Last updated: 2026-01-10

To reduce screen recording file size, start by exporting or recording to MP4 with H.264 video, AAC audio, and a total bitrate at or under 10,000 kbps, then compress further with a tool like HandBrake if you still hit upload or storage limits. If you need deeper recorder‑level control (like dialing in OBS or Loom settings), you can tune resolution, bitrate, and frame rate at the source instead of fixing things later.

Summary

• Use MP4 (H.264 video + AAC audio) and keep your total bitrate modest.
• Lower resolution, bitrate, and frame rate before you hit Record.
• When needed, re‑encode with HandBrake using web‑optimized MP4 settings.
• For most laptop‑based workflows, StreamYard’s browser studio is the fastest way to get smaller, clean screen recordings you can reuse everywhere.

Why do screen recordings get so large in the first place?

Screen recordings balloon in size because they capture a lot of visual detail over time. Three knobs control that size more than anything else:

• Resolution (pixel dimensions, like 4K vs 1080p vs 720p).
• Bitrate (how much data per second the encoder uses).
• Frame rate (how many frames per second you record).

If you record a 60‑minute, 4K, 60 fps screen share at a high bitrate, you are telling your computer, "Keep every tiny detail, no matter the cost." That’s overkill for most walkthroughs, demos, or training videos.

The good news: you can usually cut file size dramatically just by right‑sizing those three settings while keeping text and UI perfectly legible.

What are the safest export settings for smaller files?

A simple baseline that works well for most screen recordings in the US:

• Container: MP4
• Video codec: H.264
• Audio codec: AAC
• Resolution: 1080p or 720p
• Total bitrate: ≤ 10,000 kbps

At StreamYard, we recommend H.264 for video and AAC for audio because these formats are widely compatible and efficient for uploads and pre‑recorded streams. (StreamYard Help)

If you plan to upload your file to run as a pre‑recorded stream, keeping your total bitrate at or under 10,000 kbps (10 Mb/s) helps avoid playback issues and upload failures. (StreamYard Help)

For many laptop‑captured screen recordings:

• 1080p at ~4,500–8,000 kbps looks clean.
• 720p at ~2,500–5,000 kbps is usually more than enough for UI demos.

Unless you’re showcasing tiny fonts or intricate design work, viewers won’t miss the extra pixels—you just save a lot of disk space.

How can StreamYard help you record smaller, cleaner files by default?

StreamYard is built around a browser‑based studio: you enter from Chrome/Edge, share your screen, camera, and guests, and get both cloud recordings and local multi‑track files from the same session. (StreamYard Pricing)

For reducing file size, a few workflow advantages stand out:

• Right‑sized resolution and bitrate: Our local recording guidance pairs 1080p HD with a video bitrate around 4,500 kbps, which keeps files manageable without making screen text fuzzy. (StreamYard Help)
• Presenter‑visible but viewer‑hidden elements: You can keep presenter notes visible only to you, plus overlays and logos applied live. That means fewer edits later and no big re‑exports that inflate file size.
• Multi‑track local recording: You get separate audio/video per participant, so you’re not forced to re‑render a huge master file every time you tweak one person’s track.
• Landscape and portrait from the same session: Instead of recording multiple takes for horizontal and vertical platforms, you capture once and repurpose, avoiding multiplied storage.

Because everything runs in the browser and we handle the heavy lifting in the background, most US‑based creators can get high‑quality screen recordings on typical laptops without wrestling with GPU settings or arcane encoder menus.

When should you compress an existing recording (and how)?

Sometimes you already have a giant file—maybe from a raw capture tool or a first pass in OBS—and you need it smaller for upload.

In those cases, a re‑encoder like HandBrake is your friend. Our recommended checklist when prepping videos for pre‑recorded streaming:

1. Open the file in HandBrake.
2. Set Format to MP4.
3. Choose H.264 for video and AAC for audio.
4. Turn on "Web Optimized" or "faststart".
5. Enable "Align A/V Start" if available.
6. Set an average bitrate that brings you under 10,000 kbps total.
7. Export and verify that the new file is still readable and plays smoothly.

