Osenpa
Make Smaller guide

Reduce Image File Size on Windows

Create smaller photo or image copies and check their appearance before sending or uploading them.

By Osenpa · Updated
On this page

Short answer

Right-click a supported image in File Explorer and choose Make Smaller. Start with Preserve quality; try Balanced or Smallest size from the original if reduced detail or resolution is acceptable. Open the output and inspect it before sharing.

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. Choose a representative image

    Start with a sample that includes the detail you care about, such as faces, small lettering or gradients. Keep your original for later edits.

  2. Start with Preserve quality

    Select the image in File Explorer, right-click, open Make Smaller and choose Preserve quality. Wait for a successful result or the explanation for no improvement.

  3. Consider a sharing profile

    If the output is still too large, select the original again and try Balanced. Use Smallest size only if more visible change is acceptable. These profiles can reduce detail, colors or dimensions where supported.

  4. Review the actual output

    Use Show in folder. Compare the image at its intended display size and zoom into important detail. Check orientation, transparency and animation where relevant.

  5. Choose the inspected copy

    Check the file's Size in File Explorer Properties against the receiving service's limit. Send the output you reviewed; Make Smaller keeps the format rather than converting it to another extension.

Check your result

  • The image opens with acceptable colors, orientation and detail.
  • Transparency, animation or multiple pages still behave as needed.
  • The actual size fits the destination's requirements.

When an image does not shrink

Already optimized images can report No improvement. Certain metadata, color layouts, animations or image structures require lossless processing or prevent safe processing. Read the per-file explanation before changing the profile.

If the app reports a damaged file or type mismatch, use a valid export from the original editor. Renaming .png to .jpg does not convert its contents.

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