Choose how to reduce a PDF
Compress PDF offers two different approaches: keep text and links or turn each page into a compressed image. The first protects searchable text and links; the second can make scanned or image-heavy files smaller with permanent tradeoffs.
Compare the compression modes
Keep text and links rewrites the PDF structure without turning pages into images. Text remains searchable and links remain interactive. Form values stay visible but fields become non-editable, and digital signatures stop validating. Already optimized files may not become smaller, so no new file is offered for download unless the result is valid and smaller.
Image-based compression renders every page as a JPEG image inside a new PDF. It can reduce image-heavy documents more aggressively, but selectable text, search, links, forms, bookmarks, vector content, and accessibility structure are removed.
Image-based compression is permanent. Keep the original PDF if searchable text, links, accessibility, sharp vector graphics, forms, or signature validation matter. Those features cannot be restored from the image-based result.
Image-based presets
Quality: 200 DPI with 82% JPEG quality for stronger visual detail.
Balanced: 150 DPI with 72% JPEG quality and the recommended starting point.
Small file: 96 DPI with 55% JPEG quality for a smaller result with softer detail.
Maximum compression: 72 DPI with 40% JPEG quality for the smallest preset, with a greater risk of soft text and images.
If a preset would create a file as large as or larger than the source, no new file is offered for download. This often happens with text-heavy PDFs or files that are already compact.
How to compress a PDF
Choose the PDF
Add an unprotected PDF and wait for its information and any warnings to appear.
Choose a mode
Start with Keep text and links. Choose Image-based only when a smaller file is more important than interactive document features.
Review and confirm
Select a preset when needed and acknowledge any signature or large-document warning.
Compare the result
Compress the file, check the reported size reduction, and download the new PDF only when the tradeoff is acceptable.
You can combine related files first with Merge PDF, then compress the verified merged document.
Browser compatibility for large PDFs
The original file can be up to 50 MB. Turning pages into images requires extra memory: your confirmation is requested above 250 pages, and this mode does not accept more than 500 pages. A computer may be better suited than a phone to large files.
Which PDF compression mode should I choose?
Use Keep text and links when text, links, and page quality matter. Use Image-based compression for scans or image-heavy PDFs when a smaller file is worth losing interactive features.
Why did my PDF not become smaller?
It may already use efficient object compression, or the selected image preset may create as much data as the source. In either case, the tool avoids offering a duplicate file that is not smaller.
Will compressed PDF text stay searchable and clear?
Keep text and links keeps searchable text and vector page content. Image-based mode removes searchable text, and lower presets can make fine print look softer.
Can I compress a password-protected or signed PDF?
Encrypted or editing-restricted PDFs cannot be processed here. Signed PDFs require confirmation because creating a changed file invalidates their digital signatures.
Is my PDF uploaded for compression?
No. Inspection and compression run in your browser after the page has loaded.