Compressing Files in Google Drive: A Beginner's Guide

Compressing files in Google Drive can be a lifesaver when you're running low on storage space. Google Drive allows you to compress files to free up space.

To compress a file in Google Drive, you can use the Google Drive desktop app. This app allows you to compress files with just a few clicks.

Compressing files can also help reduce the time it takes to upload and download files.

Compressing files in Google Drive can be a game-changer for anyone looking to free up space or speed up file transfers.

You can zip files on your device, then upload them to Google Drive, but this will only store the zip file, not the original files. This is fine if you just need to store files, but if you need to access the files inside, you'll have to download and decompress the whole zip file.

Google Drive has a built-in feature that automatically compresses files when you download a folder, but you can also use third-party apps like Zip Extractor to access and extract specific files from a zip archive stored on Google Drive.

If you're looking to save space, deleting the original files after zipping them is the way to go, but be aware that this will take up more space on Google Drive unless you move the zip file away or delete the original files.

You can also use native apps or compression utilities like WinRAR or 7Zip to compress and decompress files and folders directly on your computer, and the changes will be reflected automatically in your Google Drive.

Here are some scenarios where zipping files in Google Drive makes sense:

For anything you need to access, change, or move frequently, it's usually better to leave the file unzipped.

You can compress files in Google Drive to save space and make them easier to share. This is especially useful for large files or folders that take up a lot of space.

Google Drive automatically compresses files when you download a folder, creating a zip file that's smaller and more convenient to share.

To reduce file size in Google Drive, you can use Google Docs to edit photos and reduce their size. This is a great way to save space without sacrificing quality.

If you're looking to reduce video file size, there's no built-in option on Google Drive. However, you can compress your video files on your computer before uploading them to Google Drive.

You can also compress PDF files on your computer and then upload them to Google Drive.

Here are some options to reduce file size in Google Drive:

By compressing files in Google Drive, you can save space, make them easier to share, and keep your digital clutter under control.

Google Drive offers a built-in video player, but it compresses and downscales videos to 1080p if they're larger than that.

To compress videos for Google Drive, you have several options. You can use Google Photos to upload videos in Storage Saver or Express Quality, which is fast and easy but offers limited options.

There are also video compression utilities like Compressor, Handbrake, and VEED Video Compressor that can help you compress videos. These utilities are generally simple to use, but make sure they don't watermark or alter your videos.

Video editing programs like Adobe Premier, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve can also be used to make more nuanced compressions. However, these programs are heavier and harder to use, and often cost money.

If you're looking for a temporary compression solution, you can use a file compression utility like WinZip or WinRar to create a zip file. However, this won't allow you to play the video from Google Drive, and anyone who wants to use or play the file will need to download it.

Here are some video compression options:

You can upload a video to Google Drive without it being compressed, it's saved in its original quality. This is great for preserving the quality of your files.

Google Drive has a built-in video player, so users can watch a video directly from Google Drive without downloading it first. This means that Google has to process and convert the video, which can lead to some limitations.

Only certain video formats work with the Google Drive video player, including WEBM, MPEG4, 3GPP, MOV, AVI, MPEGPS, WMV, FLV, MTS, and OGG files. Certain audio codecs may not work.

Here are some key storage facts to keep in mind:

Backup quality options can be a bit confusing, but don't worry, I've got the scoop.

Google gives you three quality levels to choose from when backing up your videos: Original Quality, Storage Saver, and Express. These options are perfect for different needs and use cases.

Original Quality is just what it sounds like – the video is uploaded as-is, with no compression or resizing. One minute of 1080p video can be around 20 MB in size, and one minute of 4k video can be 100 MB or more. This option takes up a lot of space, though, and the basic Google Account only has 15 GB of storage space.

Storage Saver, on the other hand, stores video files in their original quality up to 1080p. If your video is higher than 1080p, like a 4k video, it will be resized and processed to compress it and reduce the storage space it takes up. Videos under 1080p aren’t altered, and very large videos or unusual videos, as well as videos in formats Google doesn’t normally support, won’t be converted.

Express is similar to Storage Saver, but it caps video quality at 480p, which is a significant reduction in both file size and video quality. Only choose it if you know you don’t need any of the detail of the video in its original quality.

Here are the three quality levels summarized in a table:

It's worth noting that Google doesn't convert the original file; they create a converted copy of the file to back up. As long as you don’t delete your original video file, you won’t lose the high-quality version of it.

If you upload a video to Google Drive, it's saved in its original quality. However, Google still processes the video to make it playable directly from Google Drive without downloading it.

Google creates a compressed and downscaled copy of the video, but this doesn't take up additional space in your Google Drive account. Only your original file takes up space.

The compressed copy is used for playback, but it's not always done effectively. Very large files might not be processed properly.

Google Drive has a cap on file size, which is 5 TB if you have unlimited account storage. Otherwise, it's whatever your account storage is.

A basic personal Google Drive account with 15 GB of space can't upload a video larger than the available space remaining on the Drive.

Here are the video formats that work with the Google Drive video player:

If your video doesn't meet the requirements to be played streaming from Google Drive, the video file is still there in its entirety.