How does PaperDesk compress a PDF?

Each page is turned into a compressed JPEG image and placed into a new PDF. A higher compression level gives a smaller file with lower image quality.

Will I still be able to select text after compressing?

No. Because pages are converted to images, the text in the compressed PDF cannot be selected or searched. Keep your original file if you need searchable text.

📦 PDF Optimizer

Compress PDF

Reduce the size of a PDF for easier sharing and storage.

📄

Select your PDF

Choose the PDF you want to compress.

Choose PDF File

Compression level

Higher compression may reduce image quality.

🔒 Your PDF is processed directly in your browser.

Compress PDF Online for Free

PaperDesk Compress PDF helps you make a PDF smaller so it is easier to email, upload to a website or keep on your phone. You do not need to install any software or create an account. Choose your file, pick a compression level and download the smaller version.

How to Compress a PDF

Click “Choose PDF File” and select the PDF you want to compress.
Pick a compression level from the list.
Click “Compress PDF” and wait while each page is processed. Longer PDFs take more time.
Your browser will download a file named paperdesk-compressed.pdf.
Check the message under the button. It tells you how much smaller the file became.

Which Compression Level Should I Choose?

Recommended — Balanced: a good mix of smaller size and clear pages. Start here.
High Compression — Smaller File: the smallest result, but pages can look softer. Useful when you must stay under an upload limit.
Low Compression — Better Quality: keeps pages sharper, but the file becomes less small.

How This Compressor Works

PaperDesk turns each page of your PDF into a compressed image and builds a new PDF from those images. This works very well for scanned documents, photos and PDFs full of pictures, which are often large.

Because the pages become images, please keep in mind that the text in the new PDF cannot be selected, copied or searched. A PDF that is mostly plain text may also stay the same size or even become larger. If that happens, the tool will tell you. Always keep your original file as a backup.

Your Files Stay on Your Device

PaperDesk does not upload your PDF to a remote server to compress it. Your own browser does the work, which is helpful when your document contains personal or work information. You can read more in our Privacy Policy.

Tips for Better Results

Try the Recommended level first, then High Compression only if the file is still too large.
Use this tool for scans, photo-heavy files and image-based PDFs.
If you only need a few pages, use Split PDF first. A shorter PDF is smaller anyway.
Need one file from many? Use Merge PDF and compress the result.
Very large PDFs can use a lot of memory. Close other heavy tabs if the page feels slow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PaperDesk Compress PDF free?

Yes. You can compress PDF files without paying and without creating an account.

Are my files uploaded to a server?

No. Compression happens inside your browser, so your PDF stays on your device.

Why can't I select text in the compressed PDF?

The tool converts every page to an image to reduce the size. Images do not contain selectable text. Keep your original PDF if you need searchable or copyable text.

Why did my file not get smaller?

PDFs that contain mostly text are already small, and turning them into images can make them larger. Try the High Compression level, or keep the original file.

Does compression change my original file?

No. Your original PDF is not changed. A new file is created and downloaded.

More PDF Tools

Looking for something else? Try Merge PDF, Split PDF, Word to PDF, Image to PDF or PDF to Image.