Stayput Tools

Compress a PDF to 2 MB

Get a PDF under 2 MB and keep it sharp. That suits email attachments and longer scans, and your file stays on your device.

Files stay on your device. Free, with no sign-up.

  1. 1Add PDF files
  2. 2Adjust
  3. 3Download

    How it works

    1. Add your PDF.
    2. Leave the limit at 2 MB, or change it.
    3. Press the button and download the smaller PDF.

    Keeping quality at 2 MB

    A 2 MB budget leaves plenty of room, so pages keep close to their original look and the difference from the source is hard to spot.

    Large photos and high-resolution scans are what usually push a PDF past this size. They are reduced only as far as needed to fit.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is 2 MB a safe size for email?

    Most email services accept attachments much larger than that, so 2 MB is safe almost everywhere. If a particular system has a lower limit, choose that number instead.

    How does it get the PDF under my size?

    First it tries to shrink the file without touching its pages. If that is enough, your text stays selectable. If not, every page is saved as an image and the size budget is shared out page by page: pages with little on them use less, which leaves more room for the busy ones.

    Will I still be able to select and copy the text?

    Only if the file could be shrunk enough without touching its pages, and the result says so when that happens. Otherwise each page becomes an image, so the text is no longer selectable or searchable.

    What if it cannot reach my size?

    You are told the closest size it could reach, and you still get that file. A higher limit, fewer pages (see Remove Pages or Split PDF) or a lower-resolution original are the usual fixes.

    Why is the result a little under my limit?

    It aims just below your limit on purpose. It also counts 1 KB as 1,000 bytes, so the file passes upload forms that count either 1,000 or 1,024 bytes per KB.

    Are my files uploaded anywhere?

    No. Everything happens inside your browser, on your own device. Your files are never sent to a server, and you can confirm that in your browser's network tab. Close the tab and they're gone.

    Is there a file size limit?

    Each file can be up to 100 MB, and up to 300 MB in total. Because the work happens on your device, very large files depend on your available memory. A desktop browser handles them best.

    Can I use a password-protected PDF?

    Not directly. Use Unlock PDF on this site to remove the password (you need to know it), then add the unlocked copy here.

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