How to Compress Videos on Mac

Some of the largest files on your Mac are likely to be media files and, in particular, videos. This is not a surprise, and it is the case for most users. However, what do you do if you want to send a movie or a recording to someone else? Most messaging apps have a limit on the file size that can be sent. Furthermore, uploading videos to streaming sites may also impose specific file size limits. If you are facing such a challenge, then you need to learn how to compress videos on Mac. By using the right compression, you can drastically reduce file size, without compromising the quality too much.

Keep in mind that video compression is not perfect, and you should be prepared to face some loss of quality. There are two readily available utilities to help you compress videos on your Mac – iMovie and Quicktime Player.

How to Compress Videos on Mac with iMovie

iMovie is Apple's equivalent to the Windows Movie Maker. It allows basic editing, and can also come in handy when you want to manage the size of media files. To compress videos with iMovie, do the following:

Open the app and head to Create New -> Movie.
Select File –> Import and use your media file.
Your media should now appear in the browser window on top. Drag it to the timeline section at the bottom.
Select File -> Share -> File…
Configure the resolution, quality, and other settings.
Hit Save and wait for the task to complete. iMovie will show you the probably size of your file.