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Reduce PDF File Size — Free Browser Tool

Whether you're trying to fit a PDF on a USB drive, email it to a client, or upload it to a portal, reducing the file size is often the first step. Our tool shrinks PDFs by compressing embedded images and stripping unnecessary metadata — in seconds, for free.

Reduce PDF File Size — Free Browser Tool — Try it free

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How It Works

  1. 1

    Select your large PDF

    Upload the PDF from your device. Scanned documents, exported presentations, and PDFs containing high-resolution photos will see the biggest reductions.

  2. 2

    Adjust compression strength

    Pick a compression level. The estimated output size updates in real time. Most users get 70–90% reduction without any noticeable quality impact at medium compression.

  3. 3

    Download the reduced PDF

    Save the smaller file. It will open in any PDF viewer and print correctly — compression does not affect text, bookmarks, or document structure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my PDF so large to begin with?+
PDFs grow large when they contain high-resolution embedded images (from cameras or design tools), unoptimized scans, or embedded font subsets. Compression addresses all three.
Does reducing PDF size affect the ability to copy text?+
No. Text extraction and copy-paste remain fully functional after compression. Only the visual quality of embedded images is reduced.
Can I reduce the size of a scanned PDF?+
Yes — scanned PDFs (which are essentially images inside a PDF container) respond extremely well to compression. A 20MB scan can often reach 1–2MB at medium compression.

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