Key takeaways
- Start with the Recommended level. It makes the file smaller and keeps text sharp.
- Use Smaller if the file is still too big. Use Smallest only as a last resort, because it turns pages into pictures.
- PDFs full of photos and scans shrink the most. Mostly-text PDFs are already small.
- Compression runs in your browser, so your file is not uploaded.
How to compress a PDF
Email services and online forms often limit attachment size. When a PDF is over the limit, you do not need special software. Use Compress PDF:
- Open the tool and add your PDF.
- Choose how much to compress. If you are unsure, keep Recommended.
- Start the compression. For longer files you will see progress, such as how many pages are done.
- Download the smaller PDF and open it once to check that it looks right.
Which compression level should you pick?
| Level | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended | Smaller file, text stays sharp | Most documents. Try this first. |
| Smaller | Stronger picture compression, text stays sharp | Files that are still too big after Recommended. |
| Smallest | Pages become pictures, so text is not selectable | When size matters more than searchable text. |
Why did my PDF barely shrink?
How much a PDF can shrink depends on what is inside it. Photos and scanned pages are large, so there is a lot to save. A PDF made from a text document is already compact, so there may be very little to gain.
If you started with a big scan, it also helps to shrink the pictures before they go into a PDF. Compress Image lets you set the quality and the largest side, and Image to PDF will put them into one file.
Tips for hitting an upload limit
- Check the exact limit on the form or email service before you start.
- Compress, then look at the size of the result. If it is still too big, run the original again with a stronger level.
- Split a very large PDF into parts with Split PDF if the form accepts several files.
- Remove pages you do not need with Delete PDF Pages. Fewer pages means a smaller file.
A short checklist before you send a PDF
- Find the size limit and your file's current size.
- Delete pages you do not need with Delete PDF Pages.
- Compress with Recommended, then Smaller if needed. Smallest is the last resort.
- Open the result and check small print, stamps and signatures.
- Name the file clearly before you send it.
The full method, with a table of tactics, is in How to compress a PDF for email and applications.
Other ways to get a PDF under a limit
| Option | When it helps |
|---|---|
| Compress PDF | Large photos or scans inside the file |
| Delete or split pages | You do not need the whole document |
| Shrink images first | The PDF is made from phone photos |
| Send in parts | The portal or email accepts more than one file |
If you build PDFs from photos, shrink them first with Compress Image, as explained in How to reduce a photo's file size.
Frequently asked questions
Will compressing change how my PDF looks?
On Recommended and Smaller, text stays sharp and only pictures are compressed more. On Smallest the pages become pictures.
Can I compress a PDF without uploading it?
Yes. Compress PDF runs in your browser, so the file stays on your device.
Is my original PDF changed?
No. You download a new, smaller file, and the original stays as it was.