How to Make File Smaller on Mac

What does it mean to compress a file on a Mac?

Compressing a file refers to the process of making it smaller, which can help free up space. This process involves either removing redundant information or representing the data most efficiently to enable faster transfers and take up less space. Once a file has been compressed, it is presented in a ZIP file, though it can be restored to its original format when you unzip or extract it.

A note from our experts: 

 

If freeing up space is your primary objective, you’ll be pleased to know there’s an easier way to achieve it. MacKeeper’s Duplicates Finder automatically identifies duplicate documents (and other files) on a Mac in a fraction of the time it would take you. It then helps you delete those redundant files to free up much-needed space and optimize your Mac computer, making file management a breeze. Owned by Clario Tech, MacKeeper is a reliable software that has been helping Mac owners optimize their devices with trusted cybersecurity solutions for years.

 

Ready to see it in action? Here’s how to use MacKeeper’s Duplicates Finder:

1. Download and install the MacKeeper app on your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air.
2. Find the Duplicate Finder feature on the left and select it, followed by the Start Scan button.
3. Review the list of files MacKeeper finds after it completes the scan, ensuring the Duplicates option is selected, and then press the Remove Selected button.

How to reduce file size on Mac?

You can make a PDF smaller, compress a picture file, or make a video smaller on a MacBook. It’s also possible to reduce a Pages document’s size. Similarly, you can reduce a Word document’s size and compress an MP3 file using third-party tools.

Let’s explore how you can achieve this in the sections below.

1. Reduce a file or folder on macOS

Need to reduce a file or folder’s size on a Mac? We can help. Using the approach below, you can find the largest files on a Mac and compress them in a few easy steps. We’ve found this to be a foolproof way of compressing larger files and folders without much effort.

Here’s how to compress a file or folder in Finder on a MacBook device:

1. Look for the file you want to compress in Finder.
2. Once you’ve found it, right-click on it, and choose the Compress option. When that’s done, the file name will change to one with a .zip extension.

2. Make a PDF smaller on a Mac

When a PDF file is too large to attach to an email, we usually compress it to a suitable size in Mac’s Preview app. We consider that compressing a PDF on a Mac is a reliable, straightforward process that helps optimize PDF files without compromising content quality, making it an efficient solution for file and storage management.

Compress a PDF file on a Mac in three easy steps:

1. In the Documents folder, right-click on the PDF you want to compress and select the Open With > Preview options on the pop-up menu.
2. Click on File in the menu bar and select Export.
3. Click on Quartz Filter > Reduce File Size > put down the new name > Save.

3. Compress a picture file on a MacBook

Wondering how to resize an image on a Mac? It works similarly to compressing a PDF file. We resize large photos, such as PNG and JPEG/JPG files, before sending them to our iPhones or attaching them to emails.

Take the following approach to compress a picture file on a MacBook:

1. Right-click on the image file you want to compress and select the Open With > Preview options on the pop-up menu.
2. Click on File in the menu bar and select Export.
3. Now select the JPEG format, move the slider to the left to reduce the image quality, and click Save.

4. Make a video file smaller on a Mac

Unlike compressing an image or PDF file, compressing a video on a Mac works a little differently. As you’re aware, video files such as MP4 formats tend to be much larger than other files, making them nearly impossible to share via conventional methods like email. Regardless of how you choose to share video files, compressing them ensures a smooth transfer process.

Follow the steps below carefully to reduce a video file size on your MacBook:

1. In Finder, right-click on the video file and choose Open In > QuickTime Player.
2. Click on File > Export As in the menu bar.
3. Make sure you choose a lower resolution, change the file name if you wish, and pick a location to save the video file.
4. Confirm your decision with the Save button.

5. Reduce a Pages document size on a Mac

Now, when it comes to reducing a Pages document size, we have a few options to choose from, including compressing embedded files and lowering image resolution. These solutions make it easier to share and access a Pages document.

Want to do the same? Here’s how you can make a Pages document smaller on a Mac laptop:

1. With the Pages document open, click on File > Reduce File Size.
2. Scale down large images in the dialog box.
3. Select either the Reduce This File or Reduce a Copy option to create a smaller version.

6. Make a Word document file smaller on a Mac

Word document files with images in them tend to be on the larger side when the document contains large images or too many images. In such cases, compressing the images in a Word document can help reduce the overall Word document by reducing image data.

Take this approach to reducing the size of a Word document on macOS:

1. Open a Word document, click on an image, and choose Picture Format > Compress Pictures.
2. Pick a lower resolution and make sure the option to Apply only to this picture is not selected if you want to compress all images.
3. Delete unused media files and large graphics.
4. Select File > Save As > .docx rather than .doc (the former is a compressed format).
5. Now navigate to the menu bar and click on Word > Preferences > Save and uncheck Allow Fast Saves.
6. Go to Finder, right-click on the document, and choose the Compress option.

7. Compress an MP3 file on a Mac

Compressing audio files is easy if you have the right tools. Third-party audio editing apps like Audacity have helped us achieve this on our Macs for free. All you need to do is reduce the bitrate in the app of your choice to reduce the audio file size.

A heads-up from our team: Reducing an MP3 file’s size will affect the audio quality, so only proceed if you’re okay with that. Just avoid decreasing the bit rate too much.

Reduce file sizes easily on a MacBook device

Whatever your reasons are, reducing a file size can be simple or complex, depending on the type of file you’re working on and whether you use Mac’s native tools or third-party solutions. From resizing images and videos to compressing documents, the guides in this article should help you achieve it with a little patience and some time.

If you’re reducing file sizes to free up memory on your Mac, why not try MacKeeper’s Duplicates Finder instead? It can help you manage your storage by automatically detecting and easily removing duplicate files taking up disk space, optimizing your Mac with just a few clicks.