Compress PDF
Make PDFs smaller for email
Shrinks the pictures inside your PDF. Text, links and vector graphics stay exactly as they are.
With a limit, the best setting that fits is chosen for you.
Tip: use “Maximum compression” for scanned documents. It saves each page as an image, so text can't be selected afterwards.
About the Compress PDF
Big PDFs often blow past email and upload limits. The default mode shrinks only the photos and pictures inside your PDF, so text, fonts, links and vector graphics stay exactly as they were and remain selectable. For scanned documents, Maximum compression saves each page as a compressed image for the biggest possible savings. Your files are processed in your browser and never uploaded to a server.
- Choose or drop a PDF.
- Pick Keep text sharp (recommended) or Maximum compression (best for scans).
- Choose Light, Medium or Strong and press Compress.
- Compare the sizes and download the smaller PDF.
Which mode should I use?
Use Keep text sharp for reports, contracts and anything with photos: it shrinks the pictures inside the PDF but leaves text and vector graphics untouched. Use Maximum compression for scanned documents, where every page is already a picture, to get the smallest possible file.
Typical email and portal limits
Gmail and Outlook attachments are limited to 20–25 MB, and many government and university portals cap PDF uploads at 1–2 MB, sometimes 200–500 KB. Try Medium first, then Strong if you need a smaller file.
Frequently asked
How much smaller will my PDF get?
Photo-heavy PDFs often shrink by 60–90%. PDFs that are mostly text are already small; for those, the gain is limited.
Will the text still be selectable?
Yes, in the default Keep text sharp mode. Only images are recompressed. Maximum compression turns each page into an image, so use it for scans or when size matters most.
Is it safe for confidential documents?
Yes. Your files are processed in your browser and never uploaded to a server.
Why didn't my PDF get much smaller?
PDFs that are mostly text are already compact. Big savings come from photos and scans; for those, Strong or Maximum compression helps most.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. The tool runs entirely in your browser and there's no server behind it, so your files never leave your device and nothing is stored. You can check: it keeps working if you go offline after the page has loaded.
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