Compress PDF
Shrink a large PDF so it fits email and upload limits. Choose light, recommended or strong compression. The file is processed on your device and never uploaded.
النسخة العربية ↗How to compress a PDF
- Tap Choose a PDF or drag the file onto the box.
- Pick a level: Light keeps the best quality, Recommended suits most scans and forms, and Strong makes the smallest file.
- Tap Compress PDF, check the new size, then download the compressed copy.
What this tool does to your PDF
By default the tool uses Smart mode: it finds the photos and scans inside the PDF and re-saves them at a sensible resolution, while text, links and vector graphics stay exactly as they were. You can still select, copy and search the text afterwards. PDFs full of photos and phone scans shrink the most.
If that is not small enough, switch to Maximum mode. It redraws every page as a compressed image, which gives the biggest saving on scanned documents, but the text in the result can no longer be selected or searched. That is fine for uploading an ID or a signed form. Keep your original file either way.
Which level should I use?
| Level | Resolution | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Light | 150 dpi | Documents with small print or fine detail |
| Recommended | 110 dpi | Most forms, scans, certificates and IDs |
| Strong | 80 dpi | The smallest file, when an upload limit is strict |
If the result would be bigger than your original, the tool tells you and keeps your file as it is. That usually means the PDF was created digitally and is already compact.
Tips when an upload form rejects your file
- Start with Recommended, and only move to Strong if the file is still over the limit.
- If you are uploading several pages, check whether the form accepts separate files instead of one large PDF.
- For documents you photograph with your phone, build the PDF with JPG to PDF first, then compress it.
Browse all PDF tools: compress, merge, split and convert.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to compress private documents here?
Yes. The PDF is processed on your own device and is never sent to a server.
Will the text stay selectable after compressing?
Yes, in Smart mode (the default). Text, links and vector graphics are left untouched and only the images are compressed. Maximum mode turns pages into images, so use it only when you don’t need to copy the text.
How much smaller will my PDF get?
It depends on the file. Scanned documents and photo-heavy PDFs shrink the most, often by more than half. Text-only PDFs made on a computer are usually small already.
Can I compress a password-protected PDF?
No. Remove the password in the app that created the file first, then compress it.
Is there a page limit?
Files up to about 100 pages work well on most devices. Very long PDFs may be slow on older phones.
