Windows Has a Hidden Tool that Compresses Games for Free
A new report reveals that a popular paid utility for saving disk space is largely redundant because Windows already includes the same compression technology natively.
Many gamers are spending money on third-party software to free up hard drive space, unaware that their operating system already includes the exact same compression engine. A recent report by XDA Developers highlights a case where a user paid six dollars for a dedicated game compression tool, only to discover that Windows features a built-in command-line utility capable of performing the same task. The paid application, known as Game Compressor, uses the LZX algorithm to shrink file sizes, but this functionality is accessible directly through the operating system without any additional cost.
The discovery came after the user researched the technical specifications of the paid app to understand its impact on performance. They found that the software essentially acts as a graphical interface for a standard Windows feature called compact.exe. While the paid tool offers a convenient click-and-go experience, the core technology it relies on is already present on every modern Windows machine. This means users do not need to purchase extra software to achieve significant space savings, although the command-line method requires more technical knowledge to execute correctly.
Built-in command-line tool offers native compression
Windows includes a utility named compact.exe that allows users to compress files using the same LZX algorithm found in the paid software. To use it, users must open Command Prompt or PowerShell and enter a specific sequence of commands. For example, typing compact.exe /c /s:"path to game folder" /i /exe:lzx applies the compression to the selected directory and its subfolders. The command includes flags to ensure the process continues even if minor errors occur and specifies the exact algorithm to use.
While this method is free, it lacks the visual guidance of a dedicated application. Users must manually construct the commands and know the exact file paths of their games. The interface is text-based, which can be intimidating for those unfamiliar with terminal commands. However, the underlying process is identical to what the paid tool does in the background, meaning there is no technical advantage to the proprietary software in terms of compression efficiency or algorithm quality.
Paid software trades convenience for cost
The primary value of the six-dollar tool lies in its user-friendly interface rather than any exclusive technology. Game Compressor automatically detects games installed from various platforms, including Steam, EA, and Epic Games, and presents them in a single list. Users can simply click a button to compress all selected titles or decompress them later. This eliminates the need to remember complex command-line syntax or manually navigate file directories, making the process accessible to non-technical users.
Despite the availability of the free native tool, many users may still find the paid option worthwhile for its simplicity. The paid software handles the complexity of identifying game files and managing the compression state, reducing the risk of user error. For those who are comfortable with command-line tools, however, the financial expense is unnecessary. The trade-off is clear: pay a small fee for ease of use, or spend time learning the native commands to save that money.
Performance trade-offs require careful selection
Regardless of the method used, compressing games is not without potential downsides. The report notes that users should avoid compressing titles that utilize DirectStorage, a technology that allows games to access data directly from the drive. DirectStorage has its own decompression path, and applying additional compression via LZX can interfere with this process, potentially leading to performance issues or slower load times. Both the paid tool and the native command-line tool carry this risk if the wrong files are selected.
Users can switch between compression algorithms if they find that LZX causes problems. The native tool supports other options, such as XPRESS16K, which offers faster compression and decompression speeds at the cost of slightly larger file sizes. This flexibility allows users to balance space savings against performance needs. However, the default recommendation remains to stick with LZX for maximum space efficiency, provided the game does not rely on DirectStorage. This nuance is something that casual users might overlook without reading the technical documentation.
