If a PowerPoint deck is too large to share comfortably, its pictures may be a useful place to start. Compress a separate copy so the original remains available for future editing or a higher-quality export. A smaller file is useful only if the slides are still readable.
Choose the scope before confirming
In desktop PowerPoint for Windows, select a picture, open Picture Format and choose Compress Pictures. Check Apply only to this picture: leaving it selected limits the change to that picture; clearing it broadens the operation. Start with a single representative slide rather than changing every image at once.
Select a suitable resolution from the options your version offers. For a fictional workshop deck, inspect a photo, a screenshot with small labels and a diagram. Their quality needs may differ. Do not assume one low setting suits both a phone preview and a projected slide.
Keep cropped data when you may need it
Delete cropped areas of pictures removes hidden cropped picture data. Use it only in the copy when you are sure you will not need to restore that framing. Reducing resolution also cannot recreate detail that has been discarded. Keep the original deck and source pictures separately; do not rely on reopening the reduced file to recover them.
Verify the saved copy
Save under a new name, close and reopen the deck, then compare file size and the three sample slides at their intended viewing size. If labels blur, return to the original and choose a gentler setting. These steps target picture data, not every possible reason for a large deck: embedded video or other content may need separate attention.