Go Back

POSTS

Compress Videos using 8mb

Getting errors when trying to send videos? Don't use sketchy online converters. This guide explains how to self-host 8mb.local to compress high-quality clips privately using your own GPU.

Author:

Llewellyn Paintsil

Date:

Read:

2 mins

Tutorial

Compress Videos using 8mb thumbnail

We have all been there. You just clipped an insane highlight in your favourite game, or maybe you recorded a quick bug report for your developer team. You drag the file into Discord, Slack, or WhatsApp, hit Enter, and... "Your files are too Big."

The dreaded upload limit is one of the most annoying hurdles on the internet. To get around it, most people turn to sketchy online converters. But uploading your personal videos to a random server is slow, degrades quality, and is a privacy nightmare.

There is a better way. Meet 8mb.local, a self-hosted tool that uses your own computer's power to shrink videos to the perfect size—without them ever leaving your network.

What is 8mb.local?

8mb.local is a free, open-source web application that runs on your computer. It is designed with a "fire-and-forget" philosophy: you give it a video and a target size (like 8MB, 25MB, or 50MB), and it handles the rest.

Because it runs locally, it is incredibly fast. It can utilize your graphics card (NVIDIA, Intel, or AMD) to compress your videos in seconds. Plus, since the file never uploads to the cloud, your data remains 100% private.

Why You Should Use It

  • Privacy: Your videos never leave your local network.
  • Speed: No waiting for files to upload to a website. The transfer happens instantly.
  • Smart Compression: If the app tries to make an 8MB file and accidentally makes it 8.1MB, it automatically retries with slightly different settings to ensure it fits.
  • Modern Quality: It supports modern video formats like AV1 and H.265, which look much better than standard MP4s at small file sizes.

How to Install 8mb.local

Unlike a standard Windows app, 8mb.local doesn't come as a simple .exe file yet. It runs inside a container using Docker. This might sound technical, but it’s actually quite straightforward.

Step 1: Install Docker

First, you need the engine that runs the app.

  1. Download and install **Docker Desktop** for Windows or Mac (or Docker Engine for Linux).
  2. During installation on Windows, make sure to check the box for "WSL 2" components if prompted.
  3. Once installed, run Docker Desktop and let it start up.

Docker Desktop Site

Step 2: Run the Command

You don't need to download a zip file. You just need to tell Docker to grab the app for you.

Open your Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac/Linux) and paste one of the following commands:

For most users (CPU only - works everywhere):

docker run -d --name 8mblocal -p 8001:8001 -v./uploads:/app/uploads -v./outputs:/app/outputs jms1717/8mblocal:latest

For Gamers (NVIDIA GPU Acceleration): If you have an NVIDIA graphics card, use this command to unlock blazing fast speeds:

docker run -d --name 8mblocal --gpus all -e NVIDIA_DRIVER_CAPABILITIES=compute,video,utility -p 8001:8001 -v./uploads:/app/uploads -v./outputs:/app/outputs jms1717/8mblocal:latest

For AMD/Intel GPUs If you have a AMD or Intel Graphics card, use this command:

docker run -d --name 8mblocal --device=/dev/dri:/dev/dri -p 8001:8001 -v ./uploads:/app/uploads -v ./outputs:/app/outputs jms1717/8mblocal:latest

How to Use 8mb.local

Once the command is running, the app is live on your computer.

  1. Open your browser and go to http://localhost:8001. You will see a clean, dark interface.

  2. Drag and drop your video file anywhere on the screen. The app will instantly analyze it.

  3. Select a Target Size. Click on 4MB, 5MB, 8MB, 100MB, etc, or enter a Custom size.

  4. Click "Compress".

  • You will see a live progress bar and logs showing exactly what is happening.
  1. Download. When it's done, the file will appear in the "Job History" list, ready to be saved and shared.

8mb.local

Disclaimer: This tool is open-source software. Always ensure you are downloading from the official repository.

Author

Llewellyn Paintsil profile pic, a member of L.A.P

Llewellyn Paintsil

Driven by a transformative moment that sparked a deep fascination with technology, I've been captivated by all its facets, particularly the visual aspects of software and video.

Latest Posts

Tutorial

How to Fix Corrupted Video Files thumbnail

How to Fix Corrupted Video Files

Did your PC crash mid recording? Don't delete that corrupted file. This guide explains exactly how to restore broken recordings and fix audio sync issues using free tools like Untrunc and FFmpeg.

Author

Llewellyn Paintsil

Duration

5 mins

Tutorial

Read Every Manga (For Free) with Komikku thumbnail

Read Every Manga (For Free) with Komikku

Tired of reading manga on websites that drain your battery and spam you with ads? There’s a better way. Meet Komikku: the clean, ad-free, and open-source alternative that every manga fan needs. Here is exactly how to set it up and start reading in minutes.

Author

Llewellyn Paintsil

Duration

6 mins

Tutorial

Turn Your Phone Into a Magic Wand thumbnail

Turn Your Phone Into a Magic Wand

Too lazy to reach for the mouse? Discover how to use your phone's gyroscope to control your computer from a distance in this quick, beginner-friendly guide.

Author

Llewellyn Paintsil

Duration

5 min