<p>Generally no. Compression algorithms search for repetitive data and replace it with a shorter code and keep a dictionary with all codes. Compressing text works excellent because in longer texts a lot of words repeat. </p>

<p>With video this work has been done most of the time already. Usually the encoder is  performing a similar operation: looking for repeating patterns and replacing them with a shorter code. Most video files you see are already compressed, most repetitive patterns already encoded and therefore any further compression won't do much.</p>

<p>Sometimes re-encoding videos with a much newer encoder saves a lot of space, but this process is always a bit lossy and requires more work.</p>

<p>You could check if the files have any additional unwanted audio tracks and remove them, like tracks in languages you don't speak anyway.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-04T06:45:30.453Z
Many thanks Matt
geo667
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-03T20:47:53.107Z
2020-06-03T20:47:53.107Z
Matt
<p>I want to compress a video to store it for backup purpose.</p>

<p>By that, I mean that I don't need to play video when it is compress format. So I don't want to lose quality or something like that, just compress it.</p>

<p>I have tried to compress with 7zip, but size not decrease. Is it possible to compress a video ? </p>

<p>For example, I use 7zip on a 3.92Go mkv video. I try :</p>

<ul>
<li>zip format : 3.92Go</li>
<li>gz format : 3.88Go</li>
</ul>

<compression>
compress video for backup
geo667
# compress video for backup

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-06-03)

I want to compress a video to store it for backup purpose.

By that, I mean that I don't need to play video when it is compress format. So I don't want to lose quality or something like that, just compress it.

I have tried to compress with 7zip, but size not decrease. Is it possible to compress a video ?

For example, I use 7zip on a 3.92Go mkv video. I try :

* zip format : 3.92Go
* gz format : 3.88Go

**Tags:** compression


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-06-03. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

Generally no. Compression algorithms search for repetitive data and replace it with a shorter code and keep a dictionary with all codes. Compressing text works excellent because in longer texts a lot of words repeat.

With video this work has been done most of the time already. Usually the encoder is performing a similar operation: looking for repeating patterns and replacing them with a shorter code. Most video files you see are already compressed, most repetitive patterns already encoded and therefore any further compression won't do much.

Sometimes re-encoding videos with a much newer encoder saves a lot of space, but this process is always a bit lossy and requires more work.

You could check if the files have any additional unwanted audio tracks and remove them, like tracks in languages you don't speak anyway.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Many thanks username_1  

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