Compress a PDF
Reduce PDF file size for email attachments and upload portals. Choose how much to shrink it and see the result before you download.
- Files never uploaded
- Free, no sign-up
- Works on any device
- Works offline
Drop your file here
or drag and drop · One PDF file
Stays on your device — nothing is uploaded
How to compress PDF
Choose a PDF
Drop the PDF you want to make smaller.
Pick a level
Light keeps text selectable. Strong shrinks scans and image-heavy files the most.
Compare and download
See the new size, then download if you’re happy with it.
About Compress PDF
Which level should I choose?
Start with Light. It cleans up the file without changing how pages look, and text stays selectable. If the file is a scan or full of photos and is still too big, use Strong: it turns each page into an optimized image, which can shrink files dramatically, but text will no longer be selectable or searchable.
Why didn’t my file get smaller?
Some PDFs are already well optimized, especially ones with mostly text. If Light compression can’t make the file smaller, we’ll tell you instead of giving you a bigger file. Try Strong for scanned documents.
Hitting a size limit
Government and university portals often limit uploads to 2–10 MB. If Strong at medium quality is still too large, try low quality, or split the PDF into parts.
Your files never leave your device
Most online PDF sites upload your documents to their servers. DocuVault doesn’t. Everything happens inside your browser, so there is nothing for anyone to see, store or leak.
Check it yourself
Use a tool once, then turn off your Wi-Fi or switch to airplane mode and use it again — it still works. Developers can watch the Network tab: no file is ever sent.
Step 1
You choose a file
Your browser opens it directly from your device — like opening it in an app.
Step 2
Your device does the work
The processing code runs inside this browser tab. No server ever receives your file.
Step 3
You save the result
The new file goes straight to your downloads. Close the tab and everything is gone.
Frequently asked questions
Will compression make my PDF blurry?
Light compression doesn’t change how pages look. Strong compression converts pages to images; at “Medium” quality they stay sharp enough for reading and printing, while “Low” favors size.
Is my PDF uploaded to compress it?
No. Compression happens inside your browser. Your document never leaves your device.
Can I keep the text searchable?
Yes — use Light compression. Strong compression turns pages into images, so text can’t be selected afterward (you can run Scanned PDF OCR to make it searchable again).