Library Downsizing

Library Downsizing (Mac only) shrinks the disk footprint of your library by finding videos that would benefit from modern compression and converting them in one batch. Start it from File ▸ Downsize Library… or from the sidebar's library menu.

What it looks for

Vidarium checks every file in the library (a progress bar shows the scan; you can cancel at any time) and sorts candidates into two groups: videos that don't use a high-compression codec (HEVC or AV1) are offered for re-encoding, and videos that already use one but aren't in an MP4 container are offered for repackaging — a fast, lossless operation.

Confirming the batch

Each group gets its own screen showing the affected files with their format, size, and duration. Every file has a checkbox, a Select menu toggles all at once, and the header counts how many are selected. Per screen you can pick a conversion preset (your Permute presets appear here when installed), choose whether the converted file replaces the original — originals are only removed after the converted file has been verified and indexed, but the replacement itself cannot be undone — and, for re-encoding, keep the converted file only when it is actually smaller than the original.

When both groups have files, the re-encode screen's Next button leads to the repackage screen; Convert on the final screen starts everything you selected.

While it runs

Conversions run in the background — each affected video shows its progress and a cancel button right on its tile, and the window shows an overall Converting indicator. Vidarium warns you if you try to quit while conversions are still running. See the Converting Videos & Permute article for details on the conversion engine.

Downsizing a single video

You don't need the wizard for one file: when the selected video could be stored smaller (it isn't HEVC/AV1 yet, or isn't in an MP4 container), a Downsize button appears next to the size in the inspector's File section — as a compress icon when the section is collapsed. Vidarium asks before replacing the original (tick "Don't ask again" to skip the question in the future), shows a circular progress you can cancel by hovering, and afterwards the converted file takes the original's place — same name, tags, people, and other details included.

With Permute installed, Settings ▸ General offers a default downsizing preset that this button uses instead of the built-in one.