Guide

    Guide: Reduce PDF size

    Detailed guide on how to use this tool

    Table of contents

    Guide: Reduce PDF Size

    Introduction

    This guide shows how to make a PDF lighter without hurting readability. You’ll combine safe optimizations and the Compress PDF tool to stay under email or upload limits.

    When to use this guide

    • Emailing contracts, invoices, or reports that must stay under 5–10 MB
    • Uploading PDFs to forms or messengers with strict limits
    • Sharing scanned documents that are too heavy for mobile readers
    • Speeding up downloads for clients on slow connections

    How to use

    1. Clean the PDF: remove blank pages and unneeded images before compressing.
    2. If the PDF comes from images, compress them first (Compress JPG or Compress PNG).
    3. Open Compress PDF and upload your file (up to 500 MB).
    4. Download the optimized PDF. If you still need it smaller, downscale scans to 150–200 dpi and compress again.

    Tips and recommendations

    • Keep text as text: avoid scanning printed documents when you can export a digital PDF from the source app.
    • Delete hidden layers or attachments before uploading; they add size but no visible value.
    • For presentations, flatten heavy backgrounds in the source app, then compress the exported PDF.

    Example: send a contract under 5 MB

    • Start with a 25 MB scanned contract.
    • Compress embedded images to 200 dpi, run Compress PDF, and download a 3–4 MB file that stays clear for signing.

    Frequently asked questions

    Will text stay sharp?

    Yes. Vector text remains crisp; most savings come from optimizing images.

    Can I control image quality?

    For image-heavy PDFs, compress the images first, then run Compress PDF to combine both optimizations.

    What is the upload limit?

    Up to 500 MB per file. Large scans may take longer to process.

    Are my files secure?

    Files are processed securely and automatically deleted within 24 hours.

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