How to compress a PDF and make the file smaller
Scanned or photo-heavy PDFs are often too big to email or upload. Compressing shrinks the file by reducing the weight of its images while keeping the text readable.
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Steps
- 1
Open the Compress PDF tool
No account is needed.
- 2
Add your PDF
Drop the file onto the page or choose it from your device.
- 3
Choose a quality level
Lower quality gives a smaller file but softer images. Medium is the right choice for most documents.
- 4
Compress and download
Wait for it to finish, then download the smaller file and compare the size.
Tips
Start with Medium
If the file is still too large, run it again at a lower quality. If images look too soft, go one level higher.
Scans shrink the most
A PDF made of photographed or scanned pages has the most to gain. A text-only PDF is already small.
Merge first, compress last
If you are combining files, merge them first and compress the finished PDF once.
Questions
Does compressing a PDF reduce quality?
It can soften images, depending on the level you choose. Text stays sharp.
Is my file uploaded?
Compression needs a server. Your file is encrypted in transit, processed, and deleted right after.
Why is my PDF still big after compressing?
A file that is mostly text or already optimised has little left to remove. Try a lower quality level.