How to reduce video resolution on Xiaomi phone: a detailed guide

You're recording video on Xiaomi, but files are taking up too much space? 4K or Full HD resolution fills up memory quickly, especially if you shoot often. Reducing video resolution is an easy way to save gigabytes without buying a new phone or memory card. In this article, we'll look at all the working methods, from camera settings to converting finished files.

It's important to understand that lower resolution always affects the detail of the frame. However, for social networks (TikTok, Instagram), messengers or archival records, the difference between 1080p and 720p is often not noticeable. We tested all methods on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO X5 Pro and Xiaomi 13 Lite models - the instructions are relevant for MIUI 14/15 and later.

Why does Xiaomi video take up so much space?

Modern Xiaomi smartphones by default record video in maximum resolution. For example, Redmi Note 13 Pro+ shoots in 4K@30fps with a bit rate of up to 50 Mbit / s – that’s ~375 MB per minute! For comparison, the same video in 720p will take only ~60 MB.

The main "eaters" of memory:

📹 Permission: 4K (3840×2160) vs HD (1280×720) — difference 4 frame-size.
🎞️ Bitrate: The higher the more details are saved, but the weight of the file increases.
🔊 Audio: stereo sound in 320 kbps adds ~2 MB/min.
📱 Codecs: H.265 (HEVC) more effectively H.264, But not all players support it.

In practice: an hour of video in 4K on Xiaomi 14 Ultra can weigh up to 20 GB, and in 720p - only ~ 3 GB. But do not rush to sacrifice quality: sometimes it is enough to reduce the bitrate or change the format to save space without loss.

📊 What video resolution do you most often use on your smartphone?

4K (Ultra HD)

1080p (Full HD)

720p (HD)

480p (SD)

I don't know/no follow.

Method 1: Change the camera settings before shooting

The easiest way is to record video at a lower resolution, so you don't have to convert files later. MIUI 14/15:

Open the Camera app.
Switch to Video Mode (Cinema Camera Icon)
Touch the badge. ⚙️ Settings in the upper right corner.
Select the video resolution option.
Available options (depending on the model): 🎥 4K (3840×2160) — Maximum quality (not recommended for savings). 📺 FHD (1920×1080) — Optimal balance for most tasks. 📱 HD (1280×720) — Suitable for social networks and messengers. 📟 SD (640×480) — Minimum quality (for voice notes only).

Save the changes and start shooting.

Important! Some models (e.g. POCO F5) automatically turn on H.265 encoding when selecting 4K, which saves up to 30% of space compared to H.264. If your phone supports this format, give it a preference.

☑️ Optimal settings to save space

Select a resolution of 720p or 1080pActivate H.265 (HEVC) if availableDisable stabilization (if not necessary)Reduce FPS to 30 frames/s

Done: 0 / 4

Method 2: Convert finished videos through the Gallery

If the video is already captured in high resolution, it can be compressed directly in the standard Gallery app, which does not require third-party software installation and saves the original file.

Step-by-step:

Open the gallery and find the video you need.
Slip it, then tap it. ⋮ → Edit.
In the lower menu, select Tools → Compress Videos.
Specify the target authorization: 📲 Small size (~480p) — messenger-sending. 📱 Average size (~720p) — social-network. 🖥️ Big size (~1080p) — Minimum quality loss.

Save as a copy

Video_Compressed

Limitations of the method:

⚠️ Maximum compression - up to 480p, There is no precise control over bitrate.
⚠️ Artifacts are possible under strong compression (especially in dynamic scenes).
⚠️ Does not support batch processing – you have to compress each file separately.

💡

Before compression, back up the original! There is no cancellation function in Mi Gallery, and quality can not be restored after conversion.

Method 3: Use third-party compression applications

Xiaomi's standard tools are good for basic tasks, but if you want precise resolution setting or batch processing, you'll need third-party software. We tested 5 popular apps -- the results in the table:

Annex	Max. Compression.	Package processing	No loss of quality	Recommendation
Video Compress	90%	✅	❌	Best for social media
YouCut	80%	❌	✅ (option)	For precise pruning + compression
CapCut	70%	✅	❌	For installation + export in low resolution
Panda Video Compressor	95%	✅	❌	Maximum compression (but artifacts are possible)
HandBrake (for PC)	customizable	✅	✅	For professional compression

For most Xiaomi users, Video Compress or Panda Video Compressor are free, support Russian and allow you to set an exact resolution (for example, 854×480 for Instagram Stories).

How to Compress Videos in Video Compress:

Install the app from Google Play.
Select the video from the gallery.
Twist the Quality slider to the left for a strong compression.
In the resolution section, specify 720p or 480p.
Activate the option to Save the Original.
Press Press Press and wait until completion.

What is a bitrate and why is it important?

Bitrate is the amount of information transmitted per second of video. Measured in megabits (Mbps). The higher the bitrate, the better the quality, but also the larger the file size. For example, a 1080p video with a bitrate of 8 Mbps will weigh 2 times less than the same as a 16 Mbps bitrate, but can lose in detail. In most compression applications, you can adjust the bitrate manually. – The recommended value for 720p: 2-4 Mbps.

