Find what is making the document large
A DOCX is a ZIP package. In many reports, the word/media folder is the largest part because Word keeps camera photos, screenshots and copied graphics near their inserted resolution. Embedded video, fonts and repeated media can also matter, so image compression is not a universal cure.
Make a copy, rename that copy from .docx to .zip, and inspect the largest entries if you need a quick diagnosis. Do not edit the package manually unless you understand Office relationships.
Reduce images safely
Use the local Word image compressor to set a realistic longest edge and JPEG quality. A 1600-pixel longest edge and 75 percent quality is a balanced starting point for screen reading. The tool replaces an image only when the new byte stream is actually smaller.
- Keep the original DOCX.
- Close memory-heavy tabs.
- Process the copy locally.
- Open the result in Word or LibreOffice.
- Check covers, headers, diagrams and print-critical pages.
Know when not to compress
Do not convert transparent diagrams to JPEG unless a white background is acceptable. Avoid aggressive settings for documents intended for professional printing or later image editing. Large-file success depends on free memory, browser limits and package structure; a 440 MB document is not guaranteed to complete.