Compress PDF
Shrink PDFs that are too big to email or upload. Images are recompressed, while text, links and vector graphics stay exactly as they are.
Drop your PDF here
or choose one from your computer or phone
Your files are processed in your browser and never uploaded.
How to compress a PDF
Open the PDF
Drop the file onto the page or use Choose file.
Pick a level
Balanced suits most files. Strong scales large images down further for the smallest result; Light keeps images close to the original.
Compress and download
Press Compress PDF. You'll see the size before and after, and can download the result when it's smaller.
How the compression works
Most of a large PDF's size is usually photos and scans. Deskbox re-encodes those images as JPEG at the level's quality, scales very large ones down, removes objects that nothing in the file uses and recompresses the rest of the data without loss. Pages aren't turned into pictures, so text stays sharp, selectable and searchable.
When the file hardly shrinks
A PDF made of text and vector drawings is usually compact already, and images that can't be re-encoded safely (CMYK, JPEG 2000, masks and similar) are left as they are. If the result isn't smaller, Deskbox says so and you keep the original.
Frequently asked questions
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The file is compressed in your browser and never leaves your device.
Will the text stay selectable?
Yes. Only embedded images are re-encoded. Text, fonts, links and vector graphics are kept as they are, so you can still search and copy the text.
Which level should I choose?
Balanced suits most files: images keep up to 2,400 pixels on their long side, plenty for reading and printing. Strong goes down to 1,500 pixels at a lower quality, for email and upload limits. Light keeps up to 4,000 pixels at high quality.