This wikiHow teaches you how to compress photos so they don't take up too much space on your hard drive. Usually, you'll need to compress photos before emailing them or uploading them to a website. You can compress photos on Windows and Mac computers using free websites, or through the computer's built-in Photos app to make the photo file size smaller. Keep in mind that you can't compress photos while preserving their original quality.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Compressing Photos Online
Step 1. Open the Image Compressor website
Visit https://imagecompressor.com/ through your computer's web browser. This site allows you to compress up to 20 photos at a time. You can also set the compression level of each photo.
Step 2. Click UPLOAD FILES
It's a bluish-green button at the top of the page. Once clicked, a File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) window will appear.
Step 3. Select the photos you want to upload
Go to the directory where the photos you need to compress are stored, then hold down Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) while clicking each photo you want to upload.
You can upload a maximum of 20 photos at once
Step 4. Click Open
It's in the lower-right corner of the window. After that, the photos will be uploaded to the Image Compressor site.
Step 5. Select a photo
Click on a photo in the inset list on the website to select it.
Step 6. Adjust the compression level of the photo
Swipe to see the uncompressed version on the left side of the screen compared to the compressed version on the right. After that, drag the " Quality " slider up or down on the right side of the page to decrease or increase the compression of the photo.
You can see the change in photo quality on the right side of the screen based on the selected compression level, a few seconds after the quality is adjusted
Step 7. Click APPLY
It's below the "Quality" slider. After that, compression will be applied to the photo.
Step 8. Adjust the compression level of another photo if necessary
Image Compressor will apply a certain level of compression to each photo based on their respective sizes. However, you can apply your own level of compression to each photo by selecting the photo, dragging the " Quality " slider up or down, and clicking “ APPLY ”.
Step 9. Click DOWNLOAD ALL
It's below the list of photos, at the top of the page. After that, all the compressed photos will be packaged in a single ZIP folder, and the folder will be downloaded to your computer.
Step 10. Extract the downloaded ZIP folder
To see the actual size of a post-extracted photo, you need to open or extract the photo from the ZIP folder first. Open the ZIP folder's storage directory, then follow these steps:
- Windows - Double click the ZIP folder, select “ Extract ” at the top of the folder, click “ Extract all, and select " Extract ” when prompted.
- Mac - Double-click the ZIP folder, then wait for the file extraction process to complete.
Method 2 of 3: On Windows Computer
Step 1. Locate the photos that need to be compressed
Go to the photo storage folder you want to use.
Step 2. Open the photo in the Photos program
If Photos is selected as the main program for reviewing photos, simply double-click the photo to open it in that program.
If Photos is not set as your computer's primary photo-viewing program, right-click the photo, select " Open with, and click " Photos ” on the pop-out menu.
Step 3. Click
It's in the upper-right corner of the Photos window. A drop-down menu will load afterwards.
Step 4. Click Resize
This option is in the drop-down menu. After that, a pop-up window will be opened.
If you don't see the option " Resize ” in the menu, photos cannot be compressed any further using the Photos program. Try using the Image Compressor website.
Step 5. Choose a size
Click one of the font sizes (eg. " S ” for " small " M ” for "medium" in the pop-up window. Once clicked, the "Save As" window will load.
You can only select a font that is smaller than the current photo size. Therefore, the option " S ” may be the only option available.
Step 6. Enter a file name
Type any name for the compressed version of the photo in the " File name " field.
It's a good idea not to replace the original (uncompressed) photo with a compressed photo. Therefore, choose a different name from the original file name
Step 7. Select the location to save the photo
Click a folder location in the left sidebar to select the directory where the compressed photo files are stored.
Step 8. Click Save
It's in the lower-right corner of the window. The compressed photos will be saved to the selected directory.
Method 3 of 3: On a Mac Komputer
Step 1. Locate the photos that need to be compressed
Go to the photo storage directory you want to use.
Step 2. Select a photo
Click the photo you want to compress to select it.
Step 3. Click File
It's in the top-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear after that.
Step 4. Select Open With
This option is in the drop-down menu “ File Once selected, a pop-out menu will be displayed.
Step 5. Click Preview
It's in the pop-out menu. The photo will open in the Preview program.
Step 6. Click File
It's in the top-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will load afterwards.
Step 7. Click Export…
This option is in the drop-down menu “ File After that, a new window will open.
Step 8. Enter a file name
In the " Name " field at the top of the window, type any name for the compressed photo file.
By default, the compressed photo has the same name as the uncompressed version
Step 9. Choose a save location
Click the " Where " drop-down box, then click the folder where the compressed photo file (eg “ Desktop ”).
Step 10. Convert the image into JPEG format if necessary
If the box to the right of the “Format” heading shows options other than “ JPEG, click the box, then select JPEG ” in the drop-down menu.
Step 11. Adjust the compression quality
Click and drag the " Quality " slider towards the left to lower the image quality.
Step 12. Click Save
It's in the lower-right corner of the window. The image will be copied, compressed, and saved to the folder you specified from the " Where " drop-down menu.
