To optimize MOV videos, run `npx optimo video.mov`. Optimo applies format-specific FFmpeg-powered compression that typically reduces MOV file size by 15–40% without visible quality loss. The original file is kept if the output is not smaller.

## Command

Start here. Run optimo on a video file:

```
npx optimo video.mov
```

Tip: add `--dry-run` to preview changes.

## When to use MOV

- editor exports
- camera originals

### Trade-offs

- Often larger than needed for delivery

## Related formats

[MP4](/content/optimize/mp4/index.html)  
The most compatible web video container; a safe default for delivery.  
[WebM](/content/optimize/webm/index.html)  
Web-first video format that often compresses well and is common for modern browsers.  
[MKV](/content/optimize/mkv/index.html)  
Flexible container used in many workflows; commonly remuxed/converted for delivery.  
[AVI](/content/optimize/avi/index.html)  
Legacy container format; usually worth converting to MP4/WebM.  
[OGV](/content/optimize/ogv/index.html)  
Ogg video container; occasionally used for open formats, but uncommon today.

## Related conversions

[Convert MOV to MP4](/content/convert/mov-to-mp4/index.html)  
[Convert MOV to WebM](/content/convert/mov-to-webm/index.html)  
[Convert WebM to MOV](/content/convert/webm-to-mov/index.html)  
[Convert MP4 to MOV](/content/convert/mp4-to-mov/index.html)  
[Convert MOV to MKV](/content/convert/mov-to-mkv/index.html)  
[Convert MOV to AVI](/content/convert/mov-to-avi/index.html)  
[Convert MKV to MOV](/content/convert/mkv-to-mov/index.html)  
[Convert AVI to MOV](/content/convert/avi-to-mov/index.html)

## More for MOV

[Compress MOV](/content/compress/mov/index.html)  
[Resize MOV](/content/resize/mov/index.html)  
[What is MOV?](/content/formats/mov/index.html)

## Compare formats

If you're picking a delivery format, comparisons can help.

[Browse comparisons](/content/compare/index.html)

## Frequently asked questions

**How do I optimize MOV files?**  
Run "npx optimo video.mov" in your terminal. Optimo applies format-specific FFmpeg-powered compression that reduces MOV file size while preserving quality. The original file is kept if the optimized output is not smaller.

**Is MOV optimization lossless?**  
By default, optimo uses lossless optimization for MOV. For additional compression, add the --lossy flag to allow minor quality trade-offs for significantly smaller files.

**What tools does optimo use for MOV?**  
Optimo uses FFmpeg under the hood with format-specific settings tuned for MOV files.