Image guide

How to Compress Images Before Uploading

Reduce image file size for websites, email, forms, and marketplaces while keeping the image usable.

Use the related tool Reduce image file size by adjusting quality and exporting a smaller image from your browser.

Quick answer

Large images slow down pages and can fail upload limits. Compressing an image lowers file size by changing quality, format, or both while keeping the dimensions useful for the task.

Bottom line Compress images enough to meet upload or page-speed needs, but not so much that text, product details, or faces become unclear.

Real-world example

Example: a form rejects a 7 MB photo because the limit is 2 MB. Compress the image as JPG or WebP, download it, and inspect the important details before uploading again.

Step-by-step

Open the image compressor.
Choose the image file.
Select JPG or WebP output.
Set a quality level.
Download and inspect the compressed image.

When to compress images

Compress images before uploading to websites, sending email attachments, submitting forms, listing products, or adding screenshots to documents.

Quality tradeoffs

Lower quality usually means smaller files, but too much compression can create visible artifacts. For photos, start around 70 to 85 percent and check the result.

JPG vs WebP

JPG is widely compatible and good for photos. WebP can be smaller for web use, but check whether the site or app you are uploading to accepts it.

Check the final file

After compression, open the output image at normal viewing size. Confirm text, faces, product details, or important edges still look clear.

Checklist before you finish

The output file is below the upload limit.
Important text or product details remain readable.
The format is accepted by the target site.
The image dimensions still fit the layout.
The original file is kept until the compressed version is approved.

Common mistakes to avoid

Using very low quality for images with small text.
Choosing WebP when the upload form only accepts JPG or PNG.
Compressing repeatedly from an already compressed file.
Ignoring dimensions when file size is not the only issue.

Which option should you use?

Option	What it does	Best for
Compress	Reduce file size by changing quality or format.	Meeting upload limits.
Resize	Change pixel width and height.	Fitting a layout or profile image.
Convert	Change file format.	Creating WebP or JPG versions.

Important note

Use these guides for ordinary productivity and work tasks. For sensitive legal, medical, financial, confidential, or regulated documents, follow your organization's security rules and verify results before sharing.