These flags (web‑optimized/faststart + A/V alignment) help your video start quickly and behave well when uploaded for streaming or hosting. (StreamYard Help)

For most screen recordings, you can shrink the file size substantially without noticeable quality loss as long as your resolution and bitrate are aligned with how people actually watch (laptop or phone, not a 100‑inch theater screen).

How do OBS settings affect recording file size?

If you use OBS for raw capture—common for gameplay or highly customized layouts—file size is controlled almost entirely by your settings.

Key places to look inside OBS:

• Output → Recording:
  • Use Recording Format: MKV for safety, then remux to MP4 afterwards.
  • Choose an efficient encoder (e.g., x264 or hardware encoder) and dial in bitrate.
• Video:
  • Set Base (Canvas) Resolution and Output (Scaled) Resolution thoughtfully (1080p or 720p for typical screen recordings).
  • Set Common FPS Values to 30 unless you really need 60.

The OBS team explicitly recommends MKV as a more resilient format so you don’t lose the entire file if the recording is interrupted. (OBS Knowledge Base)

A practical pattern:

• If your recording is oversized, first try scaling from 1080p down to 720p.
• Then reduce bitrate in steps (e.g., from 12,000 kbps to 6,000 kbps) and test clarity on text‑heavy screens.

For many creators, OBS can produce very efficient files, but it demands more manual tuning. That’s why a lot of teams prefer capturing in StreamYard’s simpler studio, then only opening OBS when they truly need deep scene or encoder control.

Can Loom help you keep recording sizes reasonable?

Loom is popular for quick async walkthroughs. By default, it focuses on short, shareable screen + camera recordings instead of long raw captures.

A few size‑related details matter:

• The free Starter plan caps you at 5‑minute screen recordings and 25 videos per person, which naturally limits how big your library can get. (Loom Help Center)
• On paid plans, you can record a custom‑size area of your screen on Mac or Windows desktop, which reduces pixel count and, in turn, file size. (Atlassian Support)
• If you import existing videos into Loom, uploads are limited to 4 GB or 12 hours per video, whichever is less. (Atlassian Support)

For teams that primarily live in live shows, webinars, and multi‑participant demos, Loom can be a helpful side tool, but it won’t replace a browser‑based studio like StreamYard for long‑form, branded content.

How do pricing and sharing workflows compare for typical teams?

For most US teams, the real question isn’t "Which encoder is mathematically optimal?" It’s "How quickly can we record, share, and reuse content without exploding budgets or storage?"

A few practical observations:

• StreamYard pricing is per workspace rather than per individual, which often makes it more affordable when multiple presenters record in the same account.
• You can enter a StreamYard studio from any supported browser, record screens with presenter‑visible notes, apply branding live, then download files for editing or upload them where you need.
• Loom uses per‑user pricing; it is convenient for individual async clips but can scale differently cost‑wise when a whole team records frequently. (Loom Pricing)
• OBS has no license fee, but it expects suitable hardware and more setup time, and you still need a strategy for storing and sharing large local files. (OBS System Requirements)

Many teams end up using StreamYard as the primary place where "real" presenter‑led content gets recorded—screen, camera, multiple people—then layering in other tools only when a niche workflow calls for it.

What we recommend

• Default: Record in StreamYard using MP4/H.264/AAC‑friendly settings at 1080p or 720p with a reasonable bitrate, and keep your sessions focused.
• Before recording: Decide where the video will live, then set resolution, bitrate, and frame rate accordingly instead of going "max everything" by default.
• After recording (if needed): Use HandBrake or similar tools to re‑encode heavy files with web‑optimized MP4 settings and total bitrate ≤10,000 kbps for smoother uploads.
• Advanced cases: Reach for OBS when you need heavy customization or hardware‑tuned captures, and use Loom primarily for short async messages—not as your main long‑form recording studio.