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Export Smaller Photos From the Photos App on Mac
Select the photos, choose File > Export > Export Photos, then set Photo Kind to JPEG, lower JPEG Quality, and choose a smaller Size. Do not pick Export Unmodified Original: that gives you the full-size file. The Photos library itself does not shrink.
How do I export smaller photos from the Photos app?
- In Photos, select one or more photos (Cmd-A selects the whole album you are in).
- Choose File > Export > Export [n] Photos.
- Set Photo Kind to JPEG.
- Set JPEG Quality to a lower step.
- Set Size to a smaller step. Full Size keeps every pixel.
- Click Export, pick a folder, and click Export again.
Menu labels can shift a little between macOS versions, so read the dialog you see. The result is new files in the folder you chose. Your library stays as it was.
What do the Photos export settings do?
| Setting | Effect on file size |
|---|---|
| Photo Kind: JPEG, TIFF or PNG | JPEG is the smallest of the three for photos. TIFF and PNG are lossless and far bigger. |
| JPEG Quality | Lower steps make smaller, softer files. |
| Size | Fewer pixels, the biggest lever. Full Size keeps the original dimensions. |
| Location Information | Tick to include GPS, clear to leave it out. A privacy setting, not a size one. |
| Export Unmodified Original | Gives the camera file, often HEIC, with no resize or quality change. |
We measured the effect of pixel count on a synthetic photo: 5.2 MB at 4032 px dropped to 362 KB with the long edge at 1600 px, and to 158 KB at 1024 px. The Photos Size steps work on the same principle, though we did not measure Photos itself and its steps are not documented in pixels here.
Which Size step should I choose?
Match the size to where the photo is going. For a screen, such as email, chat, a forum or a listing, about 1600 pixels on the long edge is plenty, so choose a mid-range step and look at the exported file in Preview (Cmd-I shows its pixel dimensions). For print, keep Full Size and a high JPEG Quality, because printing needs the pixels. If you are unsure, export one photo at two settings and compare them before you run the whole album. A two-minute test saves re-exporting hundreds of files.
Also check the filename scheme before exporting. Photos can name files by title or sequence, and a subfolder format keeps exports from different albums apart.
Is exporting HEIC as JPEG making my files bigger?
Often yes. HEIC stores the same picture in fewer bytes than JPEG. In our test, a HEIC copy of the test photo was 3.0 MB against 5.2 MB for the JPEG. So exporting an iPhone HEIC to JPEG at high quality can double the size, and Export Unmodified Original keeps the small HEIC. That is the right choice if you only need to move the files and the other side opens HEIC. If it does not, export JPEG at a lower quality and a smaller size to claw the size back.
Our HEIC to JPG on Mac and why iPhone photos are HEIC guides cover the format.
Will exporting smaller photos free up space in my library?
No. Export makes copies. The originals stay in the library, so total disk use goes up until you delete something. To actually free space you need to delete photos from the library, or turn on iCloud Photos and Optimize Mac Storage. Treat export as a way to make files for sharing, not a clean-up tool.
How do I shrink a whole export folder afterwards?
Export once with Export Unmodified Original, then shrink the folder in one pass. With the built-in tool:
mkdir -p small
for f in *.jpg; do sips -Z 1600 -s format jpeg -s formatOptions 60 "$f" --out "small/$f"; doneThat runs on the exported copies and leaves them untouched. The sips command guide lists the options, and compress images on Mac: methods compared shows the alternatives side by side.
When is Smol the wrong tool for this?
For a handful of photos, the Photos export dialog is enough, and it is free. You do not need another app.
Smol earns its $29 (once, one Mac) when you export hundreds of photos, or mixed HEIC and JPEG, and want them small in one go: drop the export folder in, choose a quality and a maximum size, and get a smaller copy of each beside the original. We compressed our 5.2 MB test photo to 120 KB at 1600 px and quality 75. It is a synthetic image, so your results will differ. By default Smol strips location data, and it resizes to fit inside 2000 x 2000 px unless you change that. Nothing is uploaded. See /buy or the best image compressor for Mac roundup.
How we checked this
Measured sips resizes and a HEIC re-save of a synthetic 4032 x 3024 JPEG on macOS 27.0.1, and ran Smol 1.0.35. The Photos export dialog itself was not driven; its options are described from the app. Facts last checked . We make Smol, so treat our claims about it with the same care as any vendor’s, and see our editorial policy.
Photos export: common questions
How do I reduce the file size of photos in the Photos app on Mac?
Export copies with File > Export > Export Photos, choose JPEG, lower JPEG Quality and pick a smaller Size. The library is not changed. If you need an even smaller file, run the exported copies through a resize tool afterward.
Which Photos export setting makes the biggest difference?
Size, because it cuts pixels, and file size follows pixel count closely. Lowering JPEG Quality helps next, with a smaller effect and some visible softness. Choosing JPEG over TIFF or PNG also matters a lot, because the other two are lossless and far bigger.
Does Photos export in HEIC or JPEG?
It depends on the option. Export Unmodified Original gives the camera file, often HEIC from an iPhone. Export Photos lets you pick the Photo Kind, such as JPEG. Choose JPEG when the recipient cannot open HEIC.
Does exporting from Photos keep location data?
Only if you leave Location Information ticked in the export dialog. Clear that box before sharing with people you do not know. For a stricter clean, run a metadata remover on the exported files and check the result with an EXIF viewer.
Why is my exported photo bigger than the one in the library?
Usually because HEIC was converted to JPEG at a high quality, or the Size is Full Size. In our test the HEIC was smaller than the JPEG of the same picture. Lower the quality and size, or use Export Unmodified Original.
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