Reduce PDF size for email and upload limits
An upload limit is a limit on file bytes, not page count. Start with the least destructive change, compare the saved file and only reduce image detail when necessary.
Start with a measured target
Check the receiving service’s limit and your PDF’s current size. Keep an original copy so you can compare readability and return to it if a smaller version loses important detail. A file with many large scans behaves differently from a short text document.
Fictional example: a 12 MB event brochure needs to fit a 5 MB upload. The target is a file smaller than that limit whose small venue labels and contact details remain readable.
- Open Compress PDF and add the original PDF.
- Choose Lossless first, then run and compare the output size.
- Preview the saved pages, especially the smallest text and diagrams.
Reduce image detail only when needed
If lossless output is still too large, try Balanced or Smallest. Image-resolution settings apply to lossy modes. Compare the new result with the source; small text in a scan is image detail too.
A PDF that is already optimized may not get smaller. The tool cannot promise a particular percentage reduction for every source. Try a different setting only when the resulting quality is acceptable.
Split when whole pages can travel separately
If the recipient accepts multiple attachments, Split by file size can keep complete pages in parts under your chosen limit. Check every part and its reading order.
A single page larger than the limit cannot fit by splitting at page boundaries. Compress that page or use a different delivery method. A ZIP packages files together but does not guarantee that the receiving service will accept the archive or that it will be smaller.
- Open Split by file size with the reviewed PDF.
- Enter the permitted maximum size and run the split.
- Inspect each part’s size and pages before uploading it.