How to compress MP4 video file in Windows

Posted on by admin
How to compress MP4 video file in Windows

Compressing MP4 video files on Windows can be done using various tools, both command-line and GUI-based. Below are some detailed methods for compressing MP4 files on Windows along with references to useful sources.

Before we begin, you can use our MP4 Compressor to compress your .mp4 video files online. You can choose Autoscale feature to keep the quality high while reducing file size.

1. Using FFmpeg (Command-Line Tool)

FFmpeg is a versatile, open-source multimedia framework that allows for MP4 video compression through various settings like adjusting bitrate, codec, and resolution.

Steps:

  1. Download and Install FFmpeg:
    • Visit the FFmpeg official website.
    • Download the Windows build and extract the files.
    • Add FFmpeg to your system’s PATH for easy use from the command line (refer to this guide).
  2. Open Command Prompt:
    • Press Win + R, type cmd, and hit Enter.
  3. Compress Video with FFmpeg:
    • Run the following command to compress your MP4 file:
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vcodec libx264 -crf 28 -preset slow -b:a 128k output.mp4
  • -crf 28: Controls video quality; lower values provide better quality and less compression.
  • -preset slow: Optimizes compression, with slower presets resulting in better compression.
  • -b:a 128k: Sets the audio bitrate to 128 kbps for decent quality.

References:

2. Using HandBrake (GUI)

HandBrake is a popular open-source video transcoder that provides an easy-to-use interface for video compression. It supports MP4 compression using codecs like H.264 or H.265.

Steps:

  1. Download and Install HandBrake:
  2. Open HandBrake and Load MP4 File:
    • Click on “Open Source” and select your MP4 file.
  3. Choose Output Settings:
    • In the “Summary” tab, set the format to MP4.
    • Go to the “Video” tab and select H.264 (x264) or H.265 (x265) codec for compression.
    • Adjust the Constant Quality slider. RF values between 22 and 28 offer good compression without significant loss in quality.
  4. Start Compression:
    • Click “Start Encode” to begin the compression process.

References:

3. Using VLC Media Player (GUI)

VLC Media Player is a well-known multimedia player that also offers a built-in video compression feature.

Steps:

  1. Download and Install VLC:
  2. Open VLC and Access Convert/Save:
    • Go to Media > Convert / Save.
  3. Add the MP4 File:
    • Click “Add” and select your MP4 file.
  4. Choose Output Profile:
    • In the “Profile” drop-down, select a profile like “Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4).”
    • To further compress, click on the wrench icon and adjust the resolution, codec, and bitrate.
  5. Start Compression:
    • Set a destination file and click “Start” to begin the compression.

References:

4. Using Avidemux (GUI)

Avidemux is a free video editor that supports basic editing and compression. It provides an easy way to compress MP4 videos with various codec options.

Steps:

  1. Download and Install Avidemux:
  2. Open Avidemux and Load MP4 File:
    • Click File > Open to import your MP4 video.
  3. Choose Output Settings:
    • Under “Video Output,” choose MPEG-4 AVC (x264) for better compression.
    • Under “Audio Output,” select AAC (Faac) to reduce audio size.
    • Adjust the bitrate or quality slider to control compression level.
  4. Save the Compressed File:
    • Click File > Save to export the compressed MP4 video.

References:

5. Using Online Video Compressors (Web-Based)

If you prefer not to install software, several web-based services allow you to compress MP4 files online.

Popular Online Compressors:

Steps:

  1. Upload the MP4 File to the online tool.
  2. Adjust Compression Settings: Most tools allow you to adjust resolution, bitrate, or use default settings.
  3. Download the Compressed Video once the process is complete.

6. Using Windows Built-in Apps (Photos App)

Windows 10 and 11 offer a basic video editor within the Photos App that can also compress videos by reducing resolution and quality.

Steps:

  1. Open the Photos App:
    • Open the app and click on New Video > New Video Project.
  2. Import the MP4 Video:
    • Add your video to the project.
  3. Export the Video:
    • Click Finish Video and select a lower quality option (e.g., 720p or 480p) to reduce file size.

References:

Other Resources and References:

By following these methods, you can efficiently compress MP4 video files on Windows using both free and paid tools.

Featured photo by ShareGrid on Unsplash

Compress mp4 compress video ffmpeg vlc windows video compress