How to Compress Images in Windows 11 for Sharing

Why Compress Images?

Shrinking a photo trims its footprint down to a fraction of the original size. Photos zip through email attachments much faster and leave more breathing room on your solid-state drive.

What’s New in 🪟 Windows 11?

Windows 11 includes a built-in way to compress images directly inside the sharing menu so you can reduce file sizes before sending them. This feature lets you pick between High, Medium, or Low quality settings to make picture files smaller for email and messaging. You need Windows 11 build 26120.4151 or newer, and you may need to turn on the hidden tool using a free utility called ViVeTool if it is not visible yet.

This feature requires Windows 11 build 26120.4151 (an Insider preview version) or newer. To unlock the hidden feature, download a free open-source utility called ViVeTool.

Step 1Enable the Compression Feature with ViVeTool

ViVeTool is a free open-source program you need to download if you want to turn on the hidden image compression settings in Windows 11. You must run a specific command in Windows Terminal with administrator privileges to activate the quality toggle before you can start reducing your photo file sizes. Make sure you download the ⬇️ correct version of the tool and run the command carefully to avoid system errors.

1. Download and learn how to use ViVeTool here: How to enable hidden features with ViVeTool
2. 🔒 ADMIN REQUIRED: Open the Windows Terminal app as an administrator. Click the Start button ⊞ and type “Windows Terminal.” Right-click the result and choose Run as administrator. Need help? Check here: Open Windows Terminal as admin
3. In the terminal, type this command and press Enter:
   
   vivetool /enable /id:55390938
4. Restart your 🔄 computer to apply the change.

If not, wait for Microsoft to roll out the feature in a future public update.

Step 2Compress Images When Sharing

You can compress images right when you share them in Windows 11 by right-clicking your photo and opening the share menu. This lets you choose between High, Medium, or Low quality options to shrink the picture file before sending it to someone else. This quick step helps you avoid sending massive files through email or chat apps without needing a separate photo editor.

1. Find the image file you want to share (like a photo or screenshot).
2. Right-click on the image file.
3. Choose Share from the menu.
4. In the sharing window, click on More options (usually a dropdown menu).
5. Pick the quality you want: Original (no compression), High, Medium, or Low.

Selecting Medium or Low cuts down file weight substantially. Leaner files transmit faster and conserve disk space.

Summary

• Windows 11 lets you pick image quality when sharing pictures to control file size.
• You can choose from High, Medium, or Low compression levels.
• Use ViVeTool and a simple command to enable this feature if you don't see it yet.
• Compressing images helps you share pictures faster and saves storage space.

Windows 11 lets you compress images directly through the sharing menu by choosing between High, Medium, or Low quality levels to reduce file sizes. This built-in option helps you send pictures faster and save storage space without installing extra software. If the feature is hidden on your computer, you can easily turn it on using ViVeTool and a quick command in Windows Terminal.