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.
There are two methods. Keep text selectable (the default) finds large photos inside the PDF, scales them to a sensible resolution and re-saves them as efficient JPEGs, then rewrites the file compactly; text, links, bookmarks and form fields stay exactly as they were. Maximum compression redraws each page as a JPEG image at the resolution you choose; it gives the smallest files for scans, but text can no longer be selected or searched.
The tool always tells you the real result: the size before and after and the percentage saved. If no smaller version can be made (common for text-only PDFs), it says so and doesn't hand you a bigger file.
How to use Compress PDF
- Tap Choose a PDF to compress and pick your file.
- Choose the method: Keep text selectable for most documents, or Maximum compression for scans and photo-heavy files where selectable text doesn't matter.
- Choose a level: Low keeps the best quality, Medium is a balanced default, High makes the smallest file.
- Tap Compress PDF. A progress bar shows each step.
- Check the result card (original size, new size, percentage saved), then tap Download.
Key features
- Two methods: keep text, links and forms intact, or compress to the minimum.
- Three levels for each method.
- Honest results: exact before/after size and percentage, and no download when the file can't be made smaller.
- Every result is opened and checked before it is offered for download.
Supported files
Input: one PDF. Output: a compressed PDF. With Keep text selectable, only photos are changed (JPEG and photo-like PNG images in RGB or greyscale); text, vector graphics, links and form fields are untouched. With Maximum compression, every page becomes an image.
Privacy and security
The file is processed by your browser. It is not uploaded at any point.
Common problems
- It says the PDF is already compact.
- Text-only PDFs (for example reports exported from Word) are already small; there are no photos to shrink. That message means no smaller version exists without damaging the file, so you keep the original.
- The saving is small with Keep text selectable.
- The PDF may contain few photos, or its photos are already well compressed. Try a higher level, or Maximum compression if selectable text isn't needed (for example a scan).
- The text looks blurry after Maximum compression.
- Choose the Low level for better quality. Very small print may need Low to stay readable.
Tips
- Remove unneeded pages first with Remove pages; fewer pages means a smaller file.
- Read the PDF file size guide to see what makes PDFs large.
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 shows the exact sizes and percentage.
Will compression remove my text?
Not with the default method, Keep text selectable: text stays selectable and searchable. Only Maximum compression turns pages into images.
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.