On this page
Short answer
Right-click a folder in File Explorer, choose Make Smaller and a profile. If subfolders are found, choose This folder only or Include subfolders. Successful copies go into a sibling folder named with -smaller, keeping their relative subfolders and filenames. The result is not a complete folder backup.
Before you start
- Make Smaller with an active license on Windows 11 24H2 or later, x64.
- A small ordinary local folder below the drive root, containing supported files and enough space for outputs.
- An independent backup for important files.
Start here
Prepare a small test folder
Use a few sample files, one unsupported file and a subfolder. Select the folder itself in File Explorer. Close apps that are changing its contents.
Choose the profile
Right-click the folder, open Make Smaller and select Preserve quality for the first test. Balanced and Smallest size can change eligible media quality, just as for individually selected files.
Set the scope if asked
When Include subfolders? appears, choose This folder only to process files directly in the selected folder, or Include subfolders to include descendants. A folder with no eligible subfolders does not need this question.
Inspect the batch result
Review the number of smaller copies, files with no improvement and skipped entries. Unsupported types, linked locations and online-only files can be skipped. Select a smaller folder if a processing limit is reported.
Check the separate outputs
For a folder named Photos, the normal result location is its sibling Photos-smaller. Relative subfolders and original filenames are used; name conflicts get a number without overwriting an existing file. Use Show in folder to locate the actual output, especially if an alternative destination was requested.
Check your result
- The chosen scope includes only the folders you intended.
- The source folder remains unchanged and representative outputs open correctly.
- Skipped files and files with no improvement were not assumed to appear in the result folder.
The result folder contains successful copies
Unsupported files and files that cannot be reduced enough are not copied merely to fill out the folder tree. Do not replace your source folder with the result or treat it as a complete backup.
Repeated runs can add numbered files to an existing result location. Use each result's Show in folder action to identify the copy you just made.
If a folder cannot be processed
Select a folder inside a drive rather than the drive itself. Use files that are available locally, and avoid linked, encrypted or online-only folder trees. For a large selection, try smaller subfolders.
Hide keeps work running; Stop requests cancellation of the current selection. Other waiting selections can continue. Review completed copies and remaining results before starting another selection.
Make Smaller
View app detailsRelated guides
- Make a Smaller File Copy from File Explorer
- Choose a Make Smaller Quality Profile
- Understand Make Smaller Results and Skipped Files