CompactGUI
About CompactGUI
CompactGUI is a Windows application that reduces the disk space used by games and programs through transparent compression. It utilizes native Windows 10+ compression APIs, the same as the command-line tool compact.exe, but provides a graphical interface for easier use.
Files remain fully accessible after compression, functioning normally without repackaging. The tool is particularly useful for users with limited SSD space or those looking to improve load times on HDDs by reducing file sizes.
It supports various compression algorithms with different speed and ratio tradeoffs, from fast XPRESS modes to stronger LZX compression. The software includes features like progress tracking, filetype filtering, and integration with Windows Explorer.
Key features
- Reduces game and program sizes while maintaining functionality
- Provides visual feedback on compression progress and statistics
- Configurable filetype skipping for poorly-compressed formats
- Online integration with community-sourced compression database
- Windows Explorer context menu integration
- Background watcher to maintain compression after updates
- Multiple compression algorithms with different speed/ratio options
Download v4.0.0-beta.7
Apr 15, 2026WindowsWindows
Frequently asked questions
- Is CompactGUI free?
- Yes. CompactGUI is free and open-source software, distributed under the GPL-3.0 license.
- Which platforms does CompactGUI support?
- CompactGUI provides downloads for Windows.
- What is the latest version of CompactGUI?
- The latest version is v4.0.0-beta.7, released on Apr 15, 2026.
- What Windows versions does CompactGUI support?
- CompactGUI requires Windows 10 or later as it uses compression APIs introduced in Windows 10.
- How do I install CompactGUI?
- CompactGUI can be downloaded from GitHub releases or installed via Winget using the command 'winget install CompactGUI'.
- Can I use this with DirectStorage games?
- No, CompactGUI should not be used with games that utilize DirectStorage on Windows 11 as it would negate performance benefits.
- Is there any performance impact from compression?
- On modern CPUs, the performance impact is negligible. Some users may even see improved load times on HDDs due to smaller file sizes.
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