The question "how do I make this PDF smaller?" comes up on every platform — and the answer is slightly different depending on what device you're on. Here's the fastest method for each, plus the one universal approach that works on anything with a browser.
The Universal Method: Browser-Based Compression
This works on every device — Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, Chromebook, Linux — with no software to install and no file upload to a third-party server:
- Open pdftoolshack.com/tools/compress-pdf/ in any browser
- Upload your PDF
- Choose compression level (medium for most cases)
- Download the compressed file
This is the recommended approach for sensitive documents since your file never leaves your device.
On a Mac: Use Preview's Export Feature
Mac's built-in Preview app has a useful PDF compression option that requires no additional software:
- Open the PDF in Preview
- File → Export as PDF
- Click the Quartz Filter dropdown
- Select Reduce File Size
- Save
Preview's Reduce File Size filter can be aggressive — it may produce a smaller file than needed for professional use. If the result looks degraded, use the browser-based compressor instead, which gives you control over the compression level.
On Windows: Print to PDF with Compression
Windows doesn't have a built-in PDF compressor, but you can reduce size through the print dialog:
- Open the PDF in Microsoft Edge (which has a built-in PDF reader)
- Press Ctrl+P to print
- Select Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer
- Under Settings, choose a lower quality or paper size if available
- Click Print and save the new PDF
This method has limited control over the output size. For more precise compression, the browser-based tool gives you better results with level control.
On iPhone or iPad: Use Files App Shortcuts
iOS doesn't have a native PDF compressor, but Safari handles browser-based tools perfectly:
- Open Safari on your iPhone or iPad
- Go to pdftoolshack.com/tools/compress-pdf/
- Tap to upload your PDF from Files or Photos
- Choose compression level and convert
- Download to Files
The browser-based tool runs directly in Safari — no app to install, and your file stays on your device.
On Android: Chrome Works the Same Way
Android doesn't include a PDF compressor either, but Chrome handles the browser-based tool seamlessly:
- Open Chrome on your Android device
- Go to pdftoolshack.com/tools/compress-pdf/
- Upload your PDF from Downloads or Drive
- Compress and download
What to Expect From Compression
| PDF Type | Typical Size Before | After Medium Compression |
|---|---|---|
| Scanned document (10 pages) | 15–40 MB | 2–6 MB |
| Report with images (20 pages) | 8–20 MB | 1–4 MB |
| Photo-heavy brochure | 20–50 MB | 3–8 MB |
| Text-only document | 100–500 KB | 80–400 KB (small change) |
- The browser-based compressor at PDFToolShack works on every device with no software needed
- Mac: Preview's Export as PDF with Quartz Filter "Reduce File Size" is built-in but aggressive
- Windows: Print to PDF via Edge has limited compression control
- iPhone/iPad and Android: use the browser-based tool in Safari or Chrome
- Image-heavy PDFs compress most dramatically; text-only PDFs see little size reduction
- Medium compression is the right level for email and web sharing
Compress your PDF on any device — free.
Works on Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android. Files stay in your browser.