Reduce document size when there is an upload limit while keeping the content readable.
EditFull practical documentation · edition reviewed: 26 October 2026
When this task helps
PDFs containing photos and scanned pages often have more room for size reduction than documents that are already optimized.
Worked example
Scanned receipts may be large because every page is a photo. A vector-text contract may already be compact. The same compression settings affect them differently.
What to check before starting
Use moderate compression and open the result to check small text, signatures, charts and photo-heavy pages.
Choosing the settings
Compare small text, signatures and stamps. If pages are rebuilt as images, check text selection and links afterwards. Keep the original interactive version of important forms.
Limits that affect the result
A rasterized copy may lose searchable text, form fields, links and document properties. Editing a digitally signed PDF can invalidate its signature.
Mistake to avoid
Avoid replacing an important original with a heavily compressed copy. Keep the original for printing, archiving or another attempt.
Illustrative example: size and quality depend on the source file.