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Compress a scanned PDF

Make a scanned PDF smaller for a form or email. Choose compression, compare file sizes and download your copy without uploading your document.

PDF → image-based PDF or original kept

View guide : Make a scanned PDF smaller for a form or email (new tab)

Compress a scanned PDF

A smaller copy to send. Always keep your original.

Maximum 20 MB and 50 pages. Pages are recreated as images: selectable text and OCR are not retained.

Before compressing

If the copy is larger, the original is kept. No guaranteed target size. Check every page of the downloaded file before sending it.

Protected PDFs, forms and digital signatures are refused. Use a flattened copy from your PDF reader and keep the original.

Your PDF stays on your device. Download the result before closing or changing language.

Steps, formats and limits

How to use this tool

  1. Import a PDF or try the sample scan.
  2. Choose gentle, balanced or strong compression, then select Reduce PDF size.
  3. Compare sizes and the first-page previews. Download and check every page.

What changes?

Pages become JPEG images in a new PDF. Their visible size, order and orientation are kept. Selectable text, OCR, links, bookmarks, attachments and original metadata are not retained.

What if the result is larger?

The original bytes are kept instead, including original text and metadata. There is no guaranteed target size.

What are the limits?

Up to 20 MB and 50 pages. Gentle: 150 dpi / 90% JPEG; balanced: 110 dpi / 75%; strong: 75 dpi / 55%. Maximum 3,000 pixels per side, 6 million per page, 120 million total and 64 MB output. Protected PDFs, forms and digital signatures are refused: use a flattened copy and keep the original.

Read the practical guide: Make a scanned PDF smaller for a form or email (new tab)