Compress PDF
Shrink a scanned or photo-heavy PDF by level or to a maximum size — text stays sharp, nothing is uploaded.
Your PDF is compressed in your browser — nothing is uploadedShrink a PDF to fit an email or upload limit
or drag it here. Nothing is uploaded: it is compressed in your browser, with no size limit.
Only photos and scans are compressed; text stays exactly as sharp. Bookmarks (the side-panel outline) are not kept.
How this PDF compressor works
Quick answer: choose your PDF, then either pick a level (Recommended suits most files) or choose "Under a maximum size" and type the limit you have to meet — 1 MB, 500 KB, whatever the portal says — and press Compress PDF. The status line shows the size before and after; download the result or share it from your phone.
What actually shrinks is the images. A PDF gets heavy when it holds scanned pages or photos, usually stored at far more resolution than a screen or an upload form needs. The compressor re-saves each of those images at a lower resolution — 150 pixels per inch at the Recommended level — and a lighter JPEG quality, and copies everything else untouched: text stays real, selectable text, and fonts and drawings are not altered at all.
With a maximum size, it tries the levels and keeps the gentlest one that fits, so you get the best quality that still meets the limit. If even the strongest level cannot get there, it says so and gives you the smallest result possible: the remaining weight is text and fonts, and a PDF that is mostly text is usually small already. Splitting the file into parts is then the way out.
The files people squeeze under a limit are ID scans, proof of address, transcripts and payslips — exactly what should not be uploaded to a stranger's server. Here nothing is: the PDF is compressed inside your browser tab, with no size cap on the input.
Compression levels
| Level | Images saved at | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Light | 220 pixels per inch, high JPEG quality | PDFs that will be printed |
| Recommended | 150 pixels per inch, medium quality | Email and most upload forms |
| Strong | 100 pixels per inch, lighter quality | Portals with strict size limits |
| Maximum | 72 pixels per inch, low quality | The smallest file; scanned text still readable on screen |
Text, fonts and vector drawings are copied as they are at every level. Images already smaller than the level's target are left alone.
Common problems
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| It is still over the limit at Maximum | The rest is text and fonts. Split the PDF into parts, or delete pages you do not need, then compress each part. |
| Scanned text looks blurry | Use Light, or a larger maximum size. |
| "Already optimized" | The PDF has no heavy images; it is about as small as it gets without losing content. |
| "Protected by a password or permissions" | Make an unprotected copy with Print → Save as PDF (Microsoft Print to PDF on Windows) and compress that. |
FAQ
How do I compress a PDF to 1 MB?
Choose the PDF, pick "Under a maximum size", tap 1 MB (or type any limit) and press Compress PDF. The tool tries its levels and keeps the gentlest one that gets under 1 MB, so the images lose as little quality as possible. If the file is already under the limit, it tells you there is nothing to do.
Does compressing a PDF reduce quality?
Only the images, and only as much as the level requires. Text is never touched — it stays sharp, selectable and searchable — and the Recommended level keeps scans at 150 pixels per inch, which reads well on screen and prints acceptably. Use Light when quality matters more than size.
Why won't my PDF get any smaller?
Because its weight is not in images. A PDF made of text, fonts and vector drawings is usually already compact, and there is nothing a compressor can remove without losing content. The tool tells you when that is the case instead of handing back a file that is no smaller.
Which level should I choose?
Recommended for email and most upload forms; Light if the PDF will be printed; Strong for strict portal limits; Maximum when the size limit matters more than how photos look. With a maximum size you don't have to guess — the tool picks the level for you.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. It is read and compressed by code running in your browser tab, and never leaves your device. That is also why there is no limit on the size of the PDF you start with.