Compress PDF
Reduce PDF file size directly in your browser
Compress image-heavy and scanned PDF documents without installing software. Choose a compression level, process the PDF locally in your browser, and compare the size before downloading.
Compress PDF
Select one PDF and choose the balance between visual quality and file size.
Privacy note: the PDF you select is read and processed in your browser by this tool. 2PDF2 does not intentionally upload the selected PDF to its own server for compression. The webpage itself may still connect to third-party services such as our code-delivery provider, analytics, or advertising services as described in our Privacy Policy.
How to compress a PDF
- Select Choose PDF file and add one PDF.
- Choose Balanced, Strong, or Smallest file.
- Select Compress PDF and keep the browser tab open while pages are processed.
- Compare the original and new file sizes.
- Download the compressed PDF when the result is smaller and suitable for your needs.
Which compression level should you use?
Balanced
A practical starting point for most scanned documents and image-heavy PDFs. It keeps more visual detail while attempting to reduce file size.
Strong
Reduces image resolution and JPEG quality further. This can produce a smaller file, but text in scans and fine graphics may look less sharp.
Smallest file
Uses the strongest settings in this tool. It is useful when attachment limits matter more than preserving fine detail.
Local processing
The selected PDF is rendered and rebuilt by your browser instead of being uploaded to 2PDF2 for compression.
Why some PDFs compress better than others
Compression results depend on what is already inside the PDF. Large scans and photographs often offer more opportunity for size reduction. A PDF that already contains efficiently compressed images, mostly text, or optimized graphics may become only slightly smaller—or may not become smaller at all with a browser-based image compressor.
What this compressor changes
To reduce size without sending the file to a server, this tool renders each PDF page in the browser and creates a new PDF from compressed page images. This approach can work well for scans and visually oriented documents, but it changes the internal structure of the PDF.
What may not be preserved
Selectable/searchable text, hyperlinks, bookmarks, form fields, comments, embedded files, layers, accessibility tags, scripts, and digital signatures may be removed or flattened because the output pages are rebuilt as images. Do not use this method when those features must remain intact.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Compress PDF tool free to use?
Yes. The current 2PDF2 Compress PDF tool can be used without a paid account.
Is my PDF uploaded to 2PDF2?
The compressor processes the selected PDF in your browser and does not intentionally send that PDF to a 2PDF2 server for compression. Normal webpage requests to third-party services may still occur; see the Privacy Policy for details.
Will every PDF become smaller?
No. Compression depends on the source file. Some PDFs are already well optimized. If the new file is not smaller, this tool will tell you instead of claiming that compression succeeded.
Which PDFs usually compress best?
Scanned documents and PDFs containing large photographs or images often provide the best opportunity for size reduction.
Will selectable text remain selectable?
Not with this compression method. Pages are rebuilt as images, so text in the output generally will not remain directly selectable or searchable unless another OCR process is applied later.
Can I compress a password-protected PDF?
Not with this compressor. Use an authorized method to remove the protection first, then select the unlocked PDF.
Related PDF tools
Need to reorganize the document instead? Merge PDF files or Split PDF pages with our other browser-based tools.
Built for transparent PDF processing
2PDF2 explains what each tool does and where its limitations are instead of promising identical results for every PDF. For questions, bug reports, or feedback, visit our Contact page.