more content is included.
• Compression/Codec: Less effective compression or using a less efficient codec leads to larger files, as more data is retained rather than being reduced.
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With an understanding of the factors that contribute to video file size, let's explore how CapCut Commerce Pro can help streamline this process effectively.

How to make video smaller with CapCut Commerce Pro

CapCut Commerce Pro serves as an all-in-one solution for reducing video file sizes by allowing users to easily adjust the video's aspect ratio, resolution, and frame rate. This versatile tool empowers creators to optimize their content for various platforms while ensuring that quality remains uncompromised. With intuitive controls and efficient processing, CapCut Commerce Pro streamlines the resizing process, making it accessible for everyone.



Step
1. Sign up to CapCut Commerce Pro
2. Click the button link above to sign up for your CapCut Commerce Pro account. Once you’ve created your account, you'll unlock a seamless experience in video editing. With CapCut Commerce Pro, you can effortlessly create cropped videos for your products and business by following the method below. This feature allows you to focus on enhancing your brand’s visual presence while ensuring that your content is perfectly tailored for various marketing needs.
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4. Resize to make your video smaller
5. At the Smart Tools interface, users can easily choose their preferred upload method to begin the resizing process. CapCut Commerce Pro supports various upload options, including direct uploads from your computer or linking to videos stored in cloud services. This flexibility ensures that users can quickly access and modify their content without hassle.
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7. Once you've uploaded your video, select the "Smart Crop" feature. From there, you can choose from a variety of preset aspect ratios suited for popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram Stories, TikTok, and YouTube. Simply select your desired aspect ratio and hit "Generate."
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9. This intuitive process allows creators to optimize their videos for different formats and audiences effortlessly, streamlining the transition to platform-specific content while maintaining the video's quality.
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11. Adjust export settings to get a smaller video
12. After resizing your video, you can further refine your content by clicking the Edit button.
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This feature offers options for Auto Reframe or a Manual Crop, allowing you to tailor the video exactly to your needs.



Once you're satisfied with your adjustments, click on Export to save your cropped videos. In the export settings, be sure to choose a lower resolution, quality, and frame rate to further optimize your file size.



Additionally, you can schedule your publishing plan in the Publisher category and track your video performance in the Analytics category, enabling efficient management of your video content and audience interaction.



As we explore the features of CapCut Commerce Pro, let us explore other ways to resize video effectively.

Four other ways to make a video smaller

Trim unnecessary footage to make a video in a smaller size

Remove unnecessary sections from the video to reduce its length and file size; Remove additional audio tracks or subtitles that are not needed.

Step
1. Open the built-in editor
2. To trim your video, open the built-in video editor on your computer, like 'Photos' for Windows or 'iMovie' for macOS. Import your video file using the 'Import' option or by dragging it into the editor.
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Step
4. Cut unnecessary parts of the video
5. Once your video is imported, play through the timeline to locate the segments you wish to remove. Select the unwanted sections and use the 'Cut' or 'Delete' option to eliminate them. Be sure to review the edited timeline to ensure a smooth transition between the remaining clips. After you are satisfied, proceed to save your trimmed video.
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7. Adjust settings and save
8. After trimming your video, adjust the export settings to optimize file size by selecting a lower resolution and a compressed format like MP4. Click 'Save' or 'Export' to finalize your video. Always check the final file size and quality to ensure it meets your needs.
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How to make the video size smaller using compression software

Tools like HandBrake can compress videos without significant quality loss. Here's how to use it.

Step
1. Launch HandBrake and upload video
2. To get started with HandBrake, first download and install the software from the official HandBrake website. Once installed, open the application. You will be prompted to import your video file; click the "Source Selection" button and navigate to the location of your video. Select the video file you wish to compress and click "Open" to load it into HandBrake.
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Step
4. Configure video settings
5. After uploading your video in HandBrake, you'll need to choose a preset that suits your desired output. On the right-hand side of the interface, you'll see a list of presets available for various devices and quality levels. Select one that matches your requirements, whether it's for web streaming, mobile devices, or general playback.
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7. Once you've chosen your preset, click on the "Start Encode" button located at the top of the application. As the application begins processing your video, you can monitor the progress via the progress bar at the bottom of the screen. This will provide you with real-time updates until the encoding is complete. Once finished, your compressed video will be ready for use!
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9. Start compression and save
10. Click on "Browse" in the bottom right corner to enter the Save File dialogue. At this point, you can set a file name and select a new save location for your compressed video.
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Once you’ve named your file and chosen the save destination, click "Save" to confirm your settings.



