How to Reduce Powerpoint File Size

This updated guide examines How to Reduce Powerpoint File Size and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Method 1

Compressing Images on Windows

1. Double-click an image. Doing so will open the Format tab at the top of the PowerPoint window.
   • If your PowerPoint file isn't yet open, first open it by double-clicking it.
   • It doesn't matter which picture you double-click, since all of them will open the appropriate tab.
2. ClickCompress Pictures. This option is just below the Transitions tab. Clicking it will invoke a pop-up window.
3. Uncheck the "Apply only to this picture" box. It's the first option at the top of the Compress Pictures window. Disabling this option will ensure that all pictures in your presentation are compressed.^{[1]XResearch source}
4. Click theE-mail (96 ppi)option. This option is near the bottom of the Compress Pictures window.
5. ClickOK. Doing so will apply the compression settings to all images in your PowerPoint file, thereby reducing its overall size.

Method 2

Compressing Images on Mac

1. ClickFile. This menu item is in the far-left corner of your Mac's menu bar at the top of the screen.^{[2]XResearch source}
   • If your PowerPoint file isn't yet open, first open it by double-clicking it.
2. ClickReduce File Size. It's toward the bottom of the drop-down menu.
3. ClickPicture Quality. Doing so will invoke a drop-down menu.
4. ClickBest for sending in e-mail. This option will reduce the quality of all images in your PowerPoint file to 96 ppi, which is a generally lower resolution than most images' defaults.
5. Click theDelete cropped areas out of picturesbox. Doing so will ensure that any unused data will be removed from your presentation.
6. Check theAll pictures in this filebox. This option applies your changes to every image in the presentation.
7. ClickOK. This will drastically lower your PowerPoint file's size.

Method 3

Removing Edit Data on Windows

1. Click theFiletab. It's on the far-left side of the PowerPoint window's top row of options.
   • If your PowerPoint file isn't yet open, first open it by double-clicking it.
2. ClickOptions. This tab is at the bottom of the list of options on the left side of the window.
3. ClickAdvanced. You'll see this option near the middle of the left-hand column of options.
4. Check theDiscard editing databox. It's below the "Image Size and Quality" heading, which is about halfway down the window. This option removes excess information from your PowerPoint presentation.
5. ClickOK. This button is at the bottom of the window.
6. Click the "Save" icon. It's the square in the top-left corner of the screen. Doing so will save your changes and apply the "discard editing data" changes to your presentation, which may lower the overall file size.