How to Make a PDF Smaller Online and on PC

When working with PDF documents on phones or laptops, you have to be mindful of the storage capacity they occupy.

The performance of your device needs to be satisfying even when you're processing large packs. Hence, knowing how to make a PDF smaller is a must-have skill.

This article describes 6 methods that will help you reduce the file size in just a few clicks!

Option 1. Compress a PDF with PDF Candy

To save disk space while maintaining all the pages, you will need a PDF size diminisher.

In case you do not want to install any additional software on your computer or download a specialized app to your phone, there are web options to do so.

A great example of such is PDF Candy. This website offers a simple online PDF compressor that has two modes - "Maximum" to shrink your PDF as much as possible and "Recommended" to keep the balance between the volume and the quality.

How to make your PDF smaller

1. Go to the "Compress PDF" tool.
2. Upload the paper with the "+ Add file(s)" button or drag and drop the document (or several) into the working area manually. Alternatively, browse it from Google Drive or Dropbox.
3. Set the needed level of optimization.
4. Hit "Compress" to start the process. The time it takes to reduce the PDF size depends mainly on the weight of the original. It also will take a bit longer if you are processing multiple PDFs.
5. Once finished, save the output by tapping "Download File".

For me, PDF Candy is really convenient. I’m not a fan of installing extra apps just to minimize PDFs, so being able to do it straight in the browser is a big plus.

It comes in handy for freelancers sending client files, writers juggling lots of drafts, travelers needing PDFs to upload on slow Wi-Fi, or teachers putting together lesson plans.

Additional features of the platform:

Right after reducing the PDF size, you can further work with the paper on the same service. For example, you can split, merge PDF with images, sort pages, and more.

Also, there is a robust online PDF editor that allows you to draw, highlight, or white out parts of the document, and much more.

Option 2. Convert your PDF with PDF Candy

Another way to shrink the PDF is to alter its format to a more lightweight, such as DOCX. Generally, Word documents weigh much less than PDFs.

How to reduce a PDF file size via conversion

1. Open the PDF to Word converter.
2. Upload the paper into the tool's window. You can add multiple drafts to be processed simultaneously.
3. Press "Convert".
4. Once it is complete, hit "Download".

Compressing PDF by saving it in a different extension will provide you with the possibility to extensively edit the content. However, keep in mind that the layout may not look the same as in PDF.

Option 3. Turn PDF into text with PDF Candy

As an alternative to the PDF to DOC conversion, if your computer does not have Microsoft Word installed, you can also change PDF into RTF. Hence, you will be able to open your archive in a simple text editor.

How to make a PDF smaller by turning it to text

1. Go to the PDF to RTF converter.
2. Click "+ Add file" or drag and drop it into the page.
3. Hit the green "Convert" button. Once processed, download the result.

Just keep in mind that the RTF does not support graphic elements. Hence, if your materials have illustrations, you need to extract images prior to changing its format.

Option 4. Delete extra PDF pages

If your article has blank pages or outdated information, you can make a PDF smaller if you remove the unnecessary sections. In this way, all the parameters will remain intact and you will end up with essentially a new document that you can later add new pages to.

How to reduce the PDF file size

1. Open the PDF page extractor in a browser on your computer or phone.
2. With the "+ Add file" button, transfer the draft into the window.
3. Enter the numbers or specify the range to delete. You can also manually pick the pages by clicking on their thumbnails
4. Hit "Delete Pages" to proceed.
5. Once done, export it to your device.

Main advantage

• Preserving the original fidelity of the item and all the images within.

If you wonder how to compress PDF without losing quality, this can be your go-to option. It allows you to optimize the file by eliminating parts that are no longer needed.

You can also preserve the deleted pages for later use instead of cutting them permanently. You simply extract pages from a PDF and save them separately.

Option 5. Crop PDF with PDF Candy

One more approach to tweaking your document is removing the extra space around the content. In case your paper has large margins, you can reduce the PDF file size by cropping down the white areas.

How to make a PDF smaller by cutting it

1. Go to the PDF cropper in any browser on your device.
2. Upload the PDF to compress with the "+ Add file" button.
3. With the mouse, adjust the frames. Note that the change will be applied to all pages simultaneously.
4. Hit "Crop PDF" to initiate the processing.
5. On the resulting page tap "Download file" to export the new one.

Making the size of a PDF smaller with this method will help you and your readers focus on the data in the PDF right away instead of having to zoom in to be able to scan the text.

You can also see if resizing it will shrink your PDF.

Option 6. Archive PDF with CloudConvert

In order to compress your PDF, you can utilize an archiving program. There are such apps for both desktop and mobile devices. Online options are available as well.

For example, CloudConvert has a tool for creating repository for limiting the size of your PDF collection. This web service can zip not only papers but also eBooks, videos, photos, and audio.

How to reduce PDF file size with an archiver

1. Go to the website in a browser of your choice.
2. Hit "Select File" and upload your documents.
3. Choose the format from the dropdown list.
4. Click "Create Archive". After your papers are zipped, download the folder.

Pros

• Web-based tool for making PDF files smaller.
• Does not require high hardware performance.
• Cross-platform compatibility is ensured as it's an online utility.
• Simple and clear interface with flexible settings.

Cons

• The maximum number of assets for one archive is 5 in the free version.

Overall, utilizing an archiver as a PDF size reducer may prove beneficial in certain scenarios.

For instance, if you have many PDF records with reports that need to be compressed and stored as a backup. In addition, to protect your files from authorized access, you can set a password.

Tips

1. Downsample high-resolution footage to match display or print requirements.
2. Subset or remove embedded fonts to include only necessary characters.
3. Flatten layers and annotations to decrease structural complexity.
4. Strip unnecessary metadata, hidden objects, and unused elements.
5. Reduce color depth in visuals when full fidelity is not needed.

FAQ

1. What factors affect the file size of a PDF?

The primary issues include the image resolution, embedded fonts, compression parameters, and the presence of multimedia elements like videos or large graphics.

2. How do PDF version and optimization impact size?

The type determines how efficiently the dossier is condensed. Later versions, like PDF 1.7, often support better algorithms. Optimization settings within can also fine-tune how images, fonts, and metadata are handled.

How to make a PDF file smaller: conclusion

As you see, there are multiple ways how to transform PDF file size.

You can use a specialized PDF compressor that saves all the content or turn your document into a different format. More to that, there are options to shrink the size by removing extra pages or cropping margins.

All these methods are completely different and are suitable for various purposes. Depending on what you want to achieve, pick the PDF size reducer that will help you save space on your device best!