How to automatically compress images in monday.com
Key takeaways
- Can monday.com compress images automatically when they are uploaded?
- Yes, with the File Compress app by ColumnMate. Its Compress Images automation action runs whenever a monday.com trigger fires — a file column change, a status change, or a button click.
- What do I need to configure?
- A source Files column to watch, a target Files column for the compressed result, and a compression level (low, medium, or high).
- Will the automation loop on its own output?
- No. File Compress writes a short-lived loop-prevention record per item and column, so a compressed file landing in the target column does not re-trigger the automation.
- Does it compress files already on the board?
- No. Automations only act on new triggers. To clear a backlog, add a status- or button-triggered recipe and fire it across your existing items with a batch status change.
Automatically compressing images in monday.com is done with a native automation powered by the File Compress app by ColumnMate. The app registers a Compress Images action in the Automations Center. When any monday.com trigger fires, the action reads new images from a source Files column, compresses them with the sharp pipeline, and writes the smaller versions to a target column.
When automatic compression makes sense
File Compress runs only on automations, so a recipe is how you use it at all. An on-upload trigger is the right default for any board where images keep arriving:
- A creative request board where designers attach exports
- An intake form that dumps client photos into an item
- A QA or inspection board where field staff upload photos from a phone
- A content calendar where every post has image assets
On any of these, compressing by hand would fall behind within a day.
What triggers can start the compression?
| Trigger | Use it when |
|---|---|
| A file column changes | Images should be compressed the instant they are uploaded |
| A status changes | Compress only after review — e.g. status becomes "Approved" |
| A button is clicked | A person decides, per item, when to compress |
Step by step
- An admin installs File Compress from the monday.com marketplace.
- Open the target board and go to the Automations Center (the lightning-bolt icon, top right).
- Click Add automation and search File Compress or ColumnMate.
- Pick a recipe — for example When a file column changes, compress images from that column and save to a column.
- Set the source column, the target column, and the compression level.
- Turn it on. Upload a test image to confirm.
How loop prevention keeps it safe
The obvious worry with "compress on file column change" is an infinite loop: the automation adds a file, which changes the column, which triggers the automation again. File Compress prevents this by writing a loop-prevention record keyed to the item and target column with a 60-second lifetime. A file the automation itself produced will not re-trigger it. This is why "replace in place" is safe.
What automation does not do
It does not touch images that were already on the board before you turned it on — automations only respond to new triggers. To clear the backlog, add a second recipe on a button or status trigger, select every existing item, and use monday.com's batch actions to set that status (or click the button) so the automation runs once per item. See how to compress images in monday.com without downloading them for that walkthrough.
The short version
Install File Compress, open the automation center, add the Compress Images recipe, and set a source column, target column, and level. Choose a trigger that matches your workflow — upload, status change, or button. Loop prevention makes replace-in-place safe. Clear any existing backlog with a one-time batch status change. Full walkthrough in the setup guide.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I set up automatic image compression in monday.com?
- In the board's Automations Center, search "File Compress", choose the "When a file column changes, compress images" recipe, set the source and target columns and a level, and turn it on.
- Which trigger should I use?
- "When a file column changes" for intake and request boards, "when status changes" for approval workflows, and "when a button is clicked" for on-demand compression.
- Can the compressed image replace the original?
- Yes — point the target column at the same column as the source. Loop prevention stops it from re-processing the result.
- What formats does the automation handle?
- JPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, TIFF, BMP, and animated GIF. Non-image files in the column are skipped.
- Is there a monthly limit?
- Each plan includes a monthly file allowance. When it is reached, the automation stops processing until the next cycle or a plan upgrade. See pricing for the tiers.
Zack
File Compress Developer at ColumnMate. Writes about file management, storage, and automation inside monday.com.
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