Why image compression matters
Compression helps when uploads are blocked by size limits, pages feel heavy, or shared files are larger than necessary. It is often the fastest way to reduce file size without changing dimensions.
Compress Images
Shrink file sizes while keeping the picture usable for web or email. Move the quality slider and check the side-by-side preview before you download.
Source Images Stay Local
85%
Drag & drop your images here
or click to browse, or paste (Ctrl+V)
Supports HEIC, HEIF, WebP, PNG, JPG, AVIF, BMP
How to Compress Images
1
Drag and drop your images into the box above, or click to browse.
2
Adjust the quality slider to control compression level.
3
Click Download to save the compressed images.
Why the output does not always get smaller
Some images are already deeply compressed, use a lossless structure, or contain detail that does not shrink much at the current quality setting. In those cases, a lower quality setting, a different format, or resizing can work better.
When resizing helps more than compression
If the source image is far larger than the display size, reducing dimensions often saves more than quality changes alone. Compression is best when the size problem comes from encoding rather than from excessive resolution.
Known limitations
Before converting, note these constraints:
- Output behavior follows format capabilities (for example transparency support and lossy/lossless rules).
- Final file size depends on source image content and selected quality settings.
- If compatibility is critical, choose broadly supported targets first (typically JPG).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I compress many images at once?
Yes — up to 200 files per run. For very large batches, if the browser slows down, split into smaller groups and download between runs.
How much can I compress my images?
Compression results are source-dependent. Quality 80 is a starting suggestion, not a guaranteed saving or a PicShift benchmark result. Use the comparison view to check size and important details before downloading.
What formats can I compress?
You can compress JPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC, and AVIF images. The output format can be JPG, PNG, WebP, or AVIF.
Why is the output file sometimes larger than the original?
Output can grow when a lossy source is written to lossless PNG, when codec or container overhead dominates a small image, or when the source is already efficiently compressed. Results depend on the image, format, and settings; no fixed saving is guaranteed. PicShift uses MozJPEG, OxiPNG, and libwebp-based workflows, but those implementation choices do not guarantee the smallest possible file. In compress mode, PicShift keeps the original when the generated result is larger. Learn more: https://picshift.app/docs/size-increase-explainer