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Reduce File Size on Windows: 3 Practical Routes

Reduce file size on Windows for video, photos, PDF, and GIF with GetCompress, Photos or Clipchamp, and FFmpeg. Free space without deleting project masters.

By Petr Samokhin

Storage warnings often point at Videos, Downloads, or project folders full of media. Much of it is work you still need: screen recordings, photo exports, slide PDF files, and large GIF loops. Shrinking copies frees space while masters stay archived.

See what is using space

Settings → System → Storage shows which categories dominate. In File Explorer, open the heavy folders and sort by Size.

FolderWhat piles up
DownloadsInstallers, zip exports, one-off PDF decks
VideosScreen recordings and camera imports
DesktopScreenshot PNG files and quick exports
Project drivesFiles you send to clients, bug videos, photo batches

Delete installers you can re-download. Compress what you need to keep. Empty Recycle Bin after you confirm nothing still references those files. One giant screen recording often outweighs hundreds of small screenshots.

Method 1: GetCompress for mixed folders

Best for: One local pass when a folder mixes video, images, PDF, and GIF.

GetCompress showing file sizes before and after compression for queued media
  1. Open GetCompress and drop the heavy folder into the queue.
  2. Review detected types and pick presets per media (for example 720p chat video, image max width, PDF compression).
  3. Preview anything client-facing, then export smaller copies beside the originals.
  4. Archive masters and keep the lightweight copies for day-to-day use.

Processing stays on your PC. Save presets so the next cleanup is a few clicks. For video megabyte caps, see compress video to a target size on Windows .

Method 2: Photos, Clipchamp, and PowerPoint

Best for: One or two files with built-in apps.

Video (Clipchamp on Windows 11): open the clip → trim → export at 720p or 1080p.

Photos: … → Resize image, save a JPEG copy. Paint can Resize then Save as JPEG too.

PDF: re-export slides from PowerPoint at Minimum size (publishing online) when you still have the source. For scan-heavy files, see how to compress PDF on Windows .

Prefer a short MP4 over a huge GIF when the destination allows video.

Limitation: You open a different app per file type. No shared preset across a mixed Downloads folder.

Method 3: FFmpeg in PowerShell

Best for: Scripts and CRF-style video control.

winget install --id Gyan.FFmpeg -e
ffmpeg -i clip.mov -c:v libx264 -crf 23 -c:a aac -b:a 128k clip-small.mp4

For images:

mkdir out
Get-ChildItem *.jpg | ForEach-Object {
 ffmpeg -i $_.FullName -vf scale=1920:-2 -q:v 3 "out\$($_.Name)"
}

Limitation: You maintain commands. See how to compress video on Windows and how to compress images on Windows for deeper settings.

Which method should you use

SituationStart here
Mixed project or Downloads folderGetCompress
One Clipchamp clip or one photoClipchamp or Photos
Scripts and exact encoder flagsFFmpeg
Cleanup stepSafe when
Empty Recycle Bin and remove duplicate installersAlways, if you can re-download
Compress screen recordings you still referenceAfter you keep a master elsewhere
Convert huge GIF loops to short MP4Destination accepts video

When a built-in export is enough

Clipchamp or Photos can finish one file that already lands under the limit after trim or resize.

GetCompress also works well for that job. It also covers Storage points at a mixed folder and you want one local pass with reusable presets. It does not replace File History, an archive drive, or deleting files you no longer need. For PDF-only work, see how to compress PDF on Windows .

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