How to reduce a PDF's file size on Windows
Windows can open, print and annotate PDFs out of the box, but it cannot compress them — there is no Reduce File Size option hiding in Explorer. The quickest route is the browser you already have.
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.
The options Windows gives you (and their limits)
- Print to PDF at a lower quality — works, but flattens the file and removes selectable text.
- Zipping the PDF — barely helps; PDFs are already compressed containers.
- Third-party desktop apps — effective, but the good ones are paid and the free ones often watermark.
Compressing in Edge or Chrome
Open this page, drag the PDF straight from Explorer onto the tool below, and choose a level. Medium is right for anything read on screen; keep it light if the document will be printed. The file is processed on your PC — it is not uploaded — so it works even on a locked-down work machine where you cannot install software.
The result downloads like any other file and lands in your Downloads folder, leaving the original where it was.
For a folder full of PDFs
Compress them one at a time — each takes seconds for a typical document. If the real problem is one giant scanned archive, consider splitting it into chapters first; smaller, well-named files are easier to email and easier for the recipient to use.
Step by step
- 1Locate your PDF in File Explorer.
- 2Drag it onto the compressor below in Edge or Chrome.
- 3Pick a level — medium for screen, light for print.
- 4Download the compressed copy from your browser.
- 5Check the new size in the file's Properties.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this work on Windows 10 and 11?
- Yes — any current version of Edge or Chrome on either, and on older versions too.
- Can I compress a PDF without internet?
- Once this page has loaded, the compression itself runs offline, since the file never leaves your PC.