Compress PDF
Reduce file size while keeping the best possible quality.
or drag and drop PDFs here
Files are processed on your device and never uploaded.
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To compress a PDF, select the file, choose a level (Extreme, Recommended or Less compression) and click Compress PDF. Images inside the PDF are resized and re-encoded in your browser, which often makes the file 50–90% smaller. Text stays sharp and selectable.
How to compress PDF
- Select your PDF filesClick “Select files” or drop your PDF files on the page.
- Choose your optionsChoose a compression level. Recommended keeps good quality at a much smaller size.
- Click “Compress PDF”The result is created on your device in seconds and downloads automatically.
Frequently asked questions
How can I make a PDF smaller than 1 MB or 2 MB?
Use Extreme compression. If it is still too big, split the PDF into parts or convert pages to grayscale with the grayscale option.
Why did my file barely get smaller?
PDFs that contain mostly text are already small. Compression mainly shrinks scanned pages and photos.
Is the text still selectable after compression?
Yes. Only images are re-encoded. Text and vector graphics are untouched.
Is Compress PDF free?
Yes. Compress PDF on HappyPDF is completely free: no sign-up, no watermark and no daily limit.
Are my files safe?
Yes. Your files are processed inside your own browser and are never uploaded to HappyPDF’s server,, so nobody else can see them.
Does it work on phone, Mac and Windows?
Yes. It works in any modern browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox, Samsung Internet) on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iPhone/iPad. Nothing to install.