Convert video file into a .zip file to make it smaller in size

Use WinRAR, 7-Zip, or similar tools to compress the video file into a smaller archive. Take WinRAR as an example:

Step
1. Locate the video file
2. To begin the process of compressing your video file into a .zip archive, first, you need to locate the file on your computer. Once you've found your video file, right-click on it to open the context menu. This will provide you with various options for further actions, including the option to compress it into a .zip file using your chosen compression tool.
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Step
4. Add to archive
5. After locating the video file, right-click on it again to bring up the context menu. Look for the options related to your compression software, such as "Add to archive" if you're using WinRAR. This action will open a new dialogue box where you can specify settings for the archive.
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Step
7. Choose compression settings and start
8. The software will then create the .zip file, and you'll see a progress indicator as the operation completes. Once finished, you will find the newly created .zip file in the same folder as your original video file, ready for sharing or archival.
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How to make video size smaller by changing video codec

Changing the video codec can help you achieve better compression or compatibility. Here's a simple 3-step guide using VLC Media Player:

Step
1. Open VLC and select media
2. Launch VLC Media Player, then click on Media > Convert/Save. In the window that opens, add the video file you want to convert and click Convert/Save.
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Step
4. Choose the desired codec
5. In the Convert window, choose the desired Profile. To customize codecs, click the wrench icon next to the profile, then select the video codec (H.264, MPEG-4, etc.) and audio codec (MP3, AAC, etc.) under the respective tabs.
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7. Start the conversion
8. After selecting your desired codecs, click Save and choose the destination folder for the output file. Finally, click Start to begin the conversion process. VLC will process the video with the new codec settings.
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Which is the most powerful way to make a video smaller

• Effectiveness in reducing file size
• Trimming with a built-in editor can help reduce size but may not be as effective as HandBrake, which compresses videos significantly. Converting to .zip with WinRAR may not provide much size reduction for video files. For optimal results, consider using CapCut Commerce Pro, which efficiently minimizes video size without compromising quality.
• Ease of use
• The built-in editor is straightforward for quick trims. HandBrake may require a bit of a learning curve but is user-friendly once familiar. WinRAR is easy to use for zipping files, but not specifically designed for video. CapCut Commerce Pro offers an intuitive interface that makes resizing videos simple and accessible for everyone.
• Impact on video quality
• Trimming in a built-in editor usually preserves quality, while HandBrake allows you to adjust settings to balance size and quality effectively. Zipping with WinRAR might not influence quality but doesn't provide significant compression for videos. CapCut Commerce Pro ensures that video quality is maintained while reducing size, making it a great choice.
• Speed and efficiency
• Trimming is quick, and HandBrake can be efficient with the right settings, but it may take longer for larger files. WinRAR zipping is fast but not optimized for video compression. CapCut Commerce Pro stands out for its speed and efficiency in reducing video size without sacrificing performance.

For a seamless experience of making your videos smaller, CapCut Commerce Pro is highly recommended!

Conclusion

Reducing video file sizes enhances content-sharing by saving storage space and cutting upload times. Identify the method that suits you best. For a streamlined solution that maintains video quality, try CapCut Commerce Pro. If you're wondering how to make a video smaller, CapCut Commerce Pro is the answer!

FAQs

1. How can I make a video smaller?
2. To make a video smaller, you can use CapCut Commerce Pro, which effectively reduces video size while maintaining quality. Its user-friendly interface makes resizing a breeze, ensuring you achieve optimal results quickly and easily.
3. How do I reduce the size of a video to email it?
4. To reduce the size of a video for emailing, you can utilize CapCut Commerce Pro, which allows for efficient compression while preserving quality. Simply upload your video, adjust the settings, and enjoy seamless sharing!
5. How do I make a smaller clip of a video?
6. To make a smaller clip of a video, you can easily use CapCut Commerce Pro. Its intuitive trimming tools allow you to select and cut segments of your video quickly while ensuring high quality is maintained.
7. How do I reduce the size of a video while recording?
8. To reduce the size of a video while recording, you can adjust the resolution and bitrate settings. This will help ensure a smaller file size without compromising too much on quality.