Compress a Screen Recording
Screen recordings are surprisingly huge because they capture at high frame rates and bitrates. This tool re-encodes them to a fraction of the size on your own device — ideal for sharing demos and bug reports.
Why screen recordings are so large
Tools like QuickTime, OBS and built-in phone recorders save at high bitrates and often 60fps, so a few minutes can be hundreds of MB. Re-encoding at a sensible bitrate (and 30fps if you don't need 60) cuts size dramatically while text stays readable.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is my screen recording so big?
- High capture bitrate plus 60fps. Most demos and walkthroughs look fine at 30fps and a lower bitrate, which can shrink the file by 80% or more.
- Will the text in my recording stay readable?
- Yes, as long as you keep the resolution. Compression mainly affects fine motion detail; static text and UI remain crisp.
Related private video workflow
Need the broader decision tree? Read the guide on compressing video without uploading it. If you need a short silent loop instead of an MP4, try the video to GIF converter.
Compressing a tutorial, code review, or product walkthrough? Follow the guide to keep screen recording text readable after compression.