Were you recording a video on a Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 Pro, but the file took up half the phone's memory? Or did you need to send a video to a messenger but it weighs more than the legal limit? Compressing video on Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that every second user faces. Fortunately, the manufacturer has built-in tools to optimize files, and the Google Play store offers dozens of specialized applications.
In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to reduce the size of video without critical loss of quality – from the standard features of the Xiaomi Gallery to advanced codecs in CapCut or VLC. You will learn which formats (.MP4,.MKV,.HEVC) are better to choose for different tasks, how to adjust bitrate and resolution, and also avoid the typical errors that make video turn into a “soap opera.”
Why does Xiaomi video take up so much space?
Modern Xiaomi smartphones (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi K60 Pro) shoot video in resolution up to 8K@24fps or 4K@60fps with a bitrate of up to 100 Mbit / s. For comparison: a minute video in this capacity "weighs" about 750 MB - almost like a full-fledged movie in Full HD.
- 📱 High bitrate: The camera defaults to save video with excessive data stream (e.g., 50 Mbps for a video). 4K).
- 🎞️ Codecs without compression: Format.MOV or.MKV It takes up 1.5-2 times more space than.MP4 equally.
- 🔍 Stabilization methods: Functions like HyperSteady or Pro Mode add service data to the file.
- 🎤 Multi-channel sound: Recording stereo or Dolby Atmos increases size by 10-15%.
For example, a video with Xiaomi 12S Ultra in the mode “Movie camera” (Dolby Vision) can take up to 1.2 GB per minute – this is a record among the flagships of 2022-2023. But even budget models like Redmi 10C when shooting at 1080p@60fps generate files at 200-300 MB / min.
⚠️ Note: If you are shooting on Xiaomi with support HDR10+ (for example, Xiaomi 13T Pro, disabling this mode before shooting will reduce the file size by 30-40.
Method 1: Built-in compression in the Xiaomi Gallery
The easiest method is to use the standard Gallery app (or Photos on newer versions of MIUI). The Video Compression feature is available on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 and later, including POCO and Black Shark. The algorithm automatically reduces the bitrate and recodes the file to H.264 (for compatibility with instant messengers).
Instructions:
- Open the gallery and select the video.
- Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → "Squeeze".
- Choose quality: High (recommended) – compression to 50-60% of the original, medium – up to 30-40% (suitable for WhatsApp), Low – up to 10-20% (strong artifacts).
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
The result is saved as a new file marked compressed in the name, and the original remains intact.
The correct video (not a photo)
Enough free memory (need to be used) ~2× size)
Power saving mode is turned off (accelerates the process)
Background applications (especially messengers) are closed)-->
| Reference size | Compression "High" | Compression "Middle" | Loss of quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p@30fps, 300MB | 120–150 MB | 60-90 MB | Invisible. |
| 4K@30fps, 800MB | 300-400 MB | 150-200 MB | Light blurring when driving |
| 8K@24fps, 1.5GB | 600-700 MB | 250–350MB | Visible artifacts |
⚠️ Note: On models with MediaTek Helio G99 (For example, the Redmi Note 12 5G) In-house compression is slower due to a weak processor. If the video is longer than 5 minutes, use third-party applications.
Method 2: Xiaomi’s Video Compressor App
Xiaomi has released the official video compressor app (available on GetApps or Google Play) and offers more customization than the standard Gallery, including:
- 🎯 Manual selection of permission (up to) 480p).
- 📊 Customization of bitrate (from 500 Kbit / s to 20 Mbit / s).
- 🔄 Change of change FPS (24, 30, 60 frames/s).
- 🎵 Removal of sound (saves up to 10% of space).
How to use:
- Install the application and open it.
- Select the video → press “Squeeze”.
- In the "Additional" section, configure: Resolution: 1280×720 (HD) Bitrate: 8 Mbit/s (for 1080p) FPS: 30 (if the source is 60fps)
- Press "Start" and wait until it is completed.
The advantage of this method is that it supports HEVC (H.265) formats, which compress video 40% more efficiently than H.264 at the same quality, but HEVC does not support some messengers (for example, VK).
