How to reduce file size for videos and PDFs

Seesaw supports files up to 250 MB in size*. Here's how to reduce the size of your files so you can upload them into Seesaw. 

iOS Devices 

  • *iOS support videos of any size as long as it is a length of 5 minutes or under.
  • Videos - Before You Record: Go into the Settings app > Camera > Video Recording > Select 720p at 30 fps or lower. Step by step here. 
  • Videos - After You Record: Use a free app like Video Compressor to reduce the size of the file to 480p at 30 fps or 720p at 30 fps. Step by step here. 
  • Videos - After You Record: Upload the video file to Google Drive, Dropbox, Youtube, etc, and then add to Seesaw via the "Link" option. 

Android Devices 

  • Videos - Before You Record: Go into the Camera app > select the Resolution icon on the lower-left corner > Select 720p at 30 fps or lower.
  • Videos - After You Record: Use a free app like Video Converter to reduce the size of the file to 480p at 30 fps or 720p at 30 fps. Step by step here. 
  • Videos - After You Record: Upload the video file to Google Drive, Dropbox, Youtube, etc, and then add to Seesaw via the "Link" option. 

Chromebooks 

  • Videos - After You Record: Upload the video file to Google Drive, Dropbox, Youtube, etc, and then add to Seesaw via the "Link" option.

Mac Computers 

  • Videos: Open the Quicktime Player app. Select your video from Files. Click File > Export as > 480p. 
  • Videos - After You Record: Upload the video file to Google Drive, Dropbox, Youtube, etc, and then add to Seesaw via the "Link" option.
  • PDFs: Use a website like SmallPDF.com to reduce the size. 

PC Computers 

  • Videos: Open Windows Movie Maker. Import your video. Click File > Save movie > Select an option like "For email" or "For Android phone". You want a file that is either 480p or 720p resolution. 
  • Videos - After You Record: Upload the video file to Google Drive, Dropbox, Youtube, etc, and then add to Seesaw via the "Link" option.
  • PDFs: Use a website like SmallPDF.com to reduce the size. 
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