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How to make a PDF file smaller

A smaller PDF is easier to email and faster to upload. Many websites and forms only accept files under a few megabytes, so compressing is a common step when you apply for something online.

Open the Compress PDF tool

Step by step

  1. Open the Compress PDF tool and choose your file.
  2. Pick a size: Balanced, Smaller or Smallest. Balanced keeps pages clear. Smallest makes the file tiny but a little blurrier.
  3. Press Start. The result shows the size before and after.
  4. Download the new file and check that it still looks fine.

Tips

Common questions

Why can I not select text after compressing?

Because each page is saved as an image. This is how the file gets smaller in a browser. Keep the original for copying text.

Is the quality loss visible?

On Balanced it is hard to see on a normal screen. Smallest is more visible, especially on small text.

Privacy

This tool runs inside your browser. Your files are not uploaded to our servers.

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