FileQuick

Compress PDF

Shrink a PDF while keeping its text selectable.

How to compress a PDF

Reduce the file size of a PDF — for an email attachment, a WhatsApp share, or a portal that caps uploads at 1 MB or 2 MB — while keeping the text selectable and the layout intact. Free, no watermark.

Most oversized PDFs are heavy because of high-resolution scanned pages or embedded photos. Compressing re-samples those images to a sensible screen resolution and re-encodes them, which typically cuts the file to a fraction of its size without a visible drop in quality for on-screen reading.

Text, fonts and vector content are preserved, so the document stays searchable and prints cleanly. If you need to hit a specific limit, compress and check the result against the number your portal or mail client allows.

This tool uses FileQuick’s conversion engine. Choose it when a PDF is too large to send; if the file is mostly photos you scanned, the Document Scanner produces smaller output to begin with.

Steps

  1. Open Compress PDF and upload your file.
  2. Pick a compression level (more compression = smaller file, lower image quality).
  3. Start the compression and wait for it to finish.
  4. Download the smaller PDF and check it opens correctly.

Frequently asked questions

How do I reduce a PDF to under 1 MB?

Upload it, choose a stronger compression level, and download. Very image-heavy PDFs may need the highest level; text-only PDFs are already small.

Will compressing a PDF lose quality?

Embedded images are re-sampled, so photos lose some detail. Text, fonts and vector graphics are untouched and stay crisp.

How do I compress a PDF for email or WhatsApp?

Most mail and chat limits are 25 MB or less. Compress at a medium level first, and increase it only if the file is still too big.

Does the compressed PDF keep selectable text?

Yes — the text layer is preserved, so the document stays searchable and copy-able.

Is my PDF safe?

Files are processed for conversion and not stored long-term. For fully on-device processing, use the browser-only tools like Merge or Split PDF.

Related tools

  • Remove Pages — drop pages you don't need — the fastest way to a smaller file
  • Merge PDF — combine files first, then compress the result
  • Split PDF — send only the pages you need instead
  • PDF to JPG — turn pages into images for a lighter share
  • Protect PDF — add a password before sending