How to Make an MP3 File Smaller

MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3) files can be made smaller through compression. The file decompresses when it is opened and the music is reproduced, kilobyte by kilobyte. Since music formats are generally large, much computer space can be saved when the MP3 is not played. For instance, a 20MB file can take up as little room as 1MB after compression. Of course, this is the best-case scenario and each file will differ in savings. Curb hard drive congestion and enjoy your MP3s without giving up space for the sake of audio.

Instructions

1. Right-click the MP3 file.

2. Click "Properties" and then select the General tab. (You may want to write down the file size for comparing kilobyte sizes after applying compression.)

3. Click "Advanced."

4. Select "Compress contents to save disk space" and then click "OK."

5. Click "Apply" (If you wrote down the original file size of the file, then here is where you can see the difference.) Press "OK." The audio file displays its title, typically in a light-blue color. This makes it distinguishable from noncompressed files.

Tips & Warnings

• The larger the MP3 file is, the more space will be saved. Compression therefore will not make a noticeable difference on a real tiny MP3---unless you have many of them to compress.

References

• Microsoft