How to make a PDF smaller
Add your PDF, choose a strength and press Compress. You see the new size straight away and only download if you are happy. Everything happens in your browser.
Which strength should I pick?
- Keep text: best for documents made on a computer. It keeps selectable text but usually saves only a little.
- Balanced: good for scans, photos of documents and files with large images. Text stays readable but becomes part of the picture.
- Smallest: for strict upload limits. Look at the result before sending, small text can get soft.
Other ways to get below a size limit
- Delete pages you do not need with Remove PDF Pages.
- Cut a big file into parts with Split PDF.
- Shrink photos before making the PDF with the Image Compressor.
Frequently asked questions
Is my PDF uploaded to be compressed?
No. The file is compressed inside your browser. Nothing is sent to a server, so private documents stay private.
What is the difference between the three strengths?
'Keep text' only tidies the file structure and usually saves a little. 'Balanced' and 'Smallest' turn each page into a compressed picture, which can shrink scans and photo-heavy files a lot. Smallest uses the lowest picture quality.
Why can I no longer select the text after compressing?
In the picture modes every page becomes an image, so the text can no longer be selected or searched. If you need searchable text, use 'Keep text' or keep your original as well.
Why did my file get bigger?
Text-only PDFs are already small, and turning them into pictures can make them larger. The tool warns you when the new file is not smaller. In that case keep your original.
How can I reach a target like 1 MB?
Try Balanced first. If it is still too large, choose Smallest, remove pages you do not need with Remove PDF Pages, or compress in two parts with Split PDF.