Quick Takeaways

• Compression sets bitrate and detail trade‑offs within your chosen codec.
• Auto adapts to motion and lighting; Custom fixes a level via slider.
• More compression = smaller files and easier streaming but blockier detail.
• Less compression = sharper details and cleaner gradients but higher bitrate.
• Mid‑slider for general use; higher quality for faces/plates; higher compression for remote/LTE.

What Compression Does

Compression determines how aggressively Protect reduces video data when encoding.

More Compression

• Smaller files and easier streaming on weak networks.
• Loss of fine detail, blocky textures, smeary motion.

Less Compression

• Larger files and higher bandwidth.
• Cleaner gradients, sharper details, improved identification.

Auto vs Custom

Auto

• Dynamically adjusts bitrate based on scene activity and lighting.
• Efficient for quiet scenes; can dip too low during busy moments.

Custom

• Fixes the level with a slider for predictable quality and file sizes.
• Good for forensic review/compliance and consistent browser playback.

How to set Compression

Open the UniFi Protect web app (or mobile app).
Go to the Cameras tab.
Click on the camera you want to configure.
In the camera panel, choose Settings → Video.
Look for Video Quality:
If it’s set to Auto, Protect will adjust compression dynamically.
If you change it to Custom, you’ll see a slider appear.
Move the slider:
More compression (slider left / lower quality): Smaller files, easier streaming, but more blocky details.
Less compression (slider right / higher quality): Sharper details, better gradients, but more storage and bandwidth use.
Save / Apply your changes.

Best Settings

• General home/office: Mid‑slider (~50%).
• Low‑light areas: ~60% (less compression) to preserve detail.
• Faces/plates: 70–80% (less compression); expect larger files.
• High‑motion areas: 55–65% to avoid motion artifacts.
• Browser share / remote: 40–50% for smooth streaming.
• Tight storage: 30–40% (more compression).

Interactions With Other Settings

• Encoding: H.264 (browser‑friendly) vs H.265 (efficient but limited browser support).
• FPS: Lowering FPS can let you use less compression without ballooning size.
• Scene motion & lighting: Busy/noisy scenes need more bitrate to stay clear.

Cheat Sheet

• 30–40% (More Compression): Remote/mobile viewing, storage‑heavy deployments.
• 50% (Balanced): General purpose.
• 60–65%: Low‑light, outdoor night vision, high‑motion zones.
• 70–80% (Less Compression): Critical detail capture (faces, plates, evidence).

Final Tips

• Stutter? Increase compression a notch or drop FPS slightly.
• Blocky during motion? Slide toward less compression.
• For browser share links, combine mid‑compression with H.264 encoding.
• Always test day and night; low light stresses encoders.

More Settings: Visit the Ultimate Guide to UniFi Protect Video Settings

Related Posts: See FPS Settings, Codec Encoding, and Resolution & Profiles