How to compress a PDF for an upload limit

When a form rejects a large PDF, compression may help. The best setting depends on whether your pages contain scans, photos or selectable text. FileKindly processes the PDF locally without uploading it.

Open the tool →

Before you start

Check the receiving website’s size limit and keep your original. A particular output size is not guaranteed. If you need searchable text or interactive form fields, avoid settings that turn pages into images.

Step by step

  1. Open the PDF compressor

    Use the button above to open Compress PDF, then choose your PDF or drag it onto the file area.

  2. Choose a setting

    A little (best quality) saves the existing PDF without turning pages into images and may save only a little space. Recommended renders pages as compressed images. As small as possible uses lower-resolution images and can reduce sharpness further.

  3. Run compression

    Choose Make it smaller and wait for processing to finish. Large files can take longer on a phone. Stronger settings remove selectable and searchable text because each page becomes an image.

  4. Check size and readability

    Compare the result size with the upload limit, then download it and zoom in on small text, signatures and diagrams. A smaller file is useful only if the recipient can still read it.

  5. Adjust if needed

    If the result is still too large and image-based pages are acceptable, try a stronger setting using the original PDF. If it remains over the limit, ask whether the recipient accepts separate files or another submission method.

Example workflow

Suppose an application accepts files under 2 MB. Compress the original, compare the actual result with 2 MB and open the downloaded copy before submitting it. This is an illustrative size limit, not a measured compression result.

Check your result

  • The downloaded file is below the recipient’s stated limit.
  • Small text and signatures remain readable.
  • Any required searchable text or form features are still available.

Common questions

Why did the PDF barely shrink?

Text-based or already optimized PDFs may have little redundant data. The lossless setting does not lower image resolution, so its savings can be small.

Can I choose exactly 1 MB or 2 MB?

This tool offers compression levels, not a guaranteed target size. Check the result after processing.

Can I do this on iPhone or Android?

Yes. Open the tool in your browser and choose the PDF from your files. For very large documents, a computer may have more memory available.

Try this with your PDF →