How to use it
- Drop an image into the box above.
- Drag the compression slider — the size readout updates live.
- Press Download when the balance looks right.
~/lokafile / optimize / compress-image
Compress Image
Reduce image file size while keeping it sharp. Drag the slider and watch the size drop in real time — on your device.
Drop an image here, or click to choose
JPG · PNG · WebP
How to reduce an image’s file size
- Add your image. Drag it onto the box above, or click to choose it. JPG, PNG and WebP all work.
- Drag the quality slider. The readout shows the exact output size — and how much smaller it is — as you move it.
- Check the preview. What you see is exactly what downloads, so judge the quality with your own eyes.
- Download. The compressed JPG saves straight to your device.
The compression runs in your browser, so the image never leaves your machine — no upload wait, no queue, no limit on how many images you run through it.
File size and pixel size are different things
An image has two “sizes”, and mixing them up is the most common reason a file refuses to shrink. File size is the weight in KB or MB — what email limits and upload forms care about. Pixel size is the width and height — what determines how large it displays. This page reduces the file size and leaves the dimensions alone; the resize tool does the opposite. A 4000-pixel-wide phone photo destined for a chat message benefits from both: resize it down first, then compress — that combination produces a far smaller file than either step alone.
Choosing a quality level
| Quality | Looks like | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| 85–100% | Near-original, modest savings | When quality matters more than size |
| 70–85% | The sweet spot — much smaller, no visible change | Most uses — web, email, uploads |
| 50–70% | Small files, slight softness up close | Casual sharing, thumbnails |
| Under 50% | Visible blockiness around edges | Only when a hard size limit demands it |
Hitting a target size
Upload forms and email attachments often set hard caps — “max 1 MB”, “under 200 KB”. Because the size readout updates live, you can drag the slider until the number dips below the limit rather than guessing and re-exporting. If even low quality won’t reach the target, the image has too many pixels for the job — resize it down first and the same quality setting will land far smaller. The reducing image size guide walks through the full decision in order.
When compressing makes files bigger
It genuinely happens, and this tool tells you rather than hiding it — the readout reports “larger” whenever the output beats the original. The usual cause is a screenshot, logo or flat-color graphic: JPG was built for the smooth gradients of photographs, and sharp-edged graphics both look worse and often weigh more after conversion. When the readout says larger, keep the original. And if what you actually want is a format change with control over the transparency fill, the PNG to JPG tool is built for exactly that.
Compressing several images
This page handles one image at a time so the preview stays honest. For a folder of them, the Lokafile browser extension compresses in batches with the same on-device processing.
In your toolbar
Prefer it in your toolbar? Same tools as a free browser extension — no permissions, no uploads.
Questions people ask
Is my file uploaded to a server?
No. Every other online converter uploads your file to a server. Lokafile never uploads anything — the work happens in your browser, so your file physically never leaves your device.
Do I need to sign up or pay?
No account, no payment, no watermark, no CAPTCHA before download. Free.
Does it work offline?
Yes — once loaded, you can disconnect and it still works. You can even install Lokafile as an app.
Is there a file size limit?
No artificial cap. The only limit is your device’s memory.
How do I reduce an image’s file size online for free?
Drop the image into the box above, drag the quality slider until the size readout shows what you need, then press Download. It runs in your browser on your own device — no upload, no account, no watermark and no daily limit.
Will compression make my image blurry?
At 70–80% quality, differences are invisible for most photos. Below 50% you may see blocky artifacts — the live preview shows exactly what you’ll get.
Can I compress an image to a specific size, like under 100 KB?
Yes — the readout shows the exact output size as you drag the slider, so lower the quality until it dips below your target. If it won’t get there at a quality you’re happy with, reduce the pixel dimensions first, then compress.
Should I compress or resize?
They change different things. Compressing shrinks the file size in KB or MB while keeping the same width and height; resizing changes the dimensions in pixels. For a large photo, doing both — resize down, then compress — gives the smallest file.
What format does the compressed image come out as?
JPG, whatever you put in — that’s where the big savings on photos come from. Transparent areas become white, because JPG has no transparency; if you want to choose the fill color instead, the PNG to JPG tool does that.