Compress PDF

Reduce PDF file size.

FREE TO USENO SIGN-UP REQUIREDBROWSER-BASED

[ DROP PDF HERE ]

or click to browse · one file at a time

Files stay on your device.

Each page is re-rendered as a compressed image and stitched into a new PDF in your browser. This shrinks scanned pages and image-heavy files; text-only PDFs are already compact and may not get much smaller.

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How to compress a PDF

01 / STEPS

01Add your PDF — Drop a PDF onto the workspace or click to browse. It is read locally in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.
02Pick a level — Choose Strong for the smallest file, Recommended for a balanced result, or High quality when detail matters.
03Optional: grayscale — Tick [ grayscale ] for black-and-white documents. It usually makes the file smaller and is safe for pages with no colour.
04Compress and download — Click [ COMPRESS ]. When it finishes, compare the original and new sizes, then download or clear.

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How compression works

02 / GUIDE

Compression re-renders every page as a compressed image and stitches those images into a new PDF. That is why it shrinks scanned pages and image-heavy files so well. Because each page becomes a picture, the text is no longer selectable, and a text-only PDF — which is already compact — may not get much smaller, and can even grow slightly. Think of it as a size trade, not a quality-preserving page copy.

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Choosing a compression level

03 / DETAILS

›Strong — smallest file — Renders pages at a low resolution with heavier image compression. Best for scans and image-heavy files where sharpness matters less.
›Recommended — balanced — A middle setting that noticeably reduces size while keeping pages readable. A good default for most files.
›High quality — larger file — Keeps more detail at the cost of a bigger file. Choose this when the document has fine print or small text.

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Troubleshooting

04 / DETAILS

›Encrypted or damaged PDF — Password-protected or corrupted files cannot be opened by the in-browser engine and show an error. Remove the password or use an undamaged file first.
›File did not get smaller — If the PDF is mostly text, it is already compact, and rebuilding it as images may not reduce — or may slightly increase — the size. Try Strong for the best chance.
›Colours look washed out — Grayscale is meant for black-and-white pages. If colour pages look flat, untick [ grayscale ] and compress again.

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Frequently asked questions

05 / FAQ

Are my PDFs uploaded anywhere?

No. All reading and compression happens in your browser tab. The file is never sent to a server.

Will compression always make a PDF smaller?

No. A PDF made mostly of text is already compact, and rebuilding it can even increase the size. Compression mainly helps with scanned pages and embedded images.

What does the compression level change?

Each level sets how sharply pages are re-rendered and how aggressively the images are compressed. Lower levels produce smaller files but softer text.

What does the grayscale option do?

It renders every page in black and white, which usually makes a smaller file for documents that have no colour. Colour pages can look washed out, so leave it off when colour matters.

What happens to encrypted PDFs?

Password-protected or corrupted PDFs cannot be read by the in-browser engine and will show an error. Remove the protection first.

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Related PDF tools

06 / RELATED