Compress PDF
Compress a PDF in your browser: the photos and scans inside it are shrunk, while the text stays sharp and selectable. Free, no upload and no sign-up needed.
What it does
Most of the weight of a PDF is usually its images: photos from a phone or a scanner stored at far more resolution than a page can show. This tool reduces each large image to the resolution you choose for the size of the page and saves it as JPEG. Everything else, including text, fonts, vector drawings, links, bookmarks and form fields, is copied unchanged, so the document looks and works the same, only lighter.
How to use it
- Choose the PDF. It is read by your browser; nothing is uploaded.
- Pick a compression level. Recommended suits most documents; Strong is for e-mail attachments and forms with a size limit.
- Click Compress PDF. The smaller file is downloaded and the page shows how much was saved.
Frequently asked questions
Will the text still be selectable and searchable?
Yes. Only the images are recompressed. Text, fonts, links, bookmarks and form fields are copied exactly as they were, so you can still select, search and copy the text.
Is it safe for confidential documents?
The PDF never leaves your device: it is opened and compressed by your browser, and no copy is sent to or kept on any server. You can even disconnect from the internet after the page has loaded.
Which compression level should I choose?
Recommended (150 ppi) keeps photos and scans sharp on screen and on paper, and is the right choice for most documents. Light (200 ppi) is for documents with fine detail that will be printed. Strong (100 ppi) gives the smallest file and is still readable on screen, which is ideal for e-mail or for upload forms with a size limit.
Why did my PDF barely get smaller?
Compression only helps where there are large images. A PDF made of text, a document exported from a word processor with few pictures, or one whose images were already compressed has little to gain. Images in print colours (CMYK) and black-and-white scans are also left as they are, because converting them would change their colours or make them worse.
Can it compress a password-protected PDF?
No. Encrypted PDFs, including those that open without a password but restrict printing or copying, cannot be read without removing the protection, so the tool refuses them instead of producing a damaged file.
Wikipedia — PDF
Wikipedia — Image compression
Wikipedia — Pixel density