How to make a PDF smaller for email and uploads
Updated · 4 min read
Why PDFs get large, how to shrink one for an email or a job portal, and what you give up when you compress.
Email services and online forms limit attachment size. Gmail, for example, stops attachments at 25 MB, and many job and admission portals allow much less. The usual cause of a large PDF is scanned pages or photos saved at full camera quality.
Shrink it in three steps
Which level should you pick?
Where is the PDF going?
Start with Recommended. It is usually small enough and still easy to read.
Try As much as possible, then zoom in to check that small print is still readable.
Choose A little, or don’t compress at all, to keep the best quality.
What compression changes
To make the file smaller, each page is saved again as a lighter picture. That means text on the page can no longer be selected or searched. Keep your original if you need that.
Other ways to cut the size
- Send only the pages that are needed: use Split PDF to keep pages like 1-3.
- When making a PDF from photos, choose Smaller file in Image to PDF.
Your file is compressed inside your browser, so it never leaves your device.
Questions people ask
Will compressing make my PDF blurry?
Recommended keeps text easy to read. As much as possible can soften small print, so check it before sending.
Can I still search the text after compressing?
No. Compressed pages are saved as pictures. Keep the original if you need to search or copy text.