How to compress a PDF
- Choose your PDF.
- Pick a compression level (Medium is a good balance).
- Click Compress PDF and download the smaller file.
About this tool
Compression works best on scanned documents and PDFs with photos, often reducing size by 50–90%. Pages are re-saved as optimized images, so text in the compressed file can no longer be selected or searched. If your PDF is already small, we give you back the original instead of a bigger file.
Why use ConvertRed?
Most online PDF tools upload your documents to their servers. ConvertRed works entirely in your browser, so it is faster and your files stay private. It works on Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android, with no limit on the number of files.
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Frequently asked questions
How can I reduce the size of a PDF for free?
Choose your PDF, pick Medium compression and click Compress PDF. Most scanned PDFs shrink by more than half.
Will I lose quality?
Low compression keeps the best quality. High compression gives the smallest file but images look softer.
Why is the text no longer selectable?
To shrink the file, each page is saved as an optimized image. Keep the original if you need to copy text.
How do I compress a PDF to send by email?
Most email services allow 20–25 MB. Use Medium or High compression until the file is below that limit.
Are my PDF files safe?
Yes. Everything happens in your browser. Your files are never uploaded to a server, so nobody else can see them.