Smart PDF compression
Most of the weight in a large PDF doesn't come from text — it comes from embedded images: product photos in catalogs, pictures in reports and high-resolution scans. So in the recommended mode our tool recompresses only the images inside the file and scales down oversized ones, leaving text, fonts and vector graphics exactly as they are. The result is a much smaller file whose text stays sharp, selectable and searchable.
Compression levels
- Light: 85% image quality, max 3,000 px. Use it when image quality matters most.
- Recommended: 72% quality, max 2,000 px. A great balance for most files; the difference is usually invisible on screen.
- Strong: 50% quality, max 1,400 px. The smallest size while text remains real text.
- Scanned: every page is re-rendered as a compressed JPEG. Ideal for documents from a scanner or phone camera where each page is already an image, but text won't be selectable.
How to use it
- Choose or drop a PDF file.
- Pick a compression level — start with Recommended.
- Click “Compress PDF” and watch the progress bar.
- Compare sizes before and after, then download the compressed file.
Why didn't my file get much smaller?
If the file is mostly text (for example a Word document exported to PDF), it's already small and there are no large images to compress. Some files also use special image formats (such as CMYK or JBIG2) that we skip to protect colors and detail. In those cases try “Scanned” if selectable text doesn't matter. If compression doesn't produce a smaller file, the tool keeps your original — it will never hand you a bigger file.
Tips to keep PDFs small from the start
- When exporting from Word or PowerPoint, choose “Minimum size” or “Publish online”.
- Compress pictures before inserting them with Compress Image.
- Scan text documents at 150–200 DPI in grayscale instead of full color.
- Remove unnecessary pages with Delete PDF Pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does compression affect text clarity?
In Light, Recommended and Strong modes text is untouched because only images are compressed. The Scanned mode turns whole pages into images.
How much smaller can my file get?
It depends on the content. Image-heavy files can shrink by 50–90%, while text-only files change little because they are already small.
Are my files uploaded?
No. Every step runs inside your browser using pdf-lib and PDF.js.
I need a file under 2 MB for an online portal. What should I do?
Start with Recommended, then Strong. If the document is scanned, the Scanned mode usually gives the smallest result.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes, although very large files take longer on phones with limited memory.
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