How to Compress a PDF Without Uploading It: Private and Free in Your Browser
Compress a PDF to 100 KB, 200 KB or 1 MB in your browser. Pick a level or a target size, see the result and download. Nothing is uploaded.
A form says the PDF must be under 200 KB, or an email bounces because a scan is too big. The free Compress PDF tool shrinks the file inside your browser, so the document never leaves your device. That matters for IDs, certificates and contracts.
Quick answer
Open Compress PDF, add your file, choose Shrink pages and a level (light, medium or strong) or a target size, press Convert and download. If you only want a size such as 100 KB, the PDF Size in KB tool is made for that.
Two ways to make a PDF smaller
| Mode | What happens | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Shrink pages | Each page is rendered and saved as a compressed picture. Text looks the same but can no longer be selected. | Scans, photos and any file that must get very small |
| Tidy only | Keeps the text and structure and re-saves the file more efficiently. | Text PDFs where you want to keep selectable text |
Step by step
- Add the PDF. Thumbnails show every page.
- Choose the mode and the level, or a target such as 100 KB.
- Press Convert. For a target size the tool tries a lower quality and then a lower resolution until the file fits.
- Check the result and the size shown, then download.
Tips for a smaller file
- Scan at 150 dpi instead of 300 for documents that are only read on screen.
- Remove pages you do not need with Remove Pages first.
- Convert colour scans to black and white with PDF to Black and White.
- Keep your original. A shrunk file cannot be turned back into the full-quality original.
Frequently asked questions
Is my file uploaded? No. Everything runs in your browser.
Why can I not select the text after compressing? Shrink pages turns pages into pictures. Use Tidy only, or run OCR PDF to add a text layer again.
What if it cannot reach the target? The tool uses the smallest result it could make. Try a larger target or fewer pages.
