How to compress a video on Mac
Right-click the video in Finder and choose FileMate › Compress Video. FileMate saves a smaller MP4 copy next to the original, up to 4K at the default Safe level, 1080p at Stronger and 720p at Maximum. It works with MP4, MOV and M4V files. Built into macOS, QuickTime’s File › Export As and Finder’s Encode Selected Video Files can also re-encode a video at a lower resolution.
Videos are compressed on your Mac. A 2 GB file doesn’t have to be uploaded to get smaller.
Compress a video with FileMate
- Select the video in Finder, or several videos.
- Right-click and choose FileMate › Compress Video.
- The activity window at the top right shows progress and a time estimate. You can keep working.
- Clip compressed.mp4 is saved next to the original, with the saving in the result.
FileMate uses HEVC (H.265) by default. For videos that must play everywhere, including older Windows PCs, choose Most Compatible (H.264) in Settings › Compression.
Which level to choose
| Level | Resolution | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Safe | Up to 4K, as the original | Keeping the video for yourself, smaller |
| Stronger | Up to 1080p | Sharing, most websites, school and work uploads |
| Maximum | Up to 720p | Email, chat apps, strict upload limits |
FileMate starts at Safe. When the video can get smaller, the result offers the next level. A copy is kept only if it’s meaningfully smaller than the original.
Why phone videos are so large
A minute of 4K iPhone video at 30 frames per second takes around 170 to 350 MB, depending on the format setting. Screen recordings at Retina resolution are also large. Most of the saving comes from a lower resolution and a bitrate suited to where the video is going.
Compress with QuickTime Player
- Open the video in QuickTime Player.
- Choose File › Export As and pick 1080p, 720p or 480p.
- Save. QuickTime saves a
.movfile.
Fine for one video. It has no batch option and always saves MOV, which some upload forms don’t accept.
Compress with Finder’s Encode Quick Action
Right-click the video and choose Encode Selected Video Files (under Quick Actions or Services). Choose a resolution and whether to use HEVC, and macOS saves an .m4v copy. It asks for settings each time.
Videos FileMate leaves unchanged
Copy-protected videos, HDR, spatial and transparent video, and videos with subtitles, chapters or several audio tracks. Re-encoding them would lose what makes them special, so FileMate says why and leaves them alone.
Get FileMate
Large videos are exactly the files you don’t want to upload just to shrink them. FileMate compresses them from Finder, on your Mac, and leaves the original untouched.
Normal price €9.99, now €4.99 incl. VAT
One payment, no subscription. macOS 14 Sonoma or later, Apple silicon or Intel.