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PdfDady

Compress a PDF and reduce its size

Add a PDF and choose how to shrink it: keep the text as it is and re-compress the photos inside, or turn every page into a small image and aim for a size such as 100 KB or 200 KB. Results vary from file to file.

1. Add a PDF

Keep text makes the photos and scans inside the PDF smaller. Text, fonts and drawings are not changed, so text stays selectable. It helps most with scanned documents and PDFs full of photos, and little with text-only files.

Smallest size turns every page into an image at a lower resolution. Files get much smaller, but text can no longer be selected, searched or copied, and links stop working.

2. Compress

Mode
Strength

Add a PDF to compress.

How to compress a PDF

  1. Add your PDF

    Choose one PDF, up to 100 MB. Password-protected or encrypted PDFs are refused.

  2. Pick a mode

    Keep text (the default) re-compresses the photos and scans inside the PDF and leaves the text alone. Smallest size turns every page into an image, which makes the file smaller but the text can no longer be selected.

  3. Choose the strength or a target size

    In Keep text, choose Balanced or Strong. In Smallest size, leave the target empty, or choose 100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB, 1 MB or your own size from 20 KB to 50 MB.

  4. Press Compress PDF

    The tool shows the original size and the new size. If the result is not smaller, no download is offered and the tool says so.

  5. Check and download

    Download compressed.pdf and open it to make sure every page is readable before you upload it anywhere.

What you can do with this tool

  • Keep text: photos and scans re-compressed

    Images inside the PDF are re-saved as JPEG. Text, fonts, vector drawings, links, bookmarks and form fields are not changed, and the document's title and metadata are kept.

  • Balanced or Strong

    Balanced limits images to 2000 px on the long edge at JPEG quality 75%. Strong uses 1400 px at 60%, which gives a smaller file with more visible loss in photos.

  • Smallest size: every page becomes an image

    Pages keep their size but are saved as JPEG images at a lower resolution. Text can no longer be selected, searched or copied, and links and form fields stop working. Small text may be hard to read at low resolution.

  • Aim for a target size

    In Smallest size, pick 100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB, 1 MB or a custom size. The tool tries several resolutions and qualities and keeps the sharpest result under the target. It works for PDFs of up to 100 pages.

  • Honest about the outcome

    If the target cannot be reached, you get the smallest result with a note that it is not under the target. If nothing gets smaller, there is no download. Below 100 DPI the tool warns that small text may be hard to read.

  • Stays on your device

    Compression runs in your browser and your PDF is not uploaded. Free, no sign-up and no watermark.

Limits and what changes

InputOne PDF, up to 100 MBPassword-protected or encrypted PDFs are refused
Keep text, BalancedImages at most 2000 px, JPEG quality 75%
Keep text, StrongImages at most 1400 px, JPEG quality 60%
Keep text, which images changeJPEG and plain 8-bit RGB or grey imagesOnly if the new image is at least 10% smaller. Other images, such as CMYK or masked ones, stay as they were
Smallest size, no target110 DPI, JPEG quality 60%
Smallest size, target100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB, 1 MB or custom (20 KB to 50 MB)Tries 150, 120, 100, 80 and 60 DPI with quality from 85% down to 30%. 1 KB is counted as 1,000 bytes. Up to 100 pages
Text after Smallest sizeNot selectable or searchableLinks and form fields stop working
OutputOne PDF named compressed.pdf

How much a PDF shrinks depends on what is inside it. A PDF that is mostly text may barely change in Keep text.

Frequently asked questions

How do I compress a PDF to 100 KB?

Add the PDF, choose Smallest size, pick 100 KB as the target and press Compress PDF. The tool tries several resolutions and picks the sharpest result under 100 KB. Whether that is possible depends on the file. If it cannot get under 100 KB, it gives the smallest result and tells you it is not under the target.

How do I compress a PDF to 200 KB?

Choose Smallest size and pick 200 KB as the target. The page text becomes part of an image, so check that it is still readable before you upload the file.

What is the difference between Keep text and Smallest size?

Keep text re-compresses only the photos and scans inside the PDF and leaves text, links, bookmarks and form fields alone. Smallest size turns every page into a JPEG image at a reduced resolution, so the file is usually smaller but the text can no longer be selected, searched or copied.

Why did my PDF barely get smaller in Keep text?

Keep text only changes photos and scans. A PDF that is mostly text has few or none, so there is little to shrink, and the tool says there are no photos or scanned images to compress. Images it cannot decode exactly, such as CMYK or masked ones, are left as they are. Smallest size may help if you can accept unselectable text.

Will the text still be readable after Smallest size?

Usually, but not always. Pages are saved at a reduced resolution, and below 100 DPI small print may be hard to read. The tool warns you when that happens. Zoom in on the result before using it.

Why is there no download after compressing?

The new file was not smaller than the original, so the tool does not offer it. It suggests trying Smallest size from Keep text. If your PDF is already well compressed, there may be nothing more to save.

Can I compress a password-protected PDF?

No. Password-protected and encrypted PDFs are refused in both modes, because they cannot be processed in the browser.

How much smaller will my file get?

It varies from file to file, so no figure can be promised. Photos and scans shrink most. Pick a mode, press Compress PDF and the tool shows the original and the new size before you download.

Is my PDF uploaded?

No. The PDF is compressed in your browser and is not uploaded. There is no sign-up and no watermark, and the result is saved as compressed.pdf.

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