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If you have a video compression that slows down when you play, try to turn on the hardware acceleration option in the app settings, which activates the Adreno chip (on Snapdragon) or Mali chip (on MediaTek) for quick processing.
Method 3: Professional compression in CapCut
CapCut (from TikTok developers) is one of the best video compression tools on Xiaomi thanks to flexible settings and support. AI-It's good for videos that need to be uploaded to social media or sent by mail.
Step-by-step:
- Install CapCut from Google Play and import videos.
- Click on the video on the timeline → “Speed” → “Normal” (if you need to keep the original speed).
- Go to Export and configure: Resolution: 1280×720 (for space saving) or 1920×1080 (for quality). Bitrate: 6–12 Mbps (optimum for 1080p). Format: MP4 (H.264) for compatibility or MOV (H.265) for maximum compression. FPS: matching source (for example, 30fps).
"Optimize for the network."
"Exports"
"High"
"Middle"
CapCut also allows you to crop video before compression, add subtitles or filters — useful if you're making a video for YouTube or Instagram, for example, cropping black bars on the sides (for vertical video) reduces file size by 5 to 8 percent.
The built-in gallery Xiaomi|Video compressor from Xiaomi|CapCut|VLC|Other-->
Method 4: Compression via VLC for Android
VLC is a universal media player with video conversion, with the advantage of supporting rare formats (such as.AVI or.FLV) and the ability to fine-tune codecs.
Instructions:
- Install VLC from Google Play and open it.
- Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → “Convert”.
- Select the video and click on “Next”.
- In the Profile section, select H.264 + MP3 (MP4).
- Click on the gear icon next to the profile and set up: Resolution: Original or 1280×720 Bitrate video: 2000–4000 Kbit/s Bitrate of sound: 128 Kbps FPS: Reference value
- Press "Save» → «Start».
How to compress online video:
- Open in Clipchamp browser (recommended for Xiaomi).
- Click on “Create Videos” → “Import Media”.
- Select the video from the phone's memory.
- Drag the file to the timeline and click Export.
- Choose resolution (720p or 1080p) and quality ("Mediocre" for traffic savings).
- Wait for the processing and download the result.
⚠️ Note: When using mobile Internet (not Wi-Fi), online compression will consume 2 times more traffic than the size of the original video. For example, a 500 MB file will require ~1 GB of mobile data.
Comparison of methods: what to choose?
The choice of compression method depends on your tasks. Below is a comparison table with recommendations for different scenarios:
| Method | Max. Compression. | Speed. | Quality. | When to use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in Gallery | 50% | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Fast compression for messengers |
| Xiaomi compressor video | 70% | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Optimization for social networks |
| CapCut | 80% | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Professional processing |
| VLC | 60% | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Conversion of rare formats |
| Online services | 50% | ⭐ | ⭐⭐ | Emergency situations (no room on the phone) |
For most Xiaomi users, the best choice is the built-in Gallery (for speed) or Video compressor (for balance of quality and size).If you want maximum compression without visible losses, use CapCut with H.265 settings and a bitrate of 8-10 Mbps.
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On Xiaomi models with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip (for example, Xiaomi 12S Pro), hardware compression works 2-3 times faster than on MediaTek Dimensity (for example, POCO X4 Pro).
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When you compress video on Xiaomi, users often experience problems that make the result worse, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to solve them:
- 🔊 Lost sound after compression: In the settings of the codec, a format without an audio track is selected (for example, H.265 without AAC). Solution: manually set the sound bitrate to at least 96 Kbps.
- 🎭 Video becomes 'soapy': Too low bitrate (less than 2 Mbps for a single video) 720p). Solution: use a minimum of 5 Mbps for 1080p.
- ⏳ Compression takes hours: Power saving mode is on or background synchronization is on. Solution: Turn off battery optimization for the compressor application.
- 📱 Phone overheats: Compress and charge simultaneously. Solution: compress video at 40-80% charge level or use a cooling stand.
- 🚫 File will not open after compression: Incompatible format selected (e.g., file format selected,.MKV Solution: Convert to Instagram.MP4.
Another common problem is that the aspect ratio is not correct after compression, such as a vertical video from TikTok (9:16) can stretch to 16:9. To avoid this, select “Save the original ratio” in the export settings or trim the black fields in CapCut.