Compress PDF

Most PDF file size comes from images, not text. A scanned document or a report with embedded photos can easily run 10–20 MB. Email servers often cap attachments at 10–25 MB, and upload forms on government and bank websites sometimes allow even less. Compression solves the problem without you having to remove content.

Recommended mode is the right choice for most files — it shrinks images to a practical resolution while keeping text sharp and readable. Extreme mode goes further, for situations where file size is the only priority and some visual quality loss is acceptable.

After compressing, check the result looks as expected. The tool shows before-and-after file size so you can see what you saved. If the visual quality isn't acceptable, go back and try Recommended instead of Extreme. Compression is always worth trying before deciding a file is too large to send.