Reduce Picture File Size in Office Documents

There are times you may need to reduce the data file size of an Office document for storage, sending via email, or storing in the cloud.  One way to reduce file sizes is to reduce picture sizes.  

Compress or change the resolution of a picture

When you do not need every single pixel in an image to get an acceptable version of it, you can compress pictures to make the file size smaller.

1. With your file open in your Microsoft Office application, select the picture or pictures that you want to compress.

2. Under Picture Tools, on the Format tab, in the Adjust group, click Compress Pictures.

   

   If you do not see the Picture Tools - Format tab, make sure that you selected a picture. You may have to double-click the picture to select it and open the Format tab.

   Also, depending on your screen size, you might only see the icons for the Adjust group. The Compress Pictures button appears without a label.
   

3. To compress the selected pictures only and not all of the pictures in the document, select the Apply only to this picture check box.

   Clearing the Apply only to this picture checkbox will override any previous changes you have made for other individual pictures in this document.

4. Under Resolution, click the resolution that you want, then click OK.