Compress a PDF to reduce its file size
Compress PDF makes a document smaller so it fits under email attachment limits or website upload caps. It works best on scanned documents and PDFs full of photos, which are usually the files that are too big in the first place.
Your files are processed inside this browser tab and are not uploaded to Maher PDF. Please read the Privacy Policy before working with sensitive documents.
It is important to know how it works: each page is redrawn as a compressed JPG image and the new PDF is built from those images. That is why the reduction can be large, but it also means text in the result is no longer selectable or searchable, and links or form fields are not kept. Keep your original file if you need those.
How to use Compress PDF
- Tap Choose a PDF to compress and pick your file.
- Choose a compression level: Low keeps the best quality, Medium is a balanced default, and High makes the smallest file.
- Check the preview of page 1. It updates when you change the level, so you can judge readability before running.
- Tap Run. The compressed file downloads and the status line shows the size before and after.
Key features
- Three compression levels with a live quality preview.
- Shows the before and after size when it finishes.
- Strong reductions on scans and photo-heavy PDFs.
- No upload, so confidential documents stay on your device.
Supported files
Input: one PDF. Output: a PDF where every page is a JPG image. Not suitable when you need selectable text, fillable forms, or clickable links in the result.
Privacy and security
Pages are rendered and compressed by your browser. The document is not uploaded at any point.
Common problems
- The compressed file is bigger than the original.
- This can happen with PDFs that are mostly plain text, because text is already very compact and an image of the page is larger. Such files rarely need compressing; if they do, try removing pages you don't need.
- The text looks blurry.
- Choose the Low level for better quality. Very small print may need Low to stay readable.
- I can't search the compressed PDF.
- Pages become images during compression. Keep the original for searching, or use OCR in Edit PDF on the compressed copy.
Tips
- Remove unneeded pages first with Remove pages; fewer pages means a smaller file.
- For a full explanation of what makes PDFs large, read the PDF file size guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much smaller will my PDF get?
It depends on the content. Scans and photo-heavy files often shrink a lot; text-only files may not shrink at all. The tool tells you the exact before and after size.
Will compression remove my text?
The text remains visible on the page, but it becomes part of an image, so you can't select, copy, or search it in the compressed file.
Is it safe to compress confidential documents here?
The file is processed on your device and not uploaded to Maher PDF. Read the Privacy Policy for details.