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Video Compressor Step By Step

Video Compressor runs in three steps: open the tool, pick a compression level and your file, then download the result. This page walks through what each step expects.

Quick answer. Open Video Compressor, pick a compression level (Balanced is the default), choose your video file, and wait for the download link - the file never leaves your browser.

Step 1 - open the tool

Open Video Compressor. Nothing needs to be installed or signed in before you start.

Step 2 - pick a level and your file

Choose one of three compression levels - Smaller file, Balanced, or Higher quality - then select your video file. Only mp4/mov/avi/mkv/webm video containers are accepted; audio-only files are rejected with a clear error.

Step 3 - wait, then download

FFmpeg.wasm re-encodes the file entirely in your browser tab; large 4K or high-bitrate files can take a few minutes since it runs single-threaded on your device, not a server. When it finishes, a download link appears for the compressed file, suffixed "-compressed" and keeping the same file extension.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to create an account to use it?

No. The tool runs directly in the browser, with no install or login.

Is my file sent anywhere?

No. The file stays on your device the whole time and is never uploaded to a server.

Can I pick an exact output file size?

No. There are only three fixed quality levels - no exact-size or exact-bitrate target.

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Reviewed by the Free Tool Online editorial team · Tested in the current versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge before publishing. No account is needed to use any tool. Report a bug - we triage within 72 hours. · Last refreshed April 2026.

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Related tools:

  • Video Compressor - Video Compressor - reduce the byte size of a video file in the browser, no upload.

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