Sometimes when you try to share a video that you have captured on your iPhone with someone, it might be too large in size to send through email, text message, or social media. To ensure you can share your precious moments with your family and friends, you may need to compress the video. Compressing a video refers to the process of reducing its file size, without affecting the video’s quality too much.
If you are wondering how to compress a video on your iPhone, don’t worry because it is not that complicated. This article will guide you through several methods to compress a video on your iPhone.
Video Tutorial:
What’s Needed
To compress a video on your iPhone, you will only need two things; your iPhone and a free video compressor app. There are various video compressor apps available on the App Store for free, and all of them work similarly. In this article, we will use ‘Video Compress – Shrink Vids’ as an example.
What Should I Pay Attention to?
Before compressing your video, you should pay attention to the following points:
1. Compressing a video will always reduce its quality, and the more you compress it, the lower its quality will become.
2. Always make a copy of your original video and keep it intact in case you need it in the future.
3. If you are sharing your video through email, make sure that your email can handle the size of the compressed video. Some email providers have a size limit on the attachments.
Method 1: Using Video Compress – Shrink Vids
Video Compress – Shrink Vids is a free app available on the App Store that can help compress your videos on your iPhone. It can significantly reduce the size of your video without noticeable quality loss. Here are the steps to compress a video using Video Compress – Shrink Vids:
Step 1: Download and install Video Compress – Shrink Vids from the App Store and launch it.
Step 2: Tap the ‘+’ button to select the video you want to compress.
Step 3: Choose the compression rate that you want to apply to your video. The video’s size will be displayed below the compression rate option.
Step 4: Tap ‘Compress’ to start the compression process. The compressed video will have a label with the letter ‘C’ at the bottom left corner of the video.
Step 5: Tap ‘Save’ to save the compressed video to your camera roll.
Pros:
– Simple and easy to use.
– Does not require an internet connection.
– Fast compression process.
Cons:
– Can only compress videos up to 5 minutes in length.
– A watermark with the letter ‘C’ will be added to the video.
Method 2: Using iMovie
If you have iMovie installed on your iPhone, you can use it to compress your videos. iMovie is a free video editor app that comes pre-installed on iPhones and iPads. Here’s how to compress a video using iMovie:
Step 1: Open iMovie and tap on the ‘+’ button to create a new project.
Step 2: Select ‘Movie,’ and then choose the video you want to compress from your camera roll.
Step 3: Once your video is added to the timeline, tap on the video to select it, and then tap on the ‘Edit’ button.
Step 4: Tap on the ‘Crop & Rotate’ option and then select ‘Ken Burns Effect.’
Step 5: Drag the ‘Start’ and ‘End’ points of the Ken Burns effect to the same point to create a static image.
Step 6: Tap ‘Done’ and then ‘Save’ to save the compressed video to your camera roll.
Pros:
– iMovie is a pre-installed app on iPhones and iPads.
– You can compress videos of any length.
Cons:
– Takes a longer time to compress compared to video compression apps.
– May require some video editing skills.
Method 3: Using Dropbox
If you have a Dropbox account, you can use it to compress your videos. Dropbox is a cloud-based file hosting service that allows you to store and access your files from anywhere. Here’s how to compress a video using Dropbox:
Step 1: Open the Dropbox app on your iPhone and sign in to your account.
Step 2: Tap on the ‘Upload’ button and then select the video you want to compress from your camera roll.
Step 3: Once the video has uploaded to your Dropbox account, tap on the video to select it, and then tap on the ‘…’ button.
Step 4: Select ‘Export’ and then choose the compression rate that you want to apply to your video. The video’s size will be displayed below the compression rate option.
Step 5: Tap ‘Export’ to start the compression process. The compressed video will be saved to your Dropbox account.
Step 6: Tap on the compressed video and then tap the ‘Download’ button to save the compressed video to your camera roll.
Pros:
– You can access your compressed videos from anywhere.
– No need to install any additional apps on your iPhone.
Cons:
– Requires a Dropbox account.
– Can take a longer time to upload and download compared to other methods.
Why Can’t I Compress My Video?
If you cannot compress your video, it could be due to the following reasons:
1. Your video’s file format is not supported by the video compressor app or tool you are using.
Fix: Convert your video to a supported format.
2. The video compressor app or tool you are using has a limitation on the video resolution or size.
Fix: Try using a different video compressor app or tool.
3. The video is already in its smallest size.
Fix: Unfortunately, if your video is already in its smallest possible size, it cannot be compressed any further.
Suggestions
To ensure that your videos are always compressible, you can follow these suggestions:
1. Always record your videos in the lowest possible resolution that meets your needs.
2. Avoid recording long videos or videos with high frame rates.
3. Delete unnecessary videos and apps on your iPhone to free up space.
FAQs
Q: Does compressing a video affect its quality?
A: Yes, compressing a video will affect its quality. The more you compress it, the lower its quality will become.
Q: What video compressor app should I use?
A: There are many video compressor apps available on the App Store that work similarly. You can use any app that suits your needs.
Q: Can I compress videos taken from other devices?
A: Yes, you can. You can transfer the videos to your iPhone and then compress them using any of the methods mentioned.
Q: Will the compressed video appear blurry?
A: If you compress your video to a significantly smaller size, it may appear blurry. Therefore, it is important to choose a compression rate that suits your needs.
Q: Can I compress a video without using an app?
A: Yes, you can compress a video by emailing it to yourself, and then downloading it on a computer and compressing it using a video compression app.
Conclusion
Compressing a video on your iPhone is crucial if you want to share videos with your friends and family through email or social media. Although the quality of a compressed video might be slightly affected, the benefits of a significantly smaller file size outweigh the negatives. This article has provided you with three methods, including using Video Compress – Shrink Vids, iMovie and Dropbox, to compress your videos on your iPhone. By following the suggestions and tips provided, you can ensure that your videos are always compressible, freeing up space on your iPhone and making it easier to share videos with others.
