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Make Smaller guide

Make JPG, PNG and other images smaller on Windows

Reduce photo file size with Make Smaller, compare quality, and check the saved copy against an upload limit.

By Osenpa · Updated
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Short answer

For a smaller JPG, PNG or another supported image, right-click it in File Explorer and choose Make Smaller, then Preserve quality. If it is still too large, try Balanced from the original. The copy keeps its format; check its Size and appearance before uploading.

This guide covers Make Smaller. Check requirements and download options before you begin.

Before you start

  • Make Smaller with an active license on Windows 11 24H2 or later, x64.
  • A locally available image in a supported family: JPEG, PNG/APNG, BMP, GIF, WebP, TIFF, AVIF or HEIC/HEIF. Internal encoding and feature limits still apply.

Start here

  1. Check the starting size

    Choose a photo or image with the detail you need to keep. In File Explorer, right-click it, choose Properties and note Size. Check the receiving site for its size limit and accepted formats.

  2. Try Preserve quality

    Right-click the image, open Make Smaller and choose Preserve quality. Wait for a saved copy or a result explaining why no copy was made.

  3. Try a smaller sharing copy if needed

    If the copy is still too large, select the original again and try Balanced. Smallest size allows more change when needed. These profiles can reduce detail, colors or dimensions.

  4. Look at the image

    Use Show in folder and open the output. Check small lettering, faces or other important detail. Also check orientation, transparency and animation if the image uses them.

  5. Measure the output

    Right-click the output in File Explorer, choose Properties and compare Size with the limit. Make Smaller has no target-MB setting. A PNG stays a PNG and a JPG stays a JPG; choose the inspected copy when you upload.

Check your result

  • Important detail, colors and orientation look right.
  • Transparency, animation or multiple pages still work where needed.
  • The output has an accepted format and its actual Size fits the destination limit.

When an image does not shrink

An already compact image may report No improvement. Some image features need a method that keeps quality unchanged, or prevent processing. Read the result before trying another profile.

If the file is damaged or its contents do not match its extension, try a valid export from the original editor. Renaming .png to .jpg does not convert the picture.

Size and privacy are separate checks

Make Smaller is a size-reduction tool. A smaller image can still contain metadata and visible personal details. Review those separately before public sharing.

The app used in this guide

Make Smaller

View app details

Related guides

Sources and further reading