How to Compress an Image to Shrink Your Photos

Ever tried sending a PowerPoint file only to be hit with the dreaded file too large error? Been there, done that. Whether it’s for a school project, a client pitch, or a team update, oversized presentations can be a real pain. I remember once trying to email a deck for a group assignment, only to realize it was over 100MB, and thanks to all the high-res images we’d proudly inserted. Lesson learned: compressing images in PowerPoint is not just helpful, it’s essential.

That is what this guide will tell: how to compress images in PowerPoint. Whether you're prepping for a client presentation, submitting work online, sharing slides on mobile, or collaborating with teammates, this page has got you covered.

GUIDE LIST

Part 1: How to Compress Pictures in PowerPoint

Part 2: Best PowerPoint Image Compressor Alternative

Part 3: Which Method Is Better

Part 4: Tips to Keep Your PowerPoint Lightweight

Part 5: FAQs

Part 1: How to Compress Pictures in PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint actually has a built-in feature to reduce file size. It’s like a hidden gem that not everyone knows about, but it can make a huge difference.

Here’s how you do it:

First things first, open up your PowerPoint. Then head over to the Insert tab at the top (you’ll see it in the ribbon). Click on Pictures to import the image you want to reduce the file size from your device or online picture.

Note: If you want to handle the images of the PowerPoint, just click on any image in your slide. You’ll see the Picture Format tab pop up in the ribbon.

In the Adjust group, click on Compress Pictures.

Then you need to choose your options:

Uncheck Apply only to this picture if you want to compress all images in the presentation.

Besides, you can select Delete cropped areas of pictures to remove unused data.

For the image resolution, you can choose:

• Email (96 ppi): Great for sharing via email.

• Web (150 ppi): Ideal for online viewing.

• Print (220 ppi): Good for printed handouts.

• HD (330 ppi): Best for high-quality visuals.

Besides, you may notice that there is one option of Delete Cropped Areas of Pictures. When you crop an image in PowerPoint, the software doesn’t actually throw away the cropped-out parts. Instead, it just hides them. This means the entire original image (even the invisible parts) is still stored inside your presentation file. That’s why sometimes your PPT is way bigger than you expect, even though you’ve cut down images.

If you enable Delete cropped areas of pictures, PowerPoint permanently removes those hidden parts and only keeps what’s visible. As a result, your PowerPoint presentation file will be thinner than before. Like this, PowerPoint also have the video resizer feature, which lets you crop a video on PowerPoint easily.

That’s it! Your images are now compressed, and your file size should be noticeably smaller. Now, when you send the PowerPoint presentations to others, the total file size will be smaller than before.

If you only want to keep these compressed images on your device, instead of PowerPoint presentations, you need to select the picture, and right-click your mouse to select Save as Picture. Save all the pictures one by one.

Tip: If you’re working on a group project, make sure everyone compresses their images before adding them to the shared deck. It saves time and avoids last-minute panic.

Part 2: Best PowerPoint Image Compressor Alternative

While PowerPoint’s tool works fine, sometimes you want a bit more control, or you’re dealing with multiple images before inserting them into slides. That’s where ArkThinker Image Compressor Online comes in.

It’s a free online tool that compresses images (JPEG, PNG, and more) while keeping quality high. You don’t need to install anything, and just drag, drop, and download.

Key Features

•Batch Compression: Upload multiple images at once.

•Custom Quality Options: Balance file size and clarity.

•Fast and Free: No sign-up required.

•Supports Multiple Formats: Works with common image types.

How are the steps of using it:

Then you need to choose your options:

ArkThinker Image Compressor Online. No downloads, no fuss, and it works right from the web.

Click the Add Files to Start button, or if you're feeling fancy, just drag and drop your JPG or PNG files into the upload box.

You can toss in up to 40 images at once, as long as each one is under 5MB. Super convenient for batch jobs!

No need to click anything else, and the compression starts automatically.

Once it’s done, you’ve got options:

• Download each image one by one

• Or hit Download All to grab everything in a neat ZIP file

Tip: I recommend compressing large batches of images here before adding them to PowerPoint. It keeps the presentation small right from the start.

Part 3: Which Method Is Better

I actually tested both methods on the same presentation with 10 high-resolution product photos (each around 5 MB, and PNG). Here’s how they stacked up:

From my test, ArkThinker Image Compressor Online saved more space and was quicker since I could process images all at once. But if you’re already in PowerPoint, the built-in tool is a convenient one-click fix.

Part 4: Tips to Keep Your PowerPoint Lightweight

Beyond compressing, here are some tricks I’ve picked up to prevent file size overload:

Use Proper Image Formats

• JPEG is best for photos - it keeps size small with decent quality.

• PNG is great for logos or images needing transparency, but avoid using it everywhere since it’s usually larger.

• Skip formats like BMP or TIFF - they make your file unnecessarily huge. If you want to compress BMP, you can convert BMP to JPG first, and then make the image compression.

Resize Before Uploading

If your image is 4000 × 3000 pixels but you’re only showing it in a small box, resize it with an image editor first. No need to store extra pixels you’ll never see.

Avoid Copy-Pasting from Web

When you copy images directly from a browser, they sometimes carry hidden formatting that bloats your presentation. Always save the file to your computer and insert it instead.

Stick to Standard Fonts and Elements

Using lots of custom fonts, shapes, or embedded objects can add bulk.

Don’t Overload with Animations

Fancy animations and transitions don’t add much value but can increase file size.
Keep it simple, and your audience will thank you.

Tip: Check your final file size before sharing. Under 20 MB is usually safe for email; anything larger may trigger errors or rejections.

Part 5: FAQs

Conclusion