# Compress a PDF file

Make a PDF smaller so it fits under an email or upload limit. Photos and scans are resized and re-saved, text stays sharp and selectable.

Open: https://pdfjade.com/compress-pdf

## How to compress a PDF file

1. Add the PDF you want to shrink.
2. Pick a compression level. Recommended suits most email and upload limits.
3. Press Compress PDF and check the new size before downloading.

## At a glance

| | |
| --- | --- |
| Where files are processed | In your browser. The file is never uploaded. |
| How long files are kept | Nothing is kept on a server, because nothing is sent to one. |
| Free limits | No caps on files, pages or tasks. Your device's memory is the practical limit. |
| Account | None |
| Price | Free |
| Ads | None |
| Offline option | No app. Works in any current browser, on desktop and phone |

## Private by design

Compression, encryption and text recognition all run in your browser. Your file and your password are never sent to a server.

## Good to know

Most of a big PDF's weight is photos and scanned pages stored at a far higher resolution than a screen or printer needs. Recommended brings images down to about 150 dpi at the largest page size, which still prints cleanly. Text, vector drawings and fonts are not touched.

## Questions

### How much smaller will my file get?

It depends on what is inside. Scans and photo-heavy reports often lose 50 to 90 percent. A PDF that is mostly text is usually small already and may barely change.

### Will the text still be selectable?

Yes, with Light, Recommended and Strong. Only Maximum turns pages into images.

### Why did nothing change?

The images are already compressed as much as this level allows, or the size comes from embedded fonts. Try Strong, or Maximum for scans.

### Is my document uploaded to compress it?

No. The images are decoded and re-encoded by your own browser.

## Related tools

- [Protect PDF](https://pdfjade.com/protect-pdf)
- [Unlock PDF](https://pdfjade.com/unlock-pdf)
- [OCR PDF](https://pdfjade.com/ocr-pdf)
- [Merge PDF](https://pdfjade.com/merge-pdf)
- [Crop PDF](https://pdfjade.com/crop-pdf)

Source: https://pdfjade.com/compress-pdf