Compress a screen recording
Screen recordings are often recorded at high bitrates and full display resolution, so a few minutes can reach hundreds of MB. The good news is that screen content compresses extremely well — most pixels stay still between frames. Keeping resolution at 1080p and lowering the size target usually gives a small file with perfectly readable text.
Last updated September 2026
Compress a screen recording →How to do it
- Open the compressor with 1080p resolution and a 25 MB target.
- Load your recording (macOS MOV, Windows MP4, OBS MKV all work).
- Trim off the start and end where you're setting up or stopping the recording.
- Compress and download the MP4.
- Share it in Slack, email, a ticket or docs.
Tips
- Resolution matters more than bitrate for text: prefer 1080p at a lower size over 480p at a higher size.
- Retina/4K screen captures shrink dramatically at 1080p with little visible loss for UI.
- Recordings with lots of scrolling or video playback need a larger target.
FAQ
Why are screen recordings so large?
Recorders use high bitrates so capture doesn't drop frames. Re-encoding afterwards at a targeted size removes most of that overhead.
Will text stay readable?
At 1080p it usually does, even at small sizes, because static screen areas cost very little bitrate.
Is it safe for confidential recordings?
The recording is processed on your device and never uploaded, which makes it suitable for internal material.