Are you still worried about insufficient storage space or the inability to send large videos on your iPhone?
Whether you want to share video clips faster or save space on your iPhone, this guide shares 5 simple and effective ways to compress videos on iPhone, including solutions such as using built-in tools to third-party apps.
5 Ways to Compress a Video on iPhone
Way 1: Trim the Video in the Photos App
If you want to compress an iPhone video, the easiest way is to use the Photos app on your iPhone. You can easily compress videos through this editing app.
Here’s how:
- Open the Photos app and select the video you want to edit.
- Tap “Edit.”
- A timeline containing the video frames will appear at the bottom of the screen.
- Use the arrows on both sides to drag and select the parts you want to keep.
- When you’re done, tap “Done” in the upper right corner.
- Select “Save Video” to overwrite the original video.
This method compresses the size of the video by shortening its length, but it does not reduce the video resolution or quality.
Way 2: Use Third-Party Apps to Compress Video
If you’re looking for a more professional video compression tool, several third-party apps are available for this purpose. These apps allow you to significantly compress video files while maintaining good quality.
1. Compress Videos & Resize Videos
Price: Free, In-App Purchases
This app can easily compress multiple videos at once and reduce file size by more than 80% without noticeable loss of quality.
How to use:
- Open the app and select a video
- Tap Next and use the sliders to adjust the frame rate and resolution
- Tap Compress, and your small video will be saved to the Compressed Videos album
2. Video Compress – Shrink Vids
Price: Free, In-App Purchases
This is a lightweight video compression app that can be used to compress 4K, Full HD, or HD videos.
How to use:
- Launch the app and tap the “+” icon to import your video
- Choose compression quality or custom settings
Tap “Continue” and select the destination album - Once compression is complete, you can choose to delete the original file or keep both versions
3. Video Slimmer App
Price: Free (Pro version costs $2.99)
This app not only compresses videos, but it can even trim them to remove unwanted parts.
How to use:
- Tap the “+” icon to add multiple videos
- Tap the gear icon to adjust video quality and output size
- Choose to keep or delete the original file
- Tap “Slim Now” to compress, export, or share the resized video
Way 3: Use the Shortcuts App to Compress a Video
If you want to compress a video without downloading any additional apps, you can use the iPhone’s built-in Shortcuts app.
Step 1: Create the Shortcut
- Find and open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
- Tap the “+” icon in the top-right corner to create a new shortcut.
- Tap the shortcut title at the top and choose “Rename”.
- Name it something like “Compress Video.”
Step 2: Add Actions to the Shortcut
- Tap “Add Action”, search for “Get File”, and select it.
- Tap “Show Document Picker” to enable file selection.
- Tap “Add Action”, search for “Encode Media”, and add it.
- Under “Input,” choose “File”.
- Tap “Show More” and change the Resolution to something lower (e.g., 720p).
- Tap “Add Action”, search for “Save File”, and add it.
- Under “Input,” choose “Encoded Media”.
- Choose a folder or location to save the compressed video.
- Now, save the File.
Step 3: Use the Shortcut to Compress a Video
- Open the Photos app and select the video you want to compress.
- Tap the Share icon.
- Scroll down and select “Compress Video”.
- Choose the desired resolution.
- The compressed video will be saved to your selected folder.
Way 4: Transfer to Computer or Cloud for Compression
Sometimes the easiest way to compress an iPhone video is to send it to your computer or upload it to cloud storage.
1. Transfer iPhone Videos to Computer
- Use AirDrop or a USB cable to send the video to your Mac or PC.
- Once the video is on your computer, use a tool like HandBrake, 7-Zip, or WinZip to compress its size.
- Once compressed, move the video back to your phone, email it, or wherever you need it.
2. Use a cloud storage service
If you just want to save memory on your phone, cloud storage is also a good option.
- Upload your video to a service like Google Drive or Dropbox. Most cloud services will upload without reducing the quality.
- Make sure your file does not exceed the upload limit of the platform (for example, Gmail has a 25MB upload limit, while Google Drive has a larger limit).
- Once uploaded, you can create a shareable link and send it via email, text message, or social apps.
Way 5: Use Online Compress Video Tools
If you don’t want to install additional apps, online video compressors are a good choice.
- Choose a toolPopular and secure online video compressor tools.
- Upload your video to the online browser tool.
- Select the target file size, bitrate, or quality, etc.
- Click the Compress button and wait a few seconds or minutes for it to complete.
Try these compressed video tools:
- VEED.io: No registration required, works with most browsers, supports cloud storage
- Clideo: Free compression of files up to 500 MB, safe and easy to use
- FreeConvert: Free compression of files up to 1 GB, you can choose the video codec
Online compressors are simpler and faster than the other options above, but you need to ensure online security when using them.
To keep your uploads private and avoid tracking, it’s a good idea to use a VPN. LightningX VPN protects your data with advanced encryption protocols and lets you change your IP address with just one tap.
With servers in over 70 countries, you can compress and upload videos securely from virtually anywhere in the world.
Why You Need to Compress a Video on iPhone?
Videos take up a lot of space on your iPhone, especially high-resolution videos like 4K or slow motion. Compressing videos helps reduce the file size, making it easier to share, upload, or store.
Whether you want to email a video clip, upload it to social media, or free up space on your iPhone, compression can make the process faster and more efficient. Compression is especially useful if you have limited storage space or data plans.
Tips to Avoid Large Video Files
To avoid the hassle of compressing your videos, you can control the size of your videos from the start:
- Change your recording settings: Go to Settings > Camera > Record Video and choose a lower resolution, such as 1080p 30 fps instead of 4K.
- Use a high-efficiency format (HEVC): In Settings > Camera > Formats, choose High Efficiency to save space without sacrificing too much quality.
- Try to avoid recording in slow motion or HDR.
- Trim away unnecessary footage before saving or sending.
FAQs: Compress a Video on iPhone
1. How to compress video files without losing quality?
To compress your video without noticeable quality loss, use tools that support H.265 (HEVC) compression or allow manual adjustment of bitrate and resolution.
They can reduce file size while maintaining high quality. But don’t reduce resolution too much, and always choose High or Best quality settings.
2. Can I use VLC to compress video?
Yes, VLC Media Player can compress videos. It’s a free, cross-platform tool that allows you to convert videos to smaller file sizes.
Open VLC on your computer, go to Media > Convert/Save, add your video, and select a format with a lower resolution or bitrate (such as MP4).
