How to compress a photo in Telegram
Three steps in the bot chat – the compressed image comes back as a file.
Open Compress
Start @tinyfile_bot, tap Compress and choose PNG or JPG. SVG needs no menu – send it from anywhere.
Pick the quality
Choose 20, 40, 60 or 80% – the lower, the smaller the file. PNG also has Aggressive for the strongest reduction. 60% is the default.
Send the image as a file
Attach it as a File, up to 20 MB – several images or a ZIP work too. The bot replies with a lighter copy.
Why Telegram compresses photos – and how to send without compression
Telegram handles a picture differently depending on how you attach it. Pick the way that fits your goal.
Sent as a photo: resized
A picture sent as a Photo is resized and re-encoded on Telegram's side – the largest copy it keeps is 2560 px on the longer side. That's why small text and fine detail turn soft.
Sent as a file: the original
To send a photo without compression, attach it as a File instead of a Photo or a gallery pick. The recipient gets the exact file – same format, resolution and size. Videos work the same way.
Need it lighter? Compress it
A file keeps its full weight. When the picture has to be smaller – for a website, an email or an upload limit – run it through TinyFile first: you pick the quality, and the result arrives as a file Telegram won't recompress.
Formats and compression modes
What the bot does with each format – and which settings you get.
| Format | How it's compressed | Settings |
|---|---|---|
| PNG | Palette reduction plus lossless optimization; transparency stays, and the smaller result is sent | 20–80% or Aggressive |
| JPG, JPEG | Re-encoded at the chosen quality with optimized encoding | 20–80% |
| SVG | Editor metadata and redundant markup stripped | Automatic, from any menu |
| WebP, AVIF, HEIC | Not compressed directly – change the format with Convert | Convert menu |
Need another format? The bot converts in every direction between WebP, AVIF, HEIC, PNG and JPG – including HEIC to JPG – see format conversion. PDFs have their own page – the PDF compressor.
Compress a photo for a Telegram avatar
Telegram's documentation publishes no file-size or resolution limit for a static profile photo: the app has you crop the picture to a square and Telegram stores its own copies.
Photo avatar
Any regular photo works. Crop it to a square first so you decide what stays in the circle – then, if the file is heavy or the connection slow, compress it in TinyFile and set the lighter copy.
Video avatar
Here Telegram is specific: a square MP4 up to 1080×1080, with 800×800 recommended. To make the clip lighter, use the video compressor.
The frame stays yours
TinyFile changes the file weight, not the picture: it doesn't crop, round or resize. A 4000×3000 photo comes back 4000×3000 – just lighter – so the square crop stays your step.
What's free
Image compression runs on the free weekly pool shared with conversion and video stickers – 50 operations a week.
| What | Cost |
|---|---|
| Compressing a PNG, JPG or SVG | Free, from the weekly pool |
| Each image inside a ZIP archive | 1 operation from the pool |
| Images past the pool in a week | 1 credit each |
The pool resets every Monday at 00:00 UTC; past it, each operation costs 1 credit from your balance. A file that fails to compress isn't counted. Limits: 20 MB per image or ZIP upload, up to 200 files in one archive.
Frequently asked questions
Does Telegram compress photos?
Yes, when you send a picture as a Photo: Telegram resizes and re-encodes it, and the largest copy is 2560 px on the longer side. Sent as a File, the picture arrives untouched – same format, resolution and file size.
How do I send a photo without compression in Telegram?
Attach it as a File rather than a Photo or a gallery pick. Telegram then delivers the original file as it is. The same way keeps a video from being recompressed.
How do I compress a photo in Telegram?
Open @tinyfile_bot, tap Compress → PNG or JPG, pick a quality and send the image as a file. If you send it as a Photo, the bot asks you to resend it as a file – the photo version has already been compressed by Telegram.
Which formats can I compress?
PNG, JPG/JPEG and SVG. WebP, AVIF and HEIC aren't compressed directly – the bot converts them instead, for example HEIC to JPG or PNG to WebP (see format conversion).
Does compression change quality or dimensions?
Width and height stay the same. Lower percentages give smaller, softer files: start at 60% and go up if you notice artifacts. For PNG the bot also tries lossless optimization and sends whichever file is smaller; if the image doesn't shrink at your level, it steps down on its own.
How big can the image be?
Up to 20 MB per file. You can send several images at once or a ZIP archive of up to 20 MB with up to 200 files; with ZIP: ON the results come back as one archive.
Is image compression free?
Yes, within the weekly pool – 50 operations shared with conversion and video stickers, reset every Monday. Past the pool, each image costs 1 credit (see what's free).