Compress MP4 Files Online
Shrink MP4 videos right in your browser. Your file stays on your device, and the result is still an MP4 that plays everywhere.
Compress your video
or drop videos here, or paste with Ctrl+V
MP4, MOV, WebM, MKV, AVI, WMV, FLV, M4V, 3GP, MPEG and TS
Your videos
Your compressed videos
- Files stay on your device
- No sign-up
- No watermark
How to compress an MP4 file
Open your MP4
Drop the MP4 onto the page or tap "Choose videos". You can add several files at once.
Choose a mode
"Recommended" gives a big saving with little visible change. Use "Target file size" when you need an exact limit.
Save the smaller MP4
Compression runs on your device. When it's done, compare the sizes and download your new MP4.
Why MP4 files get so big
MP4 is a container: it holds a video stream, usually H.264 or HEVC, plus an audio stream. The size of the file is decided by the bitrate, the amount of data stored for each second of video. Cameras and phones record at high bitrates to capture every detail, which is why a one-minute 4K clip can take several hundred megabytes.
Compressing an MP4 means re-encoding it at a lower, smarter bitrate. A modern encoder spends data where your eyes notice it, such as faces, edges and text, and saves it in flat or fast-moving areas where you wouldn't see a difference.
Three ways to reduce MP4 size
- Recommended compresses at a quality level matched to the video's resolution. It's the best choice when you simply want a smaller file that still looks good.
- Target file size works backwards from the size you need. Type 20 MB, for example, and the bitrate is calculated from your video's length so the result fits.
- Lower resolution in the advanced settings. Turning a 4K or 1080p video into 720p reduces the number of pixels by half or more, which is the single biggest saving for videos watched on phones.
You can combine them: choose a target size and a resolution, and the compressor fills that size as sharply as it can.
Tips for the best result
- Trim before you compress. Every second you cut leaves more data for the seconds you keep.
- Match the resolution to the screen. Videos shared in chats are watched on phones, where 720p looks sharp.
- Keep the audio sensible. Speech sounds fine at 96 kbps; music benefits from 128 kbps. You can also remove audio entirely in the advanced settings.
- Compress the original once. Each round of compression loses a little detail, so start from the original file rather than an already compressed copy.
Need a specific size? Use the ready-made 8 MB, 10 MB or 15 MB pages, or the Discord preset.
Your MP4 never leaves your device
Most MP4 compressors upload your video to a server and make you wait twice: once for the upload and again for the download. Here, the work happens in your browser, using your device's hardware video encoder when available. Nothing is uploaded, so private recordings stay private.
Frequently asked questions
How much smaller will my MP4 get?
It depends on how the video was recorded. Phone and camera recordings are usually saved at a high bitrate, so they often shrink by 60–90% with Recommended mode. Videos that were already compressed for the web may shrink much less.
Will the compressed file still be an MP4?
Yes. The result is an MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio, the most widely supported combination. It plays on phones, computers, TVs and in browsers.
Can I compress an MP4 without losing quality?
Some quality is always traded for size, but the loss can be invisible. Keep Recommended mode, set the resolution to Original, and raise the quality slider in the advanced settings if you want an even safer result. Our guide on compressing without visible quality loss explains the details.
Is there a file size limit?
There's no fixed limit, because nothing is uploaded. The practical limit is your device's memory. Most computers handle MP4 files of 1–2 GB comfortably; phones are best with files under about 500 MB.
Can I make an MP4 smaller by changing the frame rate?
A little. Dropping from 60 to 30 frames per second helps for gameplay and screen recordings. For most phone videos, lowering the resolution saves far more.