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Compress PDF

Recompress embedded images in a PDF in your browser. Text, links, and page order stay in place. A PDF with little or no image data may not get smaller.

Files are processed locally in your browser.

For this tool, your files never leave your device. We don’t upload your documents to a server.

How to use this tool

  1. Add a PDF. Drop one PDF into the box, or choose it from your device.
  2. Choose a compression level. Low keeps image pixel size and uses JPEG quality 85. Recommended uses JPEG quality 68 and scales images to 80% of their pixel size. High uses JPEG quality 42 and scales images to 50%. High changes photos the most.
  3. Compress. Click Compress PDF. The page shows the original size, the size after compression, and the percentage change.
  4. Download. If the file got smaller, download that PDF. It keeps the uploaded file name. If it did not get smaller, the download is your original file.

Supported formats

Input
One PDF file (.pdf), up to 75 MB and 200 pages.
Output
A PDF with the same pages in the same order. Embedded images may be recompressed as JPEG. The download uses the uploaded file name. When compression does not make a smaller file, the download is the original PDF.

Limitations

  • This tool recompresses embedded raster images. It does not subset fonts or redraw vector graphics.
  • Text stays selectable, and links stay in place, because pages are not turned into pictures.
  • A text-only PDF, or a PDF whose images are already compact, often does not get smaller.
  • Some scans use JPEG 2000, JBIG2, or CCITT images. Those images are left unchanged.
  • Low, Recommended, and High change JPEG quality and image pixel size. They do not guarantee a smaller file.
  • If the recompressed PDF is the same size or larger, the download is your original file.
  • Password-protected and encrypted PDFs cannot be opened.
  • Each PDF must be 75 MB or smaller and 200 pages or fewer.

Frequently asked questions

Will every PDF get smaller?
No. Image-heavy PDFs are the ones that usually shrink. A PDF made mostly of text, or one whose images are already compressed, may stay the same size. If the result is larger, you can download the original file instead.
What is the difference between Low, Recommended, and High?
Low recompresses images at JPEG quality 85 and keeps their pixel size. Recommended uses quality 68 and scales images to 80%. High uses quality 42 and scales images to 50%, so photos look softer and the file is usually smaller when images make up most of the PDF.
Will I still be able to select text and use links?
Yes, when the PDF already has selectable text and links. Only embedded images are rewritten. Pages are not replaced with pictures of the pages.
Does this work on a scanned PDF?
It can, when the scan is stored as a normal image such as JPEG. Scans stored as JPEG 2000, JBIG2, or CCITT are skipped, so those files may not get smaller.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. This tool runs in your browser. Your files are not uploaded to a server for processing.