Skip to main content
    Step 1 of 5
    Essential Skills
    Beginner
    3 min read 5 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026

    How to Reduce Photo Size Before Sending by Email or Text

    Large photos can be too big to email or take forever to send. Here is how to shrink them on iPhone, Android, or a computer without losing too much quality.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Essential Skills
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    3 min read
    Steps
    5
    Topics covered
    compress photos
    reduce file size
    email photos
    send photos
    image size
    large file

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.Use iPhone's built-in size chooser when emailing
    2. 2.Resize photos on Android with Files by Google
    3. 3.Compress on a computer using Squoosh (free, web-based)
    4. 4.Use Windows Photos app to resize
    5. 5.Send via Google Drive for large batches
    1

    Use iPhone's built-in size chooser when emailing

    ~30s
    Open the Photos app → select the photos you want to send. Tap the share icon → "Mail." The Mail app opens with the photos attached. Tap "Send" → before it sends, a popup asks you to choose a size: Small, Medium, Large, or Actual Size. Choose "Small" (for quick sharing) or "Medium" (good balance of quality and size). Tap that size to send.

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: "Small" sends photos at about 200 KB each — good enough for family sharing and saves a lot of data. "Actual Size" sends the full original.

    2

    Resize photos on Android with Files by Google

    ~19s
    Open Files by Google → go to "Images" to see all your photos. Tap any photo to open it → tap the three dots → "Compress." Choose a quality setting. The app saves a compressed copy of the photo to your Downloads folder. Attach that compressed copy to your email instead of the original.
    3

    Compress on a computer using Squoosh (free, web-based)

    ~28s
    On any computer, go to squoosh.app in your web browser. Drag a photo onto the page or click "Open image" to upload it. On the right side, you can see a preview and adjust the quality setting. Drag the quality slider left to reduce file size — watch the estimated file size in the corner. Click "Download" to save the compressed image.

    Quick Tip

    Squoosh works without any account or software installation. It processes images in your browser. Good for a quick one-time compress.

    4

    Use Windows Photos app to resize

    ~17s
    On Windows, right-click any image file → "Open with" → "Photos." Click the three dots (...) menu at the top right → "Resize." Choose a smaller size preset (like "S" or "M") or enter custom dimensions. Click "Save resized copy." A new smaller file is saved alongside the original.
    5

    Send via Google Drive for large batches

    ~18s
    If you need to send many photos without worrying about size, upload them to Google Drive → right-click the folder → "Get Link" → set to "Anyone with link can view" → copy and send the link. The recipient downloads at whatever quality they want. No compression, no size limits.

    You Did It!

    You've finished reading: How to Reduce Photo Size Before Sending by Email or Text

    How well did this guide stick with you?

    Need more help? Book a TekSure tech

    Modern smartphone photos are high resolution and can be 4–12 MB each. Emailing multiple photos at once can quickly exceed email attachment limits (usually 25 MB for Gmail, 10 MB for some older services). Large images also take a long time to send and receive on slow connections.

    Compressing or resizing photos before sending makes them smaller — faster to send and easier for the recipient to receive. A compressed photo suitable for emailing is usually 200 KB to 1 MB, compared to 4–12 MB for the original.

    The easiest method on iPhone

    : When you share photos via email directly from the Photos app, iPhone offers size options — Small, Medium, Large, or Actual Size. Choose "Medium" or "Small" for most emails.

    For more control

    : Use a free app like Compress Photos & Picture Compress (iPhone) or Files by Google (Android, which includes basic image options).

    On a computer

    : Windows Paint or the free Squoosh.app (web-based, no download needed) can reduce image size quickly.

    When NOT to compress

    : If you are sending photos to a professional (photographer, designer, doctor reviewing medical images) or printing large prints, send the full-size original.

    Rate this guide

    How helpful was this guide?

    compress photos
    reduce file size
    email photos
    send photos
    image size
    large file

    Official Resources

    GCFGlobal — Free Digital SkillsAARP Technology TipsSenior Planet

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

    ← Previous

    How to Fill Out and Sign a PDF on Your iPhone

    Next →

    How to Add and Manage Contacts on Your iPhone

    Still stuck? Let a pro handle it.

    A real person can walk you through this over the phone, anywhere in the US. If we can't fix it, you don't pay.

    Book a Verified Tech How It Works

    Related Guides

    How to Create a Strong Password

    Learn the rules for creating passwords that are nearly impossible to crack.

    1 min read

    How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication on Any Account

    Add an extra layer of security to your online accounts with 2FA — a must for everyone.

    2 min read

    How to Identify Phishing Emails

    Spot fake emails designed to steal your personal information before you fall for them.

    2 min read