How to compress a PDF without losing quality
Most oversized PDFs are heavy because of images. Compression removes redundant data and lowers image detail; the trick is choosing a level that shrinks the file while keeping pages legible.
Go straight to the PDF compressor if you already know what to do.
Step-by-step
- 1
Open the compress tool
Go to the compress tool and add the PDF.
- 2
Start with light compression
Light keeps the most detail. Move to balanced or strong only if the file is still too big.
- 3
Compress
Run the tool and compare the new size shown next to the result.
- 4
Check before sending
Open the compressed PDF and make sure text and any images are still clear, then download and share it.
Things worth knowing
Why some files barely shrink
A PDF that is mostly text is already compact, so there is little left to remove.
Printing
If the document will be printed, prefer light compression so images keep their detail.
Another option
Splitting a long report and sending only the relevant section is often better than compressing hard.