Compress PDF
Make a PDF smaller right in your browser. It works best for scanned or image-heavy PDFs. Your file stays on your device; nothing is uploaded.
Also searched as: reduce pdf size · pdf compressor · shrink pdf · make pdf smaller · reduce pdf file size
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How to use it
- 1
Add your PDF
Choose or drop a PDF file.
- 2
Pick a level
Strong for the smallest file, or Light to keep more detail.
- 3
Compress and download
See the before and after size, then download.
Questions about compress pdf
How does it compress?
It re-renders each page as an image at a lower resolution. This shrinks scanned and image-heavy PDFs a lot.
Will the text still be selectable?
No. Because pages become images, the text can no longer be selected or searched. Keep your original if you need that.
Is my file uploaded?
No. Compression happens entirely in your browser.
How PDF compression works here
Most of a PDF’s size comes from images. Scanned documents and presentations exported with large pictures can be many megabytes even when they contain only a few pages. This tool re-renders each page as an image at a lower resolution, which shrinks scanned and image-heavy files a lot.
The trade-off is important: because pages become images, the text can no longer be selected or searched. Keep your original if you need that. Choose Light for the best quality, Balanced for everyday use, or Strong for the smallest file.
Getting under an upload limit
Many job portals, government forms and email providers cap attachments at 2, 5 or 25 MB. Start with Light or Balanced, check the size, and only go to Strong if you are still over the limit. Always compress from the original, because compressing an already compressed file loses quality again.
If a PDF barely shrinks, it probably contains little image data. In that case, splitting it into parts with Split PDF may be a better way to meet a size limit.
Guides
How to compress a PDF to under 1 MB
Need a PDF under 1 MB for an upload form or email? Learn what makes PDFs large and how to shrink scanned PDFs for free in your browser.
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How to convert images to a PDF
Combine photos into one PDF in the order you choose. Free, in your browser, nothing uploaded.