Make MOV Smaller: Compress QuickTime MOV on Mac/PC

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Have some QuickTime MOV files that takes too much space on your local hard drive or mobile devices. Or you wish to compress some QuickTime MOV files smaller so that you can conveniently send the file to your friends via email or share the files on the popular video sharing sites such as YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo or Instagram. The following article will show you how to compress QuickTime MOV files with some free ways or professional ways.

Free ways to compress QuickTime MOV files

Solution 1: Compress its content to save space

You can compress QuickTime MOV files smaller by compressing its contents to save the disk space. You can do this by locating the desired MOV file, right click and go to Properties. Then go to “General”> “Advanced”. Mark the check box next to “Compress contents to save the disk space”. Finally, click OK and the file will be saved in a smaller size version.

Solution 2: Compress with WinRAR or WinZip

Download Winzip or Winrar. Right Click on the files you want to compress and click on “Add to archive”. Choose the compressed file save directory and click on OK.

Professional ways to compress QuickTime MOV files

Above listed 2 solutions only helps to create a smaller QuickTime mov file but does not create a new media in a compact format. If you are looking for a more professional way to compress MOV file to your desired file format with less quality loss, we highly recommend Pavtube Video Converter Ultimate (get Mac version) to you, which facilitates you to compress QuickTime MOV files in the following efficient ways:

Solution 1: Output QuickTime MOV to smaller sized FLV, WMV

Compared with QuickTime MOV, FLV or WMV adopt the comparatively higher video compression codecs to reduce the video file size to a large degree. If you wish to send files via email, it would be much ideal for you to compress QuickTime MOV to WMV, if you wish to upload file to YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, etc, compressing QuickTime MOV to FLV can be the best choice.

Solution 2: Lower QuickTime MOV file resolution

The higher the resolution, the sharper the picture. However, the higher the resolution, the larger the file size will be. Changing the original QuickTime video to a smaller resolution will lead to a smaller file size.

Solution 3: Lower QuickTime MOV video bit rate.

Reducing the QuickTime MOV bit rate will bring about the decrease of the video file size. But please keep in mind the image quality will be bad in case you make the bit rate too low.

Solution 4: Lower QuickTime MOV frame rate.

The frame rate has a significant influence on the file size. Lowering the frame rate of your video to 15 or 10 fps can reduce the file size by as much as 1/2 or 2/3. However, reducing the frame rate may affect the smoothness of the playback. Acceptable frame rates vary depending on the specific video clip. You may have to experiment to find the lowest acceptable value.

Solution 5: Trim/Crop/Split QuickTime MOV files.

All above listed video compression solutions will cause certain quality loss, if you are wish to compress QuickTime MOV files with no quality loss, you can choose the “Trim“, “Crop” or “Split” function offered by some program. The “Trim” function can assist you to cut off unwanted parts or segments from the video, the “Crop” function helps to remove unwanted video area, while the “Split” function can assist you to split a large file into small parts by file size, count or length.

Besides compressing QuickTime MOV files with any one or few of the solutions listed above, you can also use the program to complete some simple video editing work before sending the smaller file via email or uploading to video sharing sites. You can flip or rotate video, deinterlace interlaced video into progressive form, apply some special rendering effect, add video/image/transparent text watermark, change output video picture effect such as brightness, contrast or saturation, insert external SRT/ASS/SSA subtitle to video, etc.

Free download Windows version

Free download Mac version

How to Compress QuickTime MOV Files on Mac/Windows?

Step 1: Load QuickTime MOV files.

Download the free trial version of the program. Launch it on your computer. Click “File” menu and select “Add Video/Audio” or click the “Add Video” button on the top tool bar to import QuickTime MOV files into the program.

Step 2: Output QuickTime MOV to small file.

Clicking the Format bar, from its drop-down list, output QuickTime MOV file to a small file size file with better quality such as “WMV” or “FLV” file.

Step 3: Lower output video resolution/bitrate/frame rate.

Click “Settings” on the main interface to open “Profile Settings” window, here, you can flexibly lower output video resolution, bit rate or frame rate under “Video Section”. Always make sure to keep a balance between the file size, bit rate, frame rate and video quality.

Step 4: Trim/Crop/Split QuickTime MOV files.

Trim QuickTime MOV file length

In the video editor window, choose the “Trim” tab and this tab is selected by default when the editing window appears. You can use the trim function to cut off unwanted parts from start and end. You can either drag pointers on the process bar or set exact time point in Start and End boxes to set.

Crop QuickTime MOV file size

The “Crop” facility enables users to get rid of the black edges and unwanted area of the image. In the video editor window, navigate to the “Crop” tab. Follow the below methods to crop selected video:
A: Crop video by dragging and dropping the crop frame. Simply move your mouse cursor to drag and adjust the green frame to desired position.
B: Crop video by setting values. There are “Simple Mode” and “Advanced Mode” under Crop feature.

Split QuickTime MOV into smaller parts

Click the split button on the file list to launch the Video Split window. Ticking “Enable” option, you can split the file by file count, time length, or file size.

Step 5: Start QuickTime MOV file compression process.

Specify an output folder on your computer for storing the converted files. Then hit right-bottom “Convert” button to start to compress QuickTime MOV file on your computer.

When the conversion is completed, you will have no problem when do file uploading or emailing with compressed QuickTime file size.