How to Compress Images on Windows: Every Built-in & Free Method

Updated June 2026 · 6 min read

You don't need Photoshop or a paid app to compress images on Windows. Between built-in tools, free Microsoft utilities, and browser-based compressors, you have at least six solid options — most of them already on your PC.

Fastest method: Compress2PNG.com — drag images onto the browser page, choose format and quality, download. Works on any Windows version, nothing to install. For batch processing, this is the clear winner.

Method 1: Paint (Built-in, Windows 11/10)

Yes, Paint still exists, and it can compress images in a pinch:

Right-click image → Open with → Paint
File → Save as → JPEG picture
That's it. PNG→JPG via Paint typically reduces size by 70-85%

Limitations: No quality slider, no batch processing, no WebP/AVIF support. Single file only. Fine for a quick one-off, painful for anything more.

Method 2: Photos App (Built-in, Windows 11)

Windows 11's Photos app has a hidden resize feature:

Open image in Photos
Click the three dots (···) → Resize image
Choose preset (S/M/L) or custom dimensions
Save as JPG

Limitations: Resize only, no quality slider, no format conversion beyond JPG. Single file.

Method 3: PowerToys Image Resizer (Free, Microsoft)

Microsoft PowerToys is a free utility pack from Microsoft itself. Its Image Resizer tool is the best batch solution available without installing anything third-party:

Install PowerToys from the Microsoft Store (free)
Select multiple images in File Explorer
Right-click → Resize pictures
Choose preset size and format → Apply

Pros: Batch processing, right-click integration, customizable presets (add your own sizes). Cons: Resize only, no quality-percentage control, no WebP/AVIF support, no compression without resizing.

Method 4: Snipping Tool (Built-in, Quick Fix)

Counterintuitive but effective: open a PNG in Snipping Tool, re-save it. The tool always saves as a compressed format, often yielding 50-70% smaller files.

Open the image in Snipping Tool (Win+Shift+S or search)
File → Save as → choose JPEG

Limitations: Very basic. No batch. No quality control.

Method 5: Browser-Based Compressor (Best All-Rounder)

A browser compressor like compress2png.com outperforms every built-in Windows option:

Batch processing: Drag 50 files at once, download as ZIP
Quality control: Slider from 10-100%, real-time preview
Format support: JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF — choose output format
Privacy: All processing local — files never leave your PC
No install: Works in any browser, any Windows version

Method 6: Command Line (For Power Users)

If you're comfortable with the command line, ImageMagick is the most powerful free option:

magick mogrify -quality 80% -resize 1920x *.jpg

This single command resizes all JPGs in the current folder to 1920px wide and compresses to 80% quality. Install via winget install ImageMagick.ImageMagick.

Method Comparison

Method	Batch	Quality Control	WebP/AVIF	Best For
Paint	❌	❌	❌	Emergency one-off
Photos App	❌	⚠️ Resize	❌	Quick resize
PowerToys	✅	⚠️ Size	❌	Batch resize
Browser Compressor	✅ ZIP	✅ Full	✅	Daily driver
Command Line	✅ Script	✅ Full	✅	Automation

My Go-To on Windows

For one-off compression, use a browser tool like Compress2PNG — no install, works instantly. For batch desktop work, install PowerToys (free from Microsoft). For automation, ImageMagick on the command line. You never need to pay for image compression on Windows.

Written by Maria Rodriguez — DevOps Engineer. optimizing web infrastructure for 8 years. Built Compress2PNG after one too many image pipeline audits. More about me →