How to Reduce the File Size of a PDF

Reducing the file size of a PDF can make it easier to share and store. Here are some methods using tools typically installed on Windows and Mac OS, including an online tool from Adobe:

For Windows:

  1. Adobe Acrobat Reader DC:
    • Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.
    • Click on the “File” menu.
    • Select “Save As Other” and choose “Reduced Size PDF”.
    • Adjust the compression settings as needed and save the file.
  2. Microsoft Edge:
    • Open the PDF in Microsoft Edge.
    • Click on the “Print” button.
    • Select “Save as PDF” instead of printing.
    • Adjust the settings to reduce the file size and save the new PDF.

For Mac OS:

  1. Preview:
    • Open the PDF in Preview.
    • Click on “File” > “Export”.
    • Choose “Reduce File Size” from the Quartz Filter options.
    • Save the new PDF.
  2. Pages:
    • Copy the content of the PDF into Pages.
    • Adjust the image quality and other settings.
    • Export the document as a PDF.

Using Adobe’s Online Tool:

  1. Visit Adobe’s Online PDF Compressor:
  2. Upload Your PDF:
    • Click on “Select a file” to upload your PDF.
  3. Adjust Compression Settings:
    • Choose the “Medium” compression setting, which downscales images to 150 dpi.
    • Click “Compress”.
  4. Download the Compressed PDF:
    • Save the newly compressed PDF file to your computer.

These methods should help you reduce the file size of your PDFs without needing additional software. Still got questions, or is there another PDF dilemma I can help with?