Method 4: Change the resolution through ADB (for advanced)

If the standard methods are not suitable and root-rights are not, you can try to change the camera settings through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for Xiaomi models on MIUI 12-15 and requires a connection to a PC.

Warning:

⚠️ Attention, wrong commands ADB Before experimenting, back up your data via Mi Cloud or Xiaomi Backup. The teams below are tested on the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ It may not work on other models.

Step-by-step:

Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Turn on USB Debugging.

ADB Tools

adb.exe

adb devices

(Your device should be displayed).

adb shell dumpsys media.camera

1080p

adb shell settings put global camera_video_quality 1080p

Reboot the phone.

Critical information: On some models (e.g., POCO X3 Pro) autofocus may be lost after changing the resolution via ADB. To return the default settings, follow the command:

adb shell settings delete global camera_video_quality

Method 5: Send video to the cloud with automatic compression

If you need to make room on your phone but save the originals just in case, use cloud services with compression function.

☁️ Google Photos: When selecting the option High quality video compressed to 1080p (Free without restrictions. Originals can be downloaded later.

How to set up compression in Google Photos:

Open the Google Photos app.
Slip on the avatar → Photo settings.
Choose the highest quality (unoriginal).
Enable Backup and Synchronization.
Download the video – after synchronization, the originals can be deleted from the phone (they will remain in the cloud).

⚠️ Attention! When using Mi Cloud, please note that only 5GB is available for free. 1080p occupy ~1 GB/h, so for long-term records it is better to choose Google Photos (unlimited storage for compressed files).

Comparison of methods: which way to choose?

To determine the best option, evaluate your tasks:

Purpose	Best way.	Pluses	Cons
Saving space when shooting	Camera settings (Method 1)	✅ You don't have to convert later.✅ The original quality is maintained	❌ Low resolution on recordings
Compression of finished videos	Party of annex (Method 3)	✅ Accurate permission setting✅ Package processing	❌ Possible artifacts
Free your memory.	Cloud storage (Method 5)	✅ Originals are preserved✅ Access from any device	❌ Demands the Internet.
Maximum compression	ADB or HandBrake (Method 4)	✅ Control of bitrate✅ Support for rare formats	❌ Hard for beginners.

💡

For 90% of Xiaomi users, a combination of Method 1 (camera settings) and Method 3 (compression app) will save up to 70% of the space without a noticeable loss of quality.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When video resolution is reduced, many people face typical problems, and here's how to solve them:

🔊 Lost sound after compression: check if the application supports audio tracks in format AAC. In Video Compress, turn on the Save Sound option.
📉 Video has become soapy: reduce the compression ratio or select a higher bitrate (for example, 5 Mbps for the video). 720p).
⏱️ Long processing: for video duration >10 minutes use a PC (HandBrake or Shotcut).
🔄 No camera settings are saved: on some Xiaomi models after the update MIUI You reset your shooting parameters. Check them before you record them.

⚠️ Attention! If you're not playing the video on your TV or in a player after compression, it's probably a codec problem. H.264 HandBrake (Main Profile, Level 4.0).

💡

Before sending a video to WhatsApp or Telegram, compress it to 480p – messengers still recode the videos, and double compression worsens the quality.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

Can I reduce the resolution of the video without losing quality?

No, any reduction in resolution results in loss of parts. However, with proper compression (saving bitrate or using H.265), the loss can be minimal. For example, conversion from 4K to 1080p with a bitrate of 8 Mbps is almost invisible on smartphone screens.

Why did the video become “teared” after compression?

This is due to low bitrate or lost frames when converting. Solutions: Increase bitrate to 4-6 Mbps for 720p. Use H.264 encoder instead of H.265 (best compatibility). Check FPS: if the original was 60fps and you compressed to 30fps, the movement will be less smooth.

What permission to choose for TikTok or Instagram?

Optimal settings for social networks: TikTok: 1080×1920 (vertical), bitrate 4 Mbit / s, H.264. Instagram Reels: 1080×1350 (9:16), bitrate 3.5 Mbit / s. Instagram Stories: 720×1280, bitrate 2.5 Mbit / s. YouTube Shorts: 1080×1920, bitrate up to 8 Mbit / s. Use the CapCut application - it has export templates for each platform.

How to reduce the size of the video without losing resolution?

If you want to save resolution (e.g. 1080p) but reduce file weight: Reduce bitrate to 4-6 Mbps (instead of the standard 10-15 Mbps). Use H.265 encoder (HEVC) - it compresses 30-50% more efficiently than H.264. Cut unnecessary snippets (beginning/end) in YouCut or CapCut. Remove the audio track if you don't need it (savings ~5-10%).

Will compressed video support a smartwatch or TV?

Depending on format: Smartwatches (Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, Redmi Watch 3): Support only H.264 with a resolution of up to 720p and a bitrate of up to 2 Mbps. Xiaomi Mi TVs: play H.265 and H.264 to 4K, but can brake at high bitrate (>20 Mbps). Older devices: Use MPEG-4 with a resolution of 640×480. Use the VLC application on the target device to check compatibility.