How to compress a PDF
- Add your PDFDrop a PDF onto the box, or tap Choose PDF.
- Choose the levelStrong gives the smallest file, Light keeps the most detail.
- CompressPress Compress PDF. You'll see the old and new size, then download, email or share it.
Questions and answers
How much smaller will my PDF get?
Scanned and photo-heavy PDFs often shrink by 50–90%. PDFs that are mostly plain text are usually small already and may not shrink much.
Will the text still be selectable?
Compression saves each page as an optimized image, so text can't be selected or searched afterwards. Keep your original if you need that.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. Every tool runs inside your own browser, so your files stay on your device. The only exceptions are when you choose “Email” or “QR code”: then the finished file is sent to our server so it can be emailed or downloaded by link, and it's deleted automatically.
Is it really free?
Yes. PDFSorted is free to use with no sign-up and no watermark. The site is supported by ads.
Does it work on my phone?
Yes. It works in any modern browser on Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac and Linux. On phones you can also use Share to send the file straight to WhatsApp, Gmail or another app.
How does sharing with a QR code work?
After your file is ready, press “QR code”. We create a private download link and a QR code. Anyone who scans it can download the file for 24 hours; after that the file is deleted from our server.
Can I protect my file with a password?
Yes. Tick “Protect with a password” before you press the button. PDFs are locked with AES-256 encryption and ask for the password when opened in any PDF reader. Images are packed into a password-protected ZIP. The password never leaves your device, so keep it safe; it can't be recovered.