# The recording file is too large

> Why screen recordings get big, and the levers that actually reduce the size.

Source: https://www.screen-recording-software.com/guides/recording-file-too-large
Category: Problems

Screen recordings are large because they are high resolution and long. A 4K screen produces roughly four times the data of a 1080p one for the same duration.

## Record a window or tab, not the whole screen

A tab on a 4K monitor is a fraction of the pixels of the full display. This is the single most effective change, and it usually improves the recording anyway \u2014 tab recording explains why.

## Lower your display resolution first

Capture happens at your screen’s native resolution. Dropping a 4K monitor to 1080p before recording cuts the file dramatically and makes on-screen text more legible in the result.

## Record shorter clips

Several short recordings are easier to share, easier to watch, and far less likely to fail than one long one.

## Compress afterwards

HandBrake or ffmpeg will typically shrink a screen recording substantially with no visible loss, because screen content compresses well.