Compress PDF — shrink file size before upload

How to compress a PDF

1. Select a PDF — drop the file or click Select PDF (max 80 MB).
2. Pick a level — Light re-packs structure; Balanced / Strong re-encode pages as JPEG for bigger savings on scans.
3. Compress & download — re-upload the new file; keep the original if you need full quality.

Compression levels

Level	Best for	Trade-off
Light	Text / form PDFs	Modest shrink; text stays selectable
Balanced	Scans & photo PDFs	Stronger shrink; pages become images
Strong	Strict size caps (e.g. 1–2 MB)	Smallest file; lower image quality

Common “file too large” scenarios

• Job portal — combined certificates exceed 2 MB; compress after merging.
• Visa / immigration — strict per-document caps; try Strong on scans.
• University uploads — thesis chapters or portfolios with size limits.
• Email attachments — many providers cap outgoing file size at 10–25 MB.

Typical workflows

Problem	Fix
Merged PDF rejected for size	Merge PDF → Compress PDF → re-upload
One huge scanned page	Split PDF → Strong compress on heavy pages
Word export still too big	Word to PDF → Light or Balanced
Encrypted PDF won’t compress	Remove PDF password → compress

Frequently asked questions

How much smaller will my PDF get? Scans often shrink a lot on Balanced/Strong. Text-only PDFs may only need Light.

Is quality lost? Light keeps original page content. Balanced/Strong flatten pages to JPEG — fine for uploads, not for editing text later.

Can I compress a password-protected PDF? Unlock it first with Remove PDF password, then compress.

Are files uploaded to Bodhixt? No — compression runs entirely on your device.