How to compress a PDF
- Tap "Add a PDF" or drop it onto the box.
- Choose Recommended, or "Under a set size" if a form or email has a limit such as 1 MB.
- Tap "Compress PDF" and download the smaller copy.
Good to know
Most of a large PDF’s size is usually its photos and scans. This tool re-saves them at a sensible size and quality and leaves text, fonts and drawings exactly as they are, so the text stays sharp and you can still search and copy it.
With "Under a set size", photos are made smaller step by step until the PDF fits. Only if that isn’t enough are the pages saved as images, which makes their text unselectable. The tool tells you when that happens, so keep your original.
A PDF that is mostly typed text is already stored efficiently and can’t be made much smaller. The tool tells you that rather than giving you a copy that is no smaller.
Questions
How much smaller will my PDF get?
It depends on what is inside. PDFs made from phone photos or scans often shrink by 70% or more. PDFs that are mostly typed text barely change.
Will the text get blurry?
No. Text is not touched, except in the last-resort step of "Under a set size", which the tool tells you about.
Can I get a PDF under 1 MB or 500 KB?
Usually, yes. Choose "Under a set size" and pick the limit, or type your own in KB. If a PDF can’t get that small without its pages becoming hard to read, the tool tells you and gives you the smallest copy it could make.
How big a PDF can I add?
Up to 50 MB, free and without an account. Free accounts, coming soon, will take PDFs of up to 100 MB.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. It is compressed by your browser on your device, which also means it works with private documents such as statements and ID copies.
Page last reviewed 23 October 2026.