Compressing files how much smaller

It's really easy to open ZIP files on most devices, and it can still compress files to smaller sizes. Select Ultra from the "Compression Level" menu. This tells 7-Zip to compress the file into the smallest possible size. The amount of compression will vary depending on the type of file you're compressing.

If you don't see this option, try LZMA instead. This format is the most modern compression method available and will work on most devices. Set "Dictionary Size" to a value that is at least 10 times lower than your memory. A larger dictionary size means better compression, but the memory requirements are ten times the dictionary size. In most cases, MB will suffice, as it provides excellent compression at a decent speed.

Select the option to split the file into smaller files optional. You can leave the other remaining options set to their default settings. But if a file is particularly large, you have the option to split the file into smaller files. For example, you could take a 12 GB folder and split it into three smaller files that could each fit onto a DVD.

Use the drop-down menu below "Split to volumes, bytes" to select how big you want each split file to be. You will need all the split files to extract the files. Make sure you do not delete or lose any of the split files.

Click Ok to compress the file. This compresses the file using the settings you specified. Method 2. Download and install WinRAR. WinRAR is a free for a limited time application you can use to compress files on Windows. Click the blue WinRAR 6. Open the WinRAR ". Click Install and follow the on-screen instructions.

Nearly all files can be compressed, but some files can only be compressed by a small amount. The icon looks like a stack of books. Select an archive format. ZIP is the standard compression option and easiest to open on any system. Select Best from the "Compression Method" menu. This method provides the highest compression ratio the smallest size file. Select a Dictionary Size. The default option will already be selected based on the archive format you selected.

The larger the dictionary file, the more compressed the file can be. However, compression and decompression can take a long time and large dictionary sizes require better computer hardware. You can try a size that is 10 times lower than your memory, or stick to the default if that takes too long. If a file is particularly large, you have the option to split the file into smaller files. Use the drop-down menu below "Split to volumes, size" to select how big you want each split file to be.

Click Ok. It's in the lower right corner. This compresses your file. Method 3. Right-click the file s you want to compress. To select more than one file at a time, press and hold the Command key as you click each file. Then, right-click the highlighted files. You can compress most files types on your Mac. The size of the compressed file will vary depending on the type of file it is—images, text files, and various documents can usually compress to much smaller files than video and audio, for example.

Click Compress. This compresses the file into a ZIP file, which also reduces its size. ZIP file extension, which is a globally-used compression format that can be opened on nearly any system without needing special software. To decompress the file, double-click it. Method 4. Download Avidemux. To compress a large video into a smaller file, you'll need compression software that's specifically for video. Avidemux is a free option that can considerably decrease a video's size, and it's available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Click the download link for your operating system. Open the downloaded file in your web browser or Downloads folder. Follow the instructions to complete the installation. Launch Avidemux. You'll find it in the Windows Start menu or your Mac's Applications folder. Compressing a video means sacrificing its quality. You can play around with compression options to figure out the best size-to-quality ratio. Movie files that you've downloaded from online sources may already be compressed.

Further compression can lead to a virtually unwatchable final product, or may not result in significant size changes. It is not possible to decompress a compressed video. You should always save the compressed version as a separate file so that you don't lose the original. Open a video file in Avidemux.

Here's how: Click File and select Open. Select a video file on your computer and click ' Open. This format gives you the highest level of compression at the best possible quality. This compresses the audio track of the video to keep its size down. This is the most widely-compatible video format. Click the Configure button under the "Video Output" section. It's the first option below "Video Output. Select Video Size Two Pass from the drop-down menu.

It's in the "Rate Control" section at the bottom. This option lets you specify the size you want your video to be. The larger the file size, the better the quality.

Setting the target size significantly smaller than the original size will result in a drastic decrease in quality. If you're not sure which size to use, keep the default. If you try to send them all at once in an email attachment, you will get an error message because of file size.

So you could try to send each file as in separate emails. But this is time consuming, labor intensive, and could lead to duplicate files. To send all the files in one email, you can zip them and attach this single ZIP file to your email. Your recipient can then unzip the file by downloading and clicking. You should also consider any potential storage saving. Zipping your files can help to reduce the amount of space they use on your computer's hard drive.

You can find more information on how to zip files here. First, zipped files save storage space and increase the efficiency of your computer. You're able to send emails faster with smaller files. Furthermore, the ZIP file format will encrypt your data. This maintains your privacy when sending files over the internet. Windows and Mac OS have a different method, but they both begin with a right click. And for recipients, it is simple to unzip files. All it takes is a download and a click regardless of their computer's operating system.

However, there are a range of potential issues associated with ZIP files. They include file size limits, file type limits, corruption, and mobility issues. One of many disadvantages associated with ZIP archive files is compression limits. Some files cannot be compressed much more than they already are. So, if you frequently work with video and image files, the ZIP format won't help you save very much storage space.

You also need to think about the security aspect of zipped files. Completed zipped files are encrypted, but you don't know what happens to your file if you upload a third-party app. In some cases, corrupted data can affect the entire ZIP folder. ZIP files are also difficult to use if you are on the go.

If you're using a phone or tablet, you would need to use a file saved on your phone and a third-party app. This would create problems both with file storage space as well as security. This will not make your file smaller, but it will allow you to share it in smaller parts to other users.

This is beneficial if you have limited storage, bandwidth, or a very large single file you want to share. Usually, this option is in the same menu with all the features from the previous section. Once it finishes, you will need to store all the parts of a ZIP archive in the same folder. Later, when you start extracting them, you only need to click on one of the archives and all the parts will automatically be merged together.

Most of the file formats that are necessary to a regular user are already compressed. As technology develops, there will probably be notably fewer files that will require compressing. Until then, it would be better to use third-party tools to compress your archives.