Compress a PDF
Compression works by re-rendering each page as an image at a quality you choose, which is especially effective on scanned documents and image-heavy PDFs. It's the one tool here where text stops being selectable afterward, which the page explains before you run it. Select several files to compress them all with the same settings in one pass.
You don't have to take this on faith:
- Open your browser's developer tools (F12, or right-click → Inspect) and click the Network tab.
- Select a file and use this tool as normal.
- Watch the Network tab — no request fires when you select, process, or download. If your file were being sent anywhere, it would show up there.
Common uses
- Getting a scanned document under an email attachment size limit.
- Shrinking a large PDF before uploading it to a form with a file size cap.
- Reducing storage space for a large batch of scanned records.
Common questions
Why does text stop being selectable after compressing?
Compression re-renders each page as an image at your chosen quality, which is what makes the size reduction possible — but it means any text on the page becomes part of that image, not selectable text anymore.
What quality setting should I use?
Balanced is a reasonable starting point for most everyday sharing. Maximum quality keeps pages sharper at a larger file size — worth it for anything with fine print or detailed images. Maximum compression shrinks the file the most, at the cost of softer pages and small text; best for something like a quick email attachment where size matters more than crispness.