How to Compress a PDF Without Losing Quality (Free Method)

Why your PDF is so large

PDFs become heavy when they contain many high-resolution images, scanned pages or unused fonts and metadata. A good compressor reduces image size and removes junk data while keeping text sharp.

Compress PDF in your browser

The safest way is to use a browser-based tool, where the file is processed on your device. With a tool like a Compress PDF page on Toolux, the typical flow looks like this:

• 1. Open the Compress PDF tool in your browser.
• 2. Click “Select PDF” and choose your file.
• 3. Pick a compression level: light, medium or strong.
• 4. Click “Compress” and download the result.

Start with a light or medium level, then check if text and images still look good. For normal office documents, you usually get a huge size reduction without losing readability.

Optimise before exporting

If you export from Word, PowerPoint or Google Docs:

• Resize and compress images before inserting them.
• Use “Save as PDF (optimized)” if your app offers it.
• Avoid scanning printed pages when you still have the original file.

When not to compress too much

Go easy on compression for legal documents, contracts or tiny text. In those cases, choose a light compression level so the PDF stays crystal clear when printed.