How to compress a video to a specific size
- Choose your video. Drop an MP4, MOV, WebM or MKV file onto the box. It is read directly from your disk; nothing is uploaded.
- Pick a target size such as 10 MB or 25 MB, or type your own. The tool works out the bitrate that fits, leaving room for audio and the container.
- Leave Resolution on Auto unless you need a specific size. Auto lowers the resolution when the budget is too small to keep a large frame sharp, which looks far better than a blocky 1080p video.
- Trim if you can. Cutting a 2-minute clip down to the 40 seconds that matter triples the quality you get for the same file size.
- Press Compress video, watch the result in the preview, then download it.
How the size target is guaranteed
Video encoders aim for an average bitrate, so a file can come out a little larger than planned. After each pass the tool measures the real file. If it is over your limit, it re-encodes at a proportionally lower bitrate, up to two more times, with the last pass using constant bitrate. You only get a "done" result when the file is under the target. Sizes use 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes, so the file also fits limits that are counted in MiB.
Target size or Quality: which mode?
- Target size is for upload limits: Discord, WhatsApp, email, forms and job portals. You get the best quality that fits.
- Quality is for shrinking a file without a hard limit. Balanced typically cuts phone videos by 50 to 80% with little visible loss, because phones record at very high bitrates. The estimate shown before you start is based on the resolution and frame rate.
Tips for the best-looking result
- Seconds per megabyte matter most. As a rough guide for H.264, 1 MB holds about 6 to 8 seconds of decent 720p video, or about 3 seconds of 1080p.
- Fast motion costs more. Gameplay, sports and confetti need more bits than a talking head. For those, choose a lower resolution or a 30 fps cap.
- Audio takes a fixed share. Auto picks 64 to 128 kbps depending on the budget. If sound doesn't matter, Remove audio frees that space for the picture. To keep only the soundtrack, use Extract Audio from Video.
- MP4 plays everywhere. The output is MP4 with H.264 video, the format that phones, Discord, WhatsApp and every browser play. WebM with VP9 is a little more efficient but less widely supported.
Privacy and metadata
Compression happens in your browser with the WebCodecs API, often using your graphics chip, so even large files never leave your device. The compressed copy is written without the original's metadata, which removes things like GPS location from phone videos. To check what metadata a photo carries, use the EXIF viewer.
Troubleshooting
- "Can't decode H.265 (HEVC)": many iPhone videos are HEVC. Safari, and Chrome or Edge on Windows or Mac with hardware HEVC support, can read them. Otherwise record in "Most Compatible" mode.
- Slow or stuck: encoding speed depends on your device. Keep the tab in the foreground, since browsers slow down background tabs. A lower resolution encodes much faster.
- Target too small: the tool tells you the smallest workable size. Trim the clip or remove audio to get there.
- No sound after compressing: some audio formats (AC-3, DTS) can't be decoded by browsers. The tool warns you before this happens.
Working with sound only? Find the tempo of a track with the BPM finder.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compress a video to 10 MB?
Choose your video, pick 10 MB as the target, leave Resolution on Auto and press Compress video. The tool divides the size budget by the video's length to get a bitrate, leaves room for audio and the container, and picks a resolution that stays sharp at that bitrate. If the first result is even slightly over 10 MB it automatically re-encodes at a lower bitrate, so the file you download is always under the limit.
Is my video uploaded to a server?
No. The video is read from your disk and compressed inside your browser with the WebCodecs API, often using your device's hardware video encoder. Nothing is sent over the network, so it works for private or confidential footage, and it keeps working if your connection drops after the page has loaded.
What is Discord's file size limit for videos?
For years free Discord accounts could upload 10 MB per file, and Discord has since raised the free limit to 20 MB. Nitro subscribers can upload much larger files. Limits change, so check current limits in Discord. A 10 MB video always fits, and 20 MB gives better quality if your account allows it.
Why does my compressed video look blocky or blurry?
The target is small for the video's length. A 3-minute video squeezed into 10 MB only gets about 440 kbps, which is too little for sharp 1080p. Trim the clip to the part you need, choose a lower resolution such as 480p, cap the frame rate at 30 fps, or remove the audio. Each of these gives the picture more bits per frame.
Which video formats can I compress?
You can open MP4, MOV, M4V, WebM, MKV and MPEG-TS files containing H.264, VP8, VP9 or AV1 video, plus H.265 (HEVC) where your browser can decode it (Safari, and Chrome or Edge with hardware support). The output is an MP4 with H.264 video, which plays on every phone, browser and chat app, or WebM with VP9 if you choose it. AVI, WMV and FLV files aren't supported.
Is there a maximum file size or video length?
There's no fixed limit. Files of several gigabytes work on a desktop computer because the input is read in pieces rather than loaded all at once. Very long 4K videos on older phones can run out of memory; if that happens, trim the video or choose a lower resolution.
How long does compression take?
On a recent computer, 1080p video usually compresses faster than real time, so a 1-minute clip takes well under a minute. Phones and older laptops are slower. Lower output resolutions encode much faster. Keep the tab visible while it works, because browsers slow down background tabs.
Can I compress a video on my iPhone or Android phone?
Yes. Open this page in Safari or Chrome on your phone, choose the video from your library and compress it. The page asks the phone to keep the screen on while it works. If your iPhone video is HEVC and Chrome can't read it, open the page in Safari instead.