diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-podman-compose.yml b/.github/workflows/test-podman-compose.yml
index 66e1bf9b0fb5..848ac1397395 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-podman-compose.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-podman-compose.yml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ env:
   ANSYSLMD_LICENSE_FILE: ${{ format('1055@{0}', secrets.LICENSE_SERVER) }}
   PYFLUENT_TIMEOUT_FORCE_EXIT: 30
   PYFLUENT_LAUNCH_CONTAINER: 1
-  PYFLUENT_USE_PODMAN_COMPOSE: 1
+  # PYFLUENT_USE_PODMAN_COMPOSE: 1
   PYFLUENT_LOGGING: "DEBUG"
   PYFLUENT_WATCHDOG_DEBUG: "OFF"
   PYFLUENT_HIDE_LOG_SECRETS: 1
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         include:
-          - image-tag: v25.2.0
-            version: 252
+          - image-tag: v26.1.0
+            version: 261
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -85,26 +85,74 @@ jobs:
           docker pull ghcr.io/ansys/pyfluent:${{ matrix.image-tag }}
           docker images
 
-      - name: Transport docker image to podman
+      - name: Size of the original image
         run: |
-          sudo podman pull docker-daemon:ghcr.io/ansys/pyfluent:${{ matrix.image-tag }}
-          sudo podman images
+          docker images ghcr.io/ansys/pyfluent:${{ matrix.image-tag }}
 
-      - name: Run API codegen
-        run: make api-codegen
+      - name: Create reduced image
+        run: |
+          # Create and start a container from the original image
+          docker run -it -d --name ${{ matrix.version }}-container -e ANSYSLMD_LICENSE_FILE="$ANSYSLMD_LICENSE_FILE" ghcr.io/ansys/pyfluent:${{ matrix.image-tag }} 3ddp -gu
+
+          # Delete unwanted files from the container
+          docker exec ${{ matrix.version }}-container rm -rf ansys_inc/v261/FluidsOne
+
+          # Stop the container
+          docker stop ${{ matrix.version }}-container
+
+          # Export the container's filesystem as a tarball
+          docker export ${{ matrix.version }}-container > new_${{ matrix.version }}.tar
+
+          # Import the tarball as a new image
+          cat new_${{ matrix.version }}.tar | docker import - ${{ matrix.version }}_reduced:${{ matrix.image-tag }}
+
+      - name: Clean up
+        run: |
+          docker rm ${{ matrix.version }}-container
+          docker rmi ghcr.io/ansys/pyfluent:${{ matrix.image-tag }}
+          rm new_${{ matrix.version }}.tar
 
-      - name: Print Fluent version info
+      - name: Verify reduced image
         run: |
-          cat src/ansys/fluent/core/generated/fluent_version_${{ matrix.version }}.py
+          docker images ${{ matrix.version }}_reduced:${{ matrix.image-tag }}
 
-      - name: Install again after codegen
+      - name: Run solver container from the new reduced image
         run: |
-          rm -rf dist
-          make install > /dev/null
+          docker run -it -d --name ${{ matrix.version }}-reduced-container-solver -e ANSYSLMD_LICENSE_FILE="$ANSYSLMD_LICENSE_FILE" ${{ matrix.version }}_reduced:${{ matrix.image-tag }} 3ddp -gu
+          docker exec ${{ matrix.version }}-reduced-container-solver ls -l /ansys_inc/v261/FluidsOne
+          docker stop ${{ matrix.version }}-reduced-container-solver
+          docker rm ${{ matrix.version }}-reduced-container-solver
 
-      - name: Run Fluent test script
+      - name: Run meshing container from the new reduced image
         run: |
-          python tests/podman_compose.py
+          docker run -it -d --name ${{ matrix.version }}-reduced-container-meshing -e ANSYSLMD_LICENSE_FILE="$ANSYSLMD_LICENSE_FILE" ${{ matrix.version }}_reduced:${{ matrix.image-tag }} 3ddp -gu -meshing
+          docker stop ${{ matrix.version }}-reduced-container-meshing
+          docker rm ${{ matrix.version }}-reduced-container-meshing
+
+      - name: Run reduced image test script
+        run: |
+          python tests/verify_reduced_image.py
+
+      # - name: Transport docker image to podman
+      #   run: |
+      #     sudo podman pull docker-daemon:ghcr.io/ansys/pyfluent:${{ matrix.image-tag }}
+      #     sudo podman images
+
+      # - name: Run API codegen
+      #   run: make api-codegen
+
+      # - name: Print Fluent version info
+      #   run: |
+      #     cat src/ansys/fluent/core/generated/fluent_version_${{ matrix.version }}.py
+
+      # - name: Install again after codegen
+      #   run: |
+      #     rm -rf dist
+      #     make install > /dev/null
+
+      # - name: Run Fluent test script
+      #   run: |
+      #     python tests/podman_compose.py
 
       - name: Cleanup previous containers
         if: always()
diff --git a/doc/changelog.d/4194.maintenance.md b/doc/changelog.d/4194.maintenance.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..3be818a3c5e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/changelog.d/4194.maintenance.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Reduce image size testing [skip tests]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/verify_reduced_image.py b/tests/verify_reduced_image.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..9033198cac86
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/verify_reduced_image.py
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2021 - 2025 ANSYS, Inc. and/or its affiliates.
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+#
+#
+# Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+# of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+# in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+# to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+# copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+# furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+#
+# The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+# copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+#
+# THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+# IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+# FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+# AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+# LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+# OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
+# SOFTWARE.
+
+"""Verify reduced image."""
+
+
+import ansys.fluent.core as pyfluent
+from ansys.fluent.core import examples
+from ansys.fluent.core.utils.networking import get_free_port
+
+port_1 = get_free_port()
+port_2 = get_free_port()
+container_dict = {
+    "fluent_image": "261_reduced:v26.1.0",
+    "ports": {f"{port_1}": port_1, f"{port_2}": port_2},
+}
+
+solver = pyfluent.launch_fluent(container_dict=container_dict)
+assert len(solver._container.ports) == 2
+case_file_name = examples.download_file("mixing_elbow.cas.h5", "pyfluent/mixing_elbow")
+solver.file.read(file_name=case_file_name, file_type="case")
+solver.exit()