How to Compress Images on Windows — 5 Free Methods (2026)

Method 1 — compressimg.pro (Best Quality Control)

The fastest way to compress an image on Windows with precise control over the output size. No software installation required — it runs entirely in your browser.

1. Open compressimg.pro/compress-image in any browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox)
2. Drag and drop your image onto the upload area, or click to browse
3. Adjust the quality slider — 80 is the default and gives excellent results for most photos
4. Click download — the compressed file saves to your Downloads folder

Works on Windows 10 and 11. Supports JPG, PNG, and WebP. All processing happens locally in your browser — no file is ever uploaded to a server.

Method 2 — Microsoft Paint (Resize)

Paint is built into every version of Windows and can reduce image dimensions, which directly reduces file size. This is not the same as quality compression, but it is effective when the image is simply too large in pixels.

1. Right-click your image file → Open with → Paint
2. Click Resize in the Home ribbon (or press Ctrl+W)
3. Select Pixels and enter the target width — for web use, 1920px width is plenty for full-screen images; 800px for thumbnails
4. Make sure Maintain aspect ratio is checked so the height adjusts automatically
5. Click OK, then save (Ctrl+S) or Save As to keep the original

Method 3 — Windows Photos App (Resize)

The Photos app included in Windows 10 and 11 has a resize option that is simpler than Paint, with three preset size options.

1. Open the image in the Photos app (double-click, or right-click → Open with → Photos)
2. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top-right corner → Resize image
3. Choose a preset: Small, Medium, or Large — or enter custom dimensions
4. Click Save and choose a file name and location

The Small preset outputs roughly 640px wide, Medium around 1280px, and Large around 1920px. These are general guides — actual output varies by image. This method does not control JPEG quality.

Method 4 — Paint Save As JPEG (Convert PNG to JPEG)

PNG files are lossless and significantly larger than JPEG for photographic images. Converting a PNG photo to JPEG in Paint can reduce file size by 60–80% with no visible quality difference.

1. Open the PNG in Paint (right-click → Open with → Paint)
2. Click File → Save as
3. In the “Save as type” dropdown, select JPEG picture
4. Choose a save location and click Save

Note: do not convert PNGs that contain transparency (logos, icons with transparent backgrounds) — JPEG does not support transparency and the background will become white. For those, use compressimg.pro/compress-png-online to compress the PNG without conversion.

Method 5 — File Explorer “Send to” (Email Quick Resize)

Windows has a built-in email resize shortcut hidden in the right-click context menu. It is the quickest method when you just need to attach a photo to an email and do not care about precise control.

1. Right-click the image file in File Explorer
2. Hover over Send to
3. Click Mail recipient
4. Windows will ask: “Do you want to make all your pictures smaller?” — click Make all my pictures smaller
5. Your email client opens with a resized copy attached

This method requires a desktop email client (Outlook, Windows Mail) to be configured. It outputs at roughly 640×480px — appropriate for email but too small for print or professional use.

How to Batch Compress Multiple Images at Once on Windows

None of the built-in Windows methods support batch compression. If you need to compress multiple images at once, use the batch tool:

1. Go to compressimg.pro/compress-images
2. Upload up to 5 images at once
3. Set quality (80 recommended) and download all compressed files

What File Size Should You Target on Windows?

Related Tools

• Compress image — single image, full quality control
• Batch compress images — up to 5 images at once
• Resize image — reduce pixel dimensions
• PNG to JPG — convert large PNG photos to JPEG
• Compress image for email — target sizes for email attachments

Frequently Asked Questions