How to reduce PDF file size for email and uploads
Many email services cap attachments around 20–25 MB, and government or job portals often accept only 1–5 MB. Most of a PDF's size comes from images, so shrinking those is what brings the file down.
Open Compress PDF →Steps
- Open Compress PDF on PDFoxen.
- Select the PDF.
- Choose a level: light keeps images sharp, stronger levels make the file smaller.
- Click Compress, check the new size shown, and download.
Choosing a level
Start with the middle setting. If the file is still too large, try a stronger one. For documents that are mostly text, the saving may be small because text already takes little space.
Always open the result and zoom in on small print or signatures before sending it.
Other ways to save space
Remove pages you do not need with Remove pages. For scans, scanning at 150–200 dpi instead of 600 dpi makes a big difference before you even start.
Common questions
Will the text become blurry?
Real text stays sharp at every level. Only images are reduced.
Why did my file barely shrink?
It was probably already optimised, or mostly text. There is little left to remove.
Is my document uploaded?
No. Compression happens on your device.
Try Compress PDF free →