Sending videos by email can be a real hassle. Those large file sizes make them tricky to share! Fortunately, there are some quick and easy ways to compress a video and make it email-friendly.

Here are six simple methods to compress your video for email - without sacrificing too much quality.

One of the easiest ways to reduce video file size for email is by using a dedicated video compression tool. These tools are designed to shrink files while preserving quality as much as possible - either by adjusting resolution, bitrate, file format, or a combination of the above.

Here are some popular tools to consider:

• HandBrake

• Clipchamp

• VLC Media Player

• Adobe Media Encoder

• Movavi Video Converter

• QuickTime Player (Mac)

Another simple way to make your video email-ready is by tweaking a few key settings. Lowering the resolution, bitrate, or frame rate can shrink your file without sacrificing too much quality.

Here's what to look at:

• Resolution - Dropping from 1080p to 720p or 480p can make a big difference in file size, and the video will still look good on smaller screens.

• Bitrate - Lowering the bitrate reduces the amount of data per second. A slight decrease will make the file smaller and won't be too noticeable.

• Frame rate - Reducing the frame rate from 60 fps to 30 fps works well for most videos, cutting file size without affecting playback for general use.

Switching your video to a more compressed file format can make it much easier to send over email. Formats like MP4 keep file sizes smaller while preserving good quality.

Here are a few popular formats to consider:

• MP4 - A widely used format that offers high compression without losing much quality.

• WMV - Windows Media Video files are usually more compact, making them a good choice for email attachments on Windows devices.

• AVI (Compressed) - Although AVI files are often large, you can use compression options within this format to keep the file size manageable.

Check out our guide on how to choose the best video file format for more information.

Sometimes the easiest way to make a video smaller is by trimming out parts you don't need. Cutting out extra footage at the beginning or end, or removing sections that aren't essential, can bring the file size down quickly and easily. Most video editing tools make trimming simple, so it's a quick fix for oversized files.

Zipping is a quick and easy option when you're in a hurry and want to send your video as an attachment without altering the original file. Compressing the video into a zip file won't reduce the video quality itself, but it will make the file smaller and easier to attach.

Here's how to zip a video on Windows:

1. Right-click on the video file and select 'Send To'

2. Choose 'Compressed (zipped) folder'

And here's how to zip a video on a Mac:

1. Right-click on the file or press CTRL while clicking

2. Select 'Compress "file name"

For larger videos, the easiest way to share them without worrying about file size limits is by using cloud storage. Uploading your video to a platform like Google Drive or Dropbox lets you send a simple link instead of the whole file.

Here's how to do it:

• Upload to a cloud service - Popular options include Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive, all of which offer free storage with easy sharing features.

• Create a shareable link - Once uploaded, select the video and create a link that you can email to anyone.

• Control access - Most cloud services let you adjust access settings, so you can decide if recipients can only view the video or download it too.

Compressing videos for email doesn't have to be complicated - with a few quick adjustments, you can share your content with ease. And reducing file size doesn't just help with email - it also makes transcribing your videos smoother and faster.

With Transcribe, you can upload a range of file types, including M4V, MP4, MOV, and AVI. While our platform supports files up to 2GB in size and eight hours long, smaller files will upload faster, saving you time and helping you move on to the next steps quicker - whether that's creating subtitles, preparing meeting minutes or organizing your lecture notes.

Ready to get started? Download the Transcribe app or launch the online editor to begin.