My PDF is too large
Upload limits are usually 2MB, 5MB or 10MB. The steps to get any PDF safely under the line without wrecking the quality.
To make a PDF smaller, run it through a PDF compressor: it re-encodes the images and strips unused data so the file shrinks (often by 50–90%) while the pages stay readable. Our Compress PDF tool does this entirely in your browser, so the file is never uploaded. Pick a target size and download in seconds.
4 tools for this
Each one is free, private and runs in your browser. No sign-up, no watermark.
Compress PDF
Shrink a PDF's file size right in your browser. Pick a compression level, see exactly how much you saved, and download. No uploads, no watermark.
Split PDF
Break one PDF into several smaller files. Split every page out, or carve out custom page ranges. Free, fast and entirely in your browser.
Merge PDF
Combine multiple PDF files into a single document, drag to set the order, then download. Free, fast and entirely in your browser.
PDF to Word
Turn a PDF into an editable Microsoft Word (.docx) document, text extracted into clean, editable paragraphs, entirely in your browser with no upload.
How to fix it
Follow these steps and you'll have it sorted in a couple of minutes.
- 1
Open the Compress PDF tool
Drag your PDF onto the drop zone. It loads in your browser. The file is never sent to a server.
- 2
Choose a compression level
Higher compression = smaller file. If a form demands 'under 2MB', start with the strongest setting and check the result.
- 3
Compress and preview
The tool re-encodes images and removes bloat, then shows the new size so you can confirm it clears the limit.
- 4
Download the smaller PDF
Save it and upload. Still too big for a strict cap? Split out the pages you don't need first, then compress.
- Compressing a PDF that's mostly text. Text is already tiny. If the file is huge it's the embedded images or scans driving the size.
- Re-compressing an already-compressed PDF over and over: each pass gives less and can visibly degrade scans. Compress once from the original.
- Emailing a 9MB file to beat a 10MB cap. Leave headroom, because email encoding can add ~30% to the attachment size.
Frequently asked questions
More problems we solve
Ran into one of these too? Here's the fix.
- My email attachment is too largeGmail, Outlook and most providers reject attachments over ~25MB. Compress the file to the right type and send it normally. No cloud links needed.
- My PDF won't upload to a form or portal'Upload failed' rarely means the file is broken. Work through the three usual culprits (size, security and page count) and it'll go through.
- I need to combine several PDFs into oneApplications and submissions often want a single PDF. Merge your files in the right order, in seconds, without any software.
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Ready? Start with Compress PDF
Free, private and instant: everything runs in your browser.