How to Compress Video Files on Mac Without Losing Quality

If you have tried to film a high-res video, you know how difficult to attach your full-size video on email, messaging services, YouTube, or social media. In fact, most platforms out there limit the size of the video files you can send, or some of them automatically resize your videos, thus reducing the quality.

However, there is a way to compress your videos without compromising the quality, thanks to our easy-to-use compression tool that works perfectly on your Mac. The free tool helps save your device’s storage while ensuring your compressed video has the highest possible quality. This guide will walk you through the steps to compress video on Mac.

Why Do I Need to Compress a Video?

The need for video compression has risen significantly in recent years with the popularity of high-res videos. Storing and sharing large videos has become more difficult than before. So, a video compression tool is a no-brainer for those with a problem storing or sending large video files on social platforms.

There are plenty of apps and tools that can help you with video compression. macOS even includes a built-in tool called iMovie that allows you to compress and edit a video, but it has limitations compared to other third-party tools.

How to Compress a Video on Mac

Every Mac comes pre-loaded with built-in tools you can use to compress a video, like iMovie or QuickTime Player. While they might be limited in functionality, you don’t need to download any additional apps or tools onto your device.

iMovie

iMovie is the default tool on Mac that lets you compress and edit a video. The tool is great for beginners and users with no experience. If you are looking for a simple, straightforward method to compress a video on Mac, iMovie is the tool for you. Here are the steps.

Open the iMovie app on your Mac.
Select Create New to create a new project.
Click the File menu, select Import Media, and select the video you wish to compress.
From the File menu, select Share and select your option. You can choose to compress the video for sending it via email. Also, you can set your desired quality and resolution.
Click Next to save the clip and select the location for your file.

Use VideoProc Converter to Compress a Video on Mac

VideoProc Converter is a cool tool specializing in video compression without losing quality. It’s fast, safe, and lets you compress videos on Mac with simple mouse clicks. The best part is that you can manage and compress hundreds of videos simultaneously.

Step 1: Download VideoProc Converter on your Mac’s official site and install it.

Step 2: Launch the tool on your machine and click the +Video option to import a video or multiple videos. You can quickly drag the videos to the main menu.

Step 3: Now, select your target format. To do it, select MP4 HEVC, and click on Run. According to our test, it’s possible to convert H.264 to HEVC in VideoProc Converter at about 90% file size without compromising the original picture quality. All of this is made possible by the application of the x265 high entropy codec algorithm.

Step 4: Click the Run button to start compressing your video. With the support of GPU acceleration, the process takes only a few minutes.

There are a number of other ways to reduce video file size without sacrificing quality. Re-encoding MKV/MP4/AVI/MOV videos, adjusting the GOP length value, downscaling 4K to 1080p/2K, lowering bitrate/frame rate, cutting video length, and cropping unwanted areas are all effective methods for reducing file size. In most cases, you won’t even notice a difference in quality. So if you’re looking to save some space, these are all great options to consider.

Learn more about VideoProc Converter’s full video compression methods.

Note: The free trial allows you to convert only 5 minutes of each video. It gives you a glimpse of what you will get from the full version. If you decide to pay for the tool, it costs $25.95 for a one-year subscription.