About the Compress PDF
A compress PDF tool makes a PDF file smaller by reducing the size of the images inside it, so it is easier to email, upload or store. Recommended mode re-encodes embedded photos at a lower quality while keeping your text sharp and selectable. Strong mode goes further by turning every page into a single image, which gives the smallest file but means text can no longer be selected or searched. Everything runs on your device, so your PDF is never uploaded.
How to use the Compress PDF
- Choose the PDF you want to compress.
- Pick Recommended to shrink images while keeping text selectable, or Strong for the smallest possible file.
- For Strong mode, choose an image quality (DPI).
- Click Compress PDF and download the smaller file.
Features
- Recommended mode keeps text selectable and searchable
- Strong mode gives the smallest file by rendering pages as images
- Shows the size before and after, so you can see the saving
- Keeps the original file if compression would not make it smaller
- Private - your PDF never leaves your device
Recommended vs Strong - which should I use?
Recommended mode only re-encodes the photos and scanned images inside the PDF, so headings, paragraphs and tables stay exactly as they are and can still be selected, searched and copied. Strong mode converts every page into a single JPEG image, which usually produces a much smaller file but means none of the text can be selected, searched or copied afterwards - better for photo-heavy documents that just need to be smaller for sharing.
Why didn't my PDF get smaller?
A PDF made only of text and vector graphics, or one that has already been compressed, may not shrink further in Recommended mode because there are no large images left to re-encode. In that case the original file is kept so you never end up with a bigger download, and Strong mode can still make it smaller by rendering the pages as images.
Frequently asked questions
Does compressing a PDF reduce its quality?
Recommended mode lowers the quality of embedded photos slightly, similar to saving a JPEG at a lower setting, while text and line art stay sharp. Strong mode renders the whole page as an image, so very small text can look less crisp when zoomed in.
Will I still be able to select text after compressing?
Yes, with Recommended mode. Strong mode rasterises every page into one image, so text can no longer be selected, searched or copied - only choose it when file size matters more than that.
What happens if the compressed file is not smaller?
The original file is kept and offered for download unchanged, so you are never left with a result that is bigger than what you started with.
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
No. Compression happens entirely in your browser with JavaScript, and the file is never sent anywhere.