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How to Compress Images on Windows: 3 Methods

Compress images on Windows with GetCompress, Photos, or FFmpeg. Resize JPG and PNG, convert WebP, and keep sharp UI for email or web.

By Petr Samokhin

Large PNG exports and camera JPEG files add up fast. Upload forms fail and project folders swell with assets nobody views at full resolution. You usually need smaller dimensions, a better format match, or both.

Three solid routes cover most Windows jobs: GetCompress for mixed folders and presets, Photos or Paint for a few shots, and FFmpeg when you want scripts.

Method 1: GetCompress

Best for: Folders of PNG, JPEG, and WebP with the same max width and quality every week.

GetCompress image settings with format, quality, and max size options
  1. Open GetCompress and drop images or a folder into the queue.
  2. Set max width (for example 1920 px for web images), output format, and quality (for example High or Medium).
  3. Preview a sharp UI screenshot if text must stay crisp.
  4. Export copies; keep the masters untouched.

Save a preset such as “web JPEG 1920px” so next time the same job takes a few clicks. Processing stays on your PC. Image compression does not use an exact megabyte target file size; that control is video-only.

Method 2: Photos or Paint

Best for: One image or a small set when you do not need a saved preset.

Photos (Windows 11):

  1. Open the image.
  2. … → Resize image, pick a width, and save a copy.

Paint: open the file, choose Resize, set pixels or percentage, then Save as JPEG or PNG. Available on every Windows PC.

Save a copy instead of overwriting when the source might return to a design tool. When WebP sources appear, convert for email first: WebP to JPG on Windows .

Limitation: Slow for thirty mockups. No reusable preset across mixed formats.

Method 3: FFmpeg and oxipng

Best for: Simple batch resize when you already use PowerShell.

Install FFmpeg with winget if needed:

winget install --id Gyan.FFmpeg -e
mkdir out
Get-ChildItem *.jpg | ForEach-Object {
 ffmpeg -i $_.Name -vf scale=1920:-2 -q:v 3 "out\$($_.BaseName).jpg"
}

PNG to JPEG:

ffmpeg -i screenshot.png -q:v 3 screenshot.jpg

For PNG that must stay PNG, resize first, then optional lossless recompression:

winget install oxipng
oxipng -o 4 --strip safe screenshot.png

Limitation: Command-heavy, no built-in preview, and mixed folders still need scripting.

Which method should you use

SituationStart here
Mixed folder, recurring preset, or previewGetCompress
One or a few shotsPhotos or Paint
Scripted resize you already ownFFmpeg / oxipng

If the portal wants JPEG but you only have PNG mockups, convert before or while you resize: PNG to JPG on Windows .

Format and display-size basics

FormatGood forWatch out for
JPEGPhotos, email, uploadsNo transparency; artifacts on sharp UI
PNGScreenshots, UI, alphaLarge at full monitor resolution
WebPWebsites (with a fallback)Design tools often export PNG first
AVIFModern web delivery (with a fallback)Keep JPEG fallback in markup

Export at the pixel width the image will actually show. A 4000 px PNG in an 800 px column still downloads like a poster. Resize first, then tune quality. For email, 600 to 800 px wide is often enough; for a 960 px CSS hero, about 1920 px wide covers high-DPI screens.

When Photos is enough

Photos or Paint can finish one file when resize and save clear the limit.

GetCompress also works well for that job. It also covers mixed formats, the same width often, folder monitoring on an export directory, or batches you do not want to open one by one. It does not replace a design tool. For disk cleanup across photos, video, and PDF, see reduce file size on Windows .

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