How to compress or optimize a Word file

This article will explain how to reduce the file size of your word document. This may lead to reduced image quality, so it's recommended that you keep a backup of the document before compressing it.

These instructions should work for Microsoft Word 2010, 2013, and 2016. Mac versions are likely similar.

Steps:

1. From Word, with the document you'd like to compress, click on File in the top left and then Save As.
   
2. On the bottom right of the Save as window, click on Tools and then Compress Pictures.
   
3. You'll have a number of options here, but setting the Target output to Screen usually works well. After making your select, click the OK button and then save your file.
   
4. In this particular example, the file went from about 25MB to 7MB.
   

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