How to Resize an Image in Windows 10

To resize an image in Windows 10, right-click it and select Open with > Paint. Select Resize, choose Pixels or Percentage, and type the new size with Maintain aspect ratio checked. Then use File > Save as so the original stays untouched.

Applies to: Windows 10. Checked against Microsoft Learn on September 27, 2026.

Making a picture smaller in pixels also makes its file smaller, which helps with email and upload limits. Making it bigger doesn’t add detail, so enlarged photos can look blurry.

Resize a picture in Paint

1. In File Explorer, right-click the image and select Open with > Paint.
2. On the Home tab, select Resize, or press Ctrl + W. The status bar at the bottom shows the current size in pixels.

3. Choose Pixels to type an exact size, or Percentage to shrink by a share, such as 50.
4. Leave Maintain aspect ratio checked, then type the new Horizontal width. Paint fills in the height for you.
5. Select OK.
6. Select File > Save as, choose JPEG picture or PNG picture, give the file a new name, and select Save.

If you don’t like the result, press Ctrl + Z before you save.

Resize in the Photos app

The Photos app has a quick resize option for making photos smaller. The menu name varies a little between versions.

1. Open the picture in Photos. If it opens in a different app, see how to open JPG files in Windows 10.
2. Select See more (…) at the top, then Resize or Resize image.
3. Pick a preset size or type your own, then save the copy.

Photos saves a new file, so the original is kept.

Resize many pictures at once

Microsoft’s free PowerToys app adds Image Resizer to File Explorer. It works on Windows 10 version 2004 or later.

1. Install PowerToys from the Microsoft Store and make sure Image Resizer is turned on in its settings.
2. In File Explorer, select all the pictures, right-click, and select Resize with Image Resizer (on some versions, Resize pictures).
3. Choose a preset such as Small or Medium, or Custom, then select Resize.

It makes resized copies and leaves the originals alone, unless you check the option to resize the originals.

Make a JPG file smaller

• Lower the pixel size. This saves the most space. For email or the web, a width of about 1,600 to 2,000 pixels is often enough for a photo.
• Save as JPEG, not PNG, for photos. PNG files of photos are often much larger.
• Crop out what you don’t need with Crop in Paint before resizing.

Resize to an exact size, such as a square

Sites often ask for a set size, like 1080 × 1080 pixels for a profile picture. Changing both numbers would stretch the photo, so crop it first:

1. In Paint, choose Select and drag a box with the same shape as the size you need. Paint shows the selection size at the bottom of the window.
2. Select Crop.
3. Select Resize, choose Pixels, and type the exact width. With Maintain aspect ratio checked, the height should match.
4. Save with File > Save as.

If resizing doesn’t go as planned

• Image Resizer is missing from the right-click menu: open PowerToys, make sure Image Resizer is on, then restart your PC.
• The picture looks blurry: it was made bigger, or resized several times. Start again from the original file.
• The file is still too big: lower the width further, or save as JPEG instead of PNG or BMP.
• Paint stretched the picture: press Ctrl + Z to undo, then resize again with Maintain aspect ratio checked.

Frequently asked questions

How do I resize without stretching the picture?

Keep Maintain aspect ratio checked in Paint. If you type both width and height yourself, the picture can look squashed.

Can I make a small picture bigger without losing quality?

Not really. Windows has to invent the extra pixels, so the image looks softer. Start from the largest copy you have.

How do I resize an iPhone photo?

Open it in Photos or Paint first. If it’s a HEIC file that won’t open, see how to open HEIC files in Windows 10. To put resized pictures in one document, see how to convert JPG to PDF on Windows 10.

Does resizing change my original photo?

Not if you use Save as and give the file a new name. If you select Save instead, the original is replaced with the smaller version.

To get photos off your phone first, see how to transfer photos from a phone to a Windows 10 PC.

If your picture is a JFIF file, see how to change JFIF to JPG in Windows 10.

Microsoft’s guide to bulk resizing is Image Resizer utility for Windows. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.

Related: how to view favorite photos on Windows 10.

Related: how to make the eraser bigger in Paint on Windows 11.