Compress PDF
Make PDF files smaller on your own device. Nothing is uploaded.
- Your files are never uploaded
- Processed on your device
- Works offline
- Free, no sign-up
Drop your PDF files here
PDF files · up to 10 files, 500 MB each
or paste with Ctrl+VLive preview
Settings
Strong makes images softer. Extreme turns each page into an image: the smallest file, but text can no longer be selected or searched.
How it works
Open a large PDF
Choose a PDF and compare its original size with the compression preview.
Choose compression strength
Use stronger compression for smaller pictures or a lighter setting for more detail.
Download the smaller PDF
Save the compressed document; an already smaller original is kept when compression cannot help.
Why are some PDFs so large?
Most of the size of a PDF usually comes from images: photos, scanned pages and screenshots. A PDF made from a phone scan can be many megabytes for just a few pages. Text on its own takes very little space.
Compressing a PDF mainly makes those images smaller. A scanned document can shrink a lot; a PDF with only text may shrink very little.
Choose the right level
Light keeps images almost unchanged. Medium is the best choice for email and upload forms. Strong makes the file much smaller, but photos and scans may look softer, so check the preview before you send it. Extreme turns every page into a picture: use it for scans and heavy drawings when you must get under a strict size limit, because text can no longer be selected or searched.
Your PDF is compressed inside your browser and is never uploaded. The live preview shows the first pages of the result and the new size before you download.
If your PDF is still too large
Try the Strong level, or split the PDF into smaller parts with Split PDF and send them separately. For scanned documents, scanning again at a lower resolution, such as 150 DPI, often makes the biggest difference.
If you create PDFs from Word or another office app, choosing a "minimum size" or "smaller file" option when you save as PDF can also help. Always keep your original PDF until you have checked the compressed version.
Questions
Are my files uploaded?
No. The tool runs inside your browser, so your files are opened and converted on your own device. They are never sent to us or to anyone else.
How much smaller will my PDF get?
It depends on what is inside. PDFs with many images or scans can shrink a lot; text-only PDFs may hardly change.
Will the text stay sharp?
Text is kept as text, so it stays sharp. Compression mainly affects images.
Which level should I use?
Medium works for most PDFs. Use Strong when you must get under a strict size limit. Extreme gives the smallest file for scans, but the text becomes part of an image. Check the preview either way.
What about password-protected PDFs?
A PDF that needs a password to open may not work. Remove the password in your PDF reader first.
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