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How to compress QuickTime video files

Edited by Ben Jacklin

December 20, 2024

15,283

Almost everyone who has ever tried to use an Apple device is familiar with the QuickTime file format. It was introduced in 1991 and has two main extensions: .qt and .mov. On a Mac, you can play back these files with the QuickTime Player.

What is a QuickTime file?

The QuickTime media container is a wrapper for video, audio, and text data, which are stored in different tracks. Each of these tracks represents a specific data stream or a reference to another stream. The QuickTime format is primarily used to store videos with soundtracks and subtitles.

If you are a big cinephile, you might find you don’t have enough file storage to house all of your movies or series. But there’s no need to delete them: instead, compress the QuickTime videos with appropriate file reduction software.

Here are some situations in which you might need to make your video files smaller.

Videos take up too much space

If you have too many movies or home videos on your computer, get some additional space. Compress QuickTime files, and they will require less space, so you’ll be able to keep more of them for your distance working.

Videos upload too slowly

Large files take too much time to upload to the Internet. Compress them for sending as email attachments or for a website and you’ll see that the upload process is much faster. The recipients of your files will also enjoy the faster download speed.

It costs too much to store videos in the cloud

If you are a big user of cloud services, you may discover that it gets expensive when you want to store large files in the cloud because of high taxes. Compress your videos and you’ll pay less for the same number of files.

Movavi Video Converter is a great program for file compression, with many adjustable options. You can make your files smaller with ready-made presets or even define file size manually. You can even change the format of your files from QuickTime to something else, e.g., MP4, if you want to watch your videos on different devices.

With the Movavi software, you can reduce the size of your file even further. Below, you’ll find a guide to how to compress a QuickTime video in just a few easy steps.

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Step 1. Download the Movavi Compressor

Follow the appropriate link from this page and download the program for your OS. Double-click the file and follow the onscreen instructions to install it. Launch the app.

Step 2. Add your QuickTime videos

Select all videos you want to process and drag them to the program window. Alternatively, you can click the Add Media button and then choose Add Video. Select the files and hit Open.

Step 3. Specify the resulting format and resolution

Open the Video tab and find a preset group that meets your needs. Choose MOV if you don’t want to change the format of your files, or something else (e.g., MP4) if you do. Specify the preset with the desired codec and resolution: if you lower the resolution, the resulting file size will be lower, too.

Step 4. Adjust the additional options

For greater compression, click on the output size next to one of your files in the main program window. In the window that appears, move the File size slider to the left to change the size of your video. Click Convert sample to see a preview of the video compression. If all is well, mark the Apply bitrate to all files check box to reduce the size of all your videos by the same factor. You can also change file sizes individually.

Step 5. Finally, compress the QuickTime files

Specify the folder where your output files will be stored by clicking the Folder button. Hit Convert to launch the compression process and wait while the new file folder opens.

Here are some examples of compressing files with the Movavi compressor: these videos were converted to MP4 and their bitrate was lowered.

Video

Before compression

After compression

Movie

6.5 GB

3.5 GB

Clip

250 MB

130 MB

Short phone video

24 MB

15 MB

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Frequently asked questions

What is a QuickTime file?

A QuickTime file is a multimedia container format developed by Apple. If you need to work with QuickTime files, Movavi Video Editor is perfect for editing and converting QuickTime files, as it’s easy to use and comes with a variety of advanced features. This makes it an excellent choice for both beginners and professionals alike.

What are the different types of QuickTime files?

QuickTime files can be in different formats, including .mov, .qt, and .m4v. Movavi Video Converter is a powerful tool for converting QuickTime files to any other format (like MP4, AVI, or WMV) you need. This is essential for anyone who needs to view their QuickTime files on devices that don't support the native format.

How do I open a QuickTime file?

To open a QuickTime file, you can use Movavi Video Editor, a versatile video editing software that supports a variety of file formats, including QuickTime. This makes it the go-to choice for anyone who frequently works with different types of media files.

How do I convert a QuickTime file to another format?

Converting a QuickTime file to another format is easy with Movavi Video Converter. It's simple to use, fast, and doesn't degrade the quality of your files. Ideal for anyone who needs to share their QuickTime files with others who may not have compatible devices.

What are some common problems with QuickTime files?

QuickTime files can be prone to incompatibility issues if you're using an older operating system or an incompatible device. Movavi Video Converter can solve this problem by converting your QuickTime files to a universally compatible format. This is a vital tool for anyone who wants to ensure their files are viewable on any device.

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