How to Reduce Excel File Size with Pictures (2 Easy Ways)

To reduce file size and improve performance, it’s always recommended to compress images in Excel files. Here are 2 methods to do so.

Method 1 – Using Picture Format Tool to Reduce Excel File Size with Pictures

STEPS:

Go to the Insert tab.
Select the Illustrations command.
Click on the Pictures option.
Insert an image using the Insert Picture From option.

Navigate to the File tab.

Click on the Save option.
Select the Info option and you will see the actual file size, here 124 KB.

Click on the inserted picture.
Open the Picture Format tool.
Click on the Adjust command.

The Compress Pictures window will open.

From the Compression Options, choose the Delete cropped areas of pictures option.
Under Resolution, click on E-mail (96 ppi): minimize document size for sharing.
Click on OK.

Save the workbook.
Select the Info option.

The outcome is a reduced Excel file size of 53.8 KB.

Method 2 – Applying VBA Code to Reduce Excel File Size with Pictures

We can also create a VBA macro to compress pictures.

STEPS:

Go to the Developer tab.
Select the Visual Basic command.

The Visual Basic window will open.

From the Insert option, click on Module to open a Module window.

Paste the following VBA code into the Module.
Click the Run button or press F5 to run the code.

Sub Reduced_Picture_Size()
'Declaring variables
    Dim Mysheet As Worksheet
' Setting worksheet as VBA Code
    Set Mysheet = Worksheets("VBA Code")
    Mysheet.Activate
   Mysheet.Shapes(1).Select
' Compressed picture using commnad
    SendKeys "%e", True
    SendKeys "~", True
    Application.CommandBars.ExecuteMso "PicturesCompress"
End Sub

VBA Code Breakdown

We name our Sub Procedure as Reduced_Picture_Size().
We declare our variable Dim Mysheet as Worksheet.
We set our worksheet name as VBA Code using Set Mysheet= Worksheets(“VBA Code”).
We compress our pictures using Application.CommandBars.ExecuteMso “PicturesCompress”.