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Compress PDF: reduce PDF file size

Pick a compression level, or the size a portal asks for such as 200 KB, 500 KB or 1 MB, and download a smaller file.

Mostly on your device

The “No quality loss” and Recommended levels and Target size mode run in your browser; the Strong level sends the file to our server over an encrypted connection, where it is processed and deleted right after processing.

  1. 1Choose the file
  2. 2Options
  3. 3Result

or drop it here

PDF

Choose a file first

How to use it

  1. 1

    Choose your file

    Tap “Select PDF file” or drag and drop it into the box. You will see its current size.

  2. 2

    Pick a method

    Choose “No quality loss”, Recommended or Strong, or choose “Target size” and pick 100, 200 or 500 KB, or 1, 2 or 5 MB.

  3. 3

    Compress

    Tap “Compress PDF”. “No quality loss”, Recommended and Target size run in your browser; Strong is processed on our server.

  4. 4

    Check and download

    Compare the size before and after, make sure the pages are still clear, then download and upload it.

What you get

  • Sizes ready for portals

    Pick 100, 200 or 500 KB, or 1, 2 or 5 MB, and we try to bring the file under the size you chose.

  • Three clear levels

    “No quality loss” leaves images untouched, so quality stays the same but the file usually shrinks less; Recommended balances size and clarity, and Strong goes as small as possible with a bigger drop in image quality.

  • Privacy you can check

    “No quality loss”, Recommended and Target size run in your browser. Only the Strong level sends the file to our server over an encrypted connection, and it is deleted right after processing.

  • Before and after size

    See the file size before and after compression, so you know right away whether it is ready to upload.

  • Works on your phone

    Compress files in Chrome or Safari on your phone without installing an app.

Frequently asked questions

How do I compress a PDF to 500 KB?

Choose “Target size”, pick 500 KB and tap “Compress PDF”. If the file has many images, their quality drops a little to reach that size, so check the pages are readable before uploading.

The portal wants a file under 1 MB. What should I pick?

Choose the 1 MB target size. If your file is already smaller, there is no need to compress it. Many portals show the size limit next to the upload button, so check it first.

Why didn't my file get much smaller?

Compression mainly shrinks the images inside a PDF. If the file is mostly text, or has already been compressed, its size won't drop much. Try the Strong level, or split the file if the portal accepts more than one.

Does compression reduce quality?

“No quality loss” leaves images untouched, so quality stays the same, though the file usually shrinks less than with the other levels. The smaller you go, the lower the image quality, so a very low target for a long file can make photos and stamps less clear.

Is my file uploaded when I compress it?

With “No quality loss”, Recommended and Target size, no: compression runs in your browser. With Strong, the file is sent to our server over an encrypted connection, processed, and deleted right after processing.

I photographed my documents and the PDF is huge. What now?

Phone photos are usually large. Turn them into a PDF with Image to PDF or Scan to PDF, then compress the result here to the size you need.

Can I compress a PDF on an iPhone or Android phone?

Yes. Open the page in Chrome or Safari, pick the file from Downloads or Files, choose a size and compress. The result is saved to Downloads, or to the Files app on iPhone.

Can I compress a password-protected PDF?

The file has to be opened first. If you know the password, remove it with Unlock PDF, then compress it.

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