About Compress PDF
Compress PDF makes files smaller by re-drawing every page as a JPEG image at a lower resolution. It works on any PDF and is very effective for scans and photo-heavy documents.
How to use Compress PDF
- Add the PDF you want to shrink.
- Choose a level: Light keeps the best quality, Recommended balances size and clarity, Strong gives the smallest file.
- Press Compress PDF.
- Check the new file size and zoom in on small print before sending.
Tips for better results
- Start with Recommended. Only use Strong if the file is still too large.
- Remove pages you don't need first — fewer pages is the biggest saving.
- Text-only documents are usually small already and may not shrink much, or can even grow.
Limitations
Because pages become images, text in the compressed file can no longer be selected, searched or copied, and links stop working. Keep the original if you need those, or use this only for files you just need to read or print.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I select text after compressing?
This tool turns each page into an image to save space. Run OCR PDF on the result if you need the words as text.
How small will my file get?
It depends on the content. Scanned and photo-heavy PDFs often shrink by more than half; plain text files may not shrink at all.
Are my files uploaded?
Your file is processed by your own browser. It is not uploaded to our servers, and closing the tab clears it from memory.
Guide last reviewed 28 October 2026 by the ModernExpert.AI team.