CompactGUI
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| CompactGUI | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Screenshot of the program showing space savings after compressing Just Cause 3 | |
| Developer | IridiumIO |
| Stable release | Version 4.0 Beta 6 / 6 July 2025 |
| Written in | Visual Basic (.NET), C# |
| Operating system | Windows |
| Size | 10 MB (no embedded libraries) 64 MB (with embedded libraries) |
| Available in | English |
| Type | Data compression |
| License | GPL-3.0-only |
| Repository | GitHub |
CompactGUI is an open-source program for compressing video games, programs and folders. It uses various compression algorithms under the compact Windows tool to decrease the file size of application data.
Features
[edit]CompactGUI uses the built-in NTFS compression tools in Windows to reduce the size of game files, while implementing a graphical user interface for easier communication. The program offers four types of compression: three levels of XPRESS (with block sizes 4k, 8k and 16k) and LZX.[1] The program includes an option to skip compressing files with a poor data compression ratio, such as files already compressed via another method.[2][3] CompactGUI also features a watchlist that monitors game updates, allowing new and modified files to be automatically compressed.[4]
When playing the game, the files will be selectively decompressed as they're accessed.[2] Any compression applied to game files is reversible and can be undone if the performance is noticeably affected or the storage gains are deemed insufficient.[3] It is not recommended to use the tool with games that utilize DirectStorage API, due to the decompression method negating the API's function of streaming assets directly from the drive.[4] While the program was made with video game data compression in mind, mostly due to the ever-increasing system requirements of modern games, any applications or folders may be compressed.[5]
Benchmarks
[edit]
CompactGUI features an in-app database of compressed games and their space savings automatically compiled from various users. Here are some comparisons between various games' original sizes and their compressed forms using LZX, as reported by XDA-Developers:[4]
| Game | Original size | Compressed size | Storage gain | Compression ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldur's Gate 3 (2023) | 152.71 GB | 134.54 GB (88%) | 18.17 GB | 1.135 |
| Cities: Skylines (2015) | 13.27 GB | 6.30 GB (47%) | 6.97 GB | 2.106 |
| Counter-Strike 2 (2023) | 38.17 GB | 27.04 GB (71%) | 11.13 GB | 1.412 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) | 80.20 GB | 78.25 GB (98%) | 1.95 GB | 1.025 |
| Half-Life: Alyx (2020) | 72.52 GB | 58.08 GB (80%) | 14.44 GB | 1.249 |
| Little Kitty: Big City (2024) | 13.43 GB | 5.44 GB (40%) | 7.99 GB | 2.469 |
Reception
[edit]XDA-Developers praised the app, calling it a "fantastic" choice for gaming handhelds and a "lifeline" for users running out of space.[4] Various sources reported that, with the advancement of CPU technology, the real-time decompression of files has little performance overhead and can actually decrease loading times due to the smaller files being inherently faster to load; this is especially true for slower mechanical hard drives.[1][3][4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Questo tool open source ti fa ottimizzare lo spazio occupato dai giochi (è utilissimo)". Tom's Hardware (in Italian). 2025-05-02. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
- ^ a b Crider, Michael (2018-02-09). "How to Shrink Your PC Game Files With CompactGUI and Save Drive Space". How-To Geek. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
- ^ a b c Kourafalos, Odysseas (2020-02-15). "How to Free Up your Hard Disk Space with CompactGUI". Make Tech Easier. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
- ^ a b c d e Conway, Adam (2025-05-01). "I use this free, open-source tool to significantly compress my games on Windows without any performance loss". XDA. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
- ^ Sen, Sayan (2025-05-02). "Free app based on official Microsoft tech saves huge Windows space with no performance loss". Neowin. Retrieved 2026-02-03.