Frequently asked questions
Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?
No. The PDF is rendered and rebuilt by your own browser. It never touches a server — safe even for bank statements and ID documents.
Will the text still be selectable?
For strong compression the pages are converted to high-quality images, so text is no longer selectable. Upload portals don't care — but keep your original for editing.
What if my PDF is password-protected?
Remove the password first (open it with the password and print-to-PDF), then compress. Encrypted files can't be read by the tool.
How big a PDF can I compress?
Up to about 60 pages runs comfortably; larger files work but take longer since every page is re-rendered on your machine.
Why PDFs are so stubborn about size
A PDF that's a few megabytes is usually carrying weight you can't see: high-resolution scans, embedded fonts, full-colour images at print DPI, and metadata. Upload portals rarely care about any of that — they just need a legible document under their limit. This tool re-renders each page at the highest resolution that still fits your target, stripping the invisible bulk while keeping the document clearly readable for whoever reviews it.
How to choose a target
If your portal states a maximum, use it exactly — pick a preset or type the number. If it doesn't, a good rule of thumb is 200 KB for a one-to-three-page text document and 500 KB for something with scans or photos. Going lower is always possible, but past a point text starts to soften, so don't compress further than the limit actually requires.
A trade-off worth understanding
Strong PDF compression works by converting pages into high-quality images. That's what lets it hit aggressive size targets, but it means the text in the output is no longer selectable or searchable. For an upload — a KYC document, a visa checklist item, a job-application attachment — that's exactly what's wanted and nobody downstream will notice. If you need the text to stay editable, keep your original and only send the compressed copy. If a document is password-protected, remove the password first (open it, then print-to-PDF), because encrypted files can't be read by the tool.
Good practice before you submit
- Merge first, compress last. If you're combining several files, merge the PDFs and then compress the single result — you'll get under the limit more reliably than compressing each piece separately.
- Keep the original. Compression is one-way. Store the full-quality file in case you need to edit or reprint it.
- Open the result before uploading. A ten-second glance confirms every page is still readable at the size you chose.
Private by design
Like every FileKitt tool, PDF compression happens entirely in your browser — the same engine Firefox uses to display PDFs renders your pages locally. The document is never uploaded, which is why the tool is safe for bank statements, contracts and identity documents. Choose a specific target below, or explore related tools: PDF to JPG, PDF to Excel, or the image compressor.