How to compress a PDF on an iPhone
You do not need an app, an account or a computer to shrink a PDF on an iPhone. The compressor below runs entirely in Safari, which also means your document never leaves the phone — useful when the file is a bank statement or a signed contract.
Drag and drop here, or choose from your device.
Up to 50 MB per file. Files are processed in your browser.
Full options and FAQs on the Compress PDF page.
Where your PDF probably lives
- Files app — anything you downloaded, scanned with Notes, or saved from Mail.
- Mail or Messages attachments — tap the file, then the share icon, then Save to Files first.
- iCloud Drive — if it shows a cloud icon, tap to download it before compressing.
Compressing in Safari
Open this page in Safari, tap to choose your PDF from Files, and pick a compression level. The medium level usually cuts a scanned document by 60-80% while keeping the text easy to read. Because the work happens on the phone itself, a large file can take a little while — that is normal, not a freeze.
When it finishes, download the result. It lands back in Files, usually in Downloads, ready to attach to an email or upload to a form.
If it is still too big
- Try the strongest compression level for documents you only need on screen.
- Split the PDF and send the part that matters — often the recipient only needs a few pages.
- If the file came from the Notes scanner, re-scan at a lower quality next time.
Step by step
- 1Save the PDF to the Files app if it is currently an attachment.
- 2Open this page in Safari and add the PDF to the compressor below.
- 3Choose the medium level and run the compression.
- 4Download the smaller file and check the text is still sharp.
- 5Share it straight from Files to Mail, Messages or the upload form.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this really free?
- Yes. There is no account, no watermark and no page limit. The compression runs in your browser using your phone's processor.
- Does it work on an iPad?
- Yes, identically — the same steps apply in Safari on iPadOS.
- Will my document be uploaded?
- No. The file is processed locally in Safari and never sent anywhere, which you can verify by switching to airplane mode after the page loads.