How to Compress Video with 7-Zip? [with Alternative]
While capturing all life's moments in high resolution is essential, those videos come at a massive file size. So, knowing how to compress video with 7-Zip, a readily available and free tool, is crucial. Before investing in more storage or deciding to delete cherished memories, learn here about 7-Zip video compression, helping you save space, reduce upload times, and manage your media. Further, you'll learn the best alternative to compress videos easily on your desktop.
Guide List
How to Compress a Video with 7-Zip Is 7-Zip Good at Video Compression Get 7-Zip Best Alternative to Compress Video to Smaller SizeHow to Compress a Video with 7-Zip
If you're seeking a quick and effective way to shrink the video file size without using video editing software, 7-Zip is an excellent tool to consider. While it does not compress the video content by changing codec and bitrate, it compresses the video file into a smaller archive format like .7z or .zip.
Step 1.Locate the video you wish to compress on your computer, and right-click on it, then select "7-Zip" from the context menu, and go to "Add to archive…"
Step 2. In the pop-up window, set the "Archive format" to .7z; select a compression level like "Ultra" for maximum reduction. Then, leave other settings as default, and adjust the compression method to "LZMA" for better results.
Step 3.Later, click the "OK" button to begin compressing. 7-Zip will then create a new compressed file with the .7z extension in the same location.
Is 7-Zip Good at Video Compression
When it comes to reducing large file sizes, 7-Zip works as one of the most trusted and reliable compression tools in the market. Besides being free and open-source, it supports powerful compression algorithms such as LZMA and LZMA2. Thus, many users consider it a go-to place for media files, archiving documents, and software packages.
But is it effective to use 7-Zip to compress files? The truth is, 7-Zip's effectiveness depends on the file's existing compression. To better understand its strengths and limitations, here's a breakdown of advantages and limitations:
Pros
• Free and Open-Source Tool. Entirely free to use without annoying ads or upsells.
• Reliable and Stable. It does not crash or corrupt files.
• Lightweight and Fast. Minimal system resource usage.
• High Compression Ratio. Super effective when using the .7z format alongside LZMA and LZMA2.
• Multiple Format Support. It can compress and extract formats including ZIP, RAR, ISO, TAR, and more.
• Encrypted Archives. Provides password protection as well as AES-256 encryption.
Cons
• Minimal Compression for MP4 and MKV Files. As for already-compressed formats, you may see little to no size reduction.
• Fewer Video-Specific Optimizations. It does not lessen file size by adjusting resolution, bitrate, or codec.
• No Built-in Preview or Media Tools. Compared to other dedicated video software, it does not cover playback or editing.
• Basic Main Interface. While functional, its interface is outdated, which may not appeal to all users.
• Needs Manual File Management. Not excellent for first-time users who need one-click video compression.
7-Zip is ideal for general file compression and archiving, but it is not as specialized a video compressor. So, if you want to significantly reduce your video file size, it's nice if you use a compressor or converter first before applying the 7-Zip solution for final compression. Proceed to the next part to see which tool is best to combine with 7-Zip.
Get 7-Zip Best Alternative to Compress Video to Smaller Size
While 7-Zip works excellently for general file compression, it is primarily designed specifically for reducing the size of video files in the most efficient way. Therefore, to compress videos without sacrificing quality and enjoy more flexibility, AnyRec Video Converter is a far better choice. Unlike 7-Zip, which simply archives the file, this alternative allows you to actually re-encode the video and do audio compression, letting you adjust settings like resolution, format, and bitrate. Doing so makes the file size significantly smaller. Using its dedicated Video Compressor, you can reduce the size by percentage or an exact number, giving you complete control. It has format conversion to more efficient codecs, as well, which 7-Zip cannot do.
Can compress videos by percentage or set custom target size easily.
Built-in preview to check the quality first before exporting.
It uses advanced compression technology, no quality compromise.
Offer no watermark, no ads/pop-ups, and no file corruption risks.
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Step 1.Launch AnyRec Video Converter on your computer. Then, go to the "Toolbox" from the above menu, and out of so many toolkits, choose "Video Compressor".
Step 2.Click the "Add" button to upload your video to compress. Then, start using the slider to shrink the size by percentage. Otherwise, enter your preferred output size manually for compression.
Step 3.Following that, customize settings such as format, resolution, and bitrate. You can rename the file, too, then click the "Preview" button to review the output quality. If satisfied, click the "Compress" button to kick off the reducing file size process.
Conclusion
Using 7-Zip to compress video is one quick way to reduce file size, working by archiving them. However, since it does not actually optimize video data, the reduction in file size is often limited. So, for a more powerful and flexible compression solution, switch to AnyRec Video Converter. Here, you can compress videos by adjusting format, resolution, bitrate, and more, giving you freedom to both size and quality. Whether you're preparing content for sharing, uploading, or simply saving space, this tool works efficiently and with high-quality.
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