How to Reduce PDF Size

There are still some actions you can do if your file is still quite huge after being made electronically rather than through scanning. The simplest solution is to re-save your document as a smaller PDF.

Open the PDF you want to re-save as a smaller format in the most recent version of Adobe Acrobat, then select File, Save as Other, and then Reduced Size PDF from the menu. When prompted, choose the version compatibility you require, and then click OK to save your changes. As Acrobat X is still commonly used, we advise setting your compatibility with at least that version.

How to Reduce PDF Size

1: Save as “Reduced Size PDF”

There are still some actions you can do if your file is still quite huge after being made electronically rather than through scanning. The simplest solution is to re-save your document as a smaller PDF.

Open the PDF you want to re-save as a smaller format in the most recent version of Adobe Acrobat, then select File, Save as Other, and then Reduced Size PDF from the menu. When prompted, choose the version compatibility you require, and then click OK to save your changes. As Acrobat X is still commonly used, we advise setting your compatibility with at least that version.

This method is quick and simple but be warned that it will reduce the quality of images and will remove digital signatures. If you want more control over how your PDF is compressed in Acrobat, use the optimization method described below instead.

2: Use Adobe Acrobat’s PDF Optimizer

You may occasionally want more control over which parts of your paper are omitted or have their quality reduced. In these situations, the PDF optimizer tool is the best option.

It's a good idea to analyze which elements, such as fonts, photos, and so on, are consuming the most data before you optimize a file. Your greatest options for file size reduction may be revealed by the results of this.

Open your PDF in Acrobat, choose File, Save as Other, and then Optimized PDF to start the optimization process. Click on Audit space utilization in the top right-hand corner of the dialog box that displays. You’ll see a table of information a bit like this:

You have total control over which parts of your PDF will be compressed thanks to the optimizer. Choose options in a panel after checking the box next to it (such as Images or Fonts). There are numerous options, so it's important to read the Adobe help file to learn what each one accomplishes. Okay, we know that not everyone uses Adobe Acrobat. What options are available to you if you’re using other software or only the basic Adobe Reader? Here are two more options for reducing the size of your PDF file if you’re not using Acrobat.

3: Reduce the size as you save in Word

Using Word's Save As feature, you can convert a document to a PDF. Depending on how many photographs are in your document, this method typically creates a little file. There is another option in Word that will result in a much smaller file if your Word-converted PDF proves to be still too large. This is how to apply it:

Open the Word file that will be converted to a PDF. Select "Save As" after clicking the File button. Choose PDF from the Save as type selection, then provide the file name you want. The extra step is as follows: Choose Minimum size where it says Optimize for at the bottom of the dialog box (publishing online).

Conclusion

PDF tools generally contain features that will reduce the size of your PDF. However, if you’re looking for a free option, there are some available. Currently, the most downloaded free PDF creator is WPS Office.

Once you’ve installed WPS Office, simply open the PDF you wish to compress (in Acrobat Reader, or a web browser, for example), press Ctrl+P to open the print dialog, select PrimoPDF from the list of available printers, and then click Create PDF.