{"id":67121,"date":"2026-11-12T15:10:07","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T15:10:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/compress-pdf-guide\/"},"modified":"2026-11-13T08:51:18","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T08:51:18","slug":"compress-pdf-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/compress-pdf-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Compress PDF: reduce PDF file size online and offline"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Is your PDF too large for an email, an application portal or an upload? PDF24 makes it smaller for free: online in your browser or offline with PDF24 Creator for Windows. This page explains what each setting does, how to keep PDFs small right when you create them, and what to do when a file hardly gets smaller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#welcher-weg\">Which way suits you?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#online\">Compress a PDF online: step by step<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#einstellungen\">Choosing DPI and image quality<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#zusaetzliche-optionen\">Additional options online<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#toolbox\">Offline in the PDF24 Toolbox<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#compress\">PDF24 Compress: see the new size first, watch a folder<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#explorer\">Right-click in File Explorer and in PDF24 Reader<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#drucken\">Small from the start: PDF printer and profiles<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#automatisch\">Compress automatically<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#kommandozeile\">From the command line<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#e-mail\">Make a PDF small enough for email<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#kaum-kleiner\">Why does my PDF hardly get smaller, or even larger?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#unscharf\">Images or drawings are blurry after compressing<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#grenzen\">How large may the file be?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#probleme\">Problems and solutions<\/a><\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"welcher-weg\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which way suits you?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Shrink a finished PDF quickly, on any device:<\/strong> online with <a href=\"https:\/\/tools.pdf24.org\/en\/compress-pdf\">Compress PDF<\/a> \u2192 <a href=\"#online\">step by step<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Without the internet, the file stays on your PC:<\/strong> in the PDF24 Toolbox with \"Compress PDF\" \u2192 <a href=\"#toolbox\">Toolbox<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>See the new size before saving, many files, watch a folder:<\/strong> PDF24 Compress \u2192 <a href=\"#compress\">PDF24 Compress<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>The PDF is being created right now by printing:<\/strong> save it with a smaller profile straight away \u2192 <a href=\"#drucken\">PDF printer and profiles<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Your scanner saves to a folder:<\/strong> shrink every new PDF there automatically \u2192 <a href=\"#automatisch\">hot folder<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Many files regularly, without clicking:<\/strong> <a href=\"#automatisch\">compress automatically<\/a> or use the <a href=\"#kommandozeile\">command line<\/a><\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The online tools work on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android. The free <a href=\"https:\/\/tools.pdf24.org\/en\/creator\">PDF24 Creator<\/a> with the Toolbox, PDF24 Compress and the PDF printer is available for Windows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How much a PDF shrinks depends on its content.<\/strong> It is almost always the images that make a PDF large: photos, scanned pages, graphics. PDF24 makes them much smaller, often a fraction of the original size. A PDF that contains only text is usually small already and hardly gets smaller (<a href=\"#kaum-kleiner\">why<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"online\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Compress a PDF online: step by step<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open <a href=\"https:\/\/tools.pdf24.org\/en\/compress-pdf\">Compress PDF<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Click \"Choose files\" or drag the PDF into the file box. You can add several files; each one is compressed on its own. Word files, images and other files are converted to PDF first.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>For a first try, leave \"DPI\" (144) and \"Image quality\" (75 %) as they are. What the values do is explained <a href=\"#einstellungen\">in the next section<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Click \"Compress\".<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Below the result PDF24 shows by how much the size has been reduced. Click \"Download\", or send the file right away with \"Email\".<\/li>\n\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1266\" height=\"668\" src=\"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/11\/compress-online.png\" alt=\"Compress PDF online with a PDF loaded, below it the fields &quot;DPI&quot; 144 and &quot;Image quality&quot; 75 %, the gear icon and the &quot;Compress&quot; button\" class=\"wp-image-67265\" srcset=\"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/11\/compress-online.png 1266w, https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/11\/compress-online-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/11\/compress-online-1024x540.png 1024w, https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/11\/compress-online-768x405.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1266px) 100vw, 1266px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">For a first try, keep the defaults and click \"Compress\"<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still too large? Change the values and click \"Compress\" again. Each run appears as a separate result, so you can compare them. PDF24 remembers your values for your next visit, including the checkmarks under the gear icon. The round arrow button on the frame of the options (\"Reset options to default values\") brings back the defaults; it appears as soon as a value differs from the default.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the PDF is password protected, PDF24 asks for the password. The compressed file has no password; protect it again with <a href=\"https:\/\/tools.pdf24.org\/en\/lock-pdf\">Protect PDF<\/a> if needed. Your files are deleted from the PDF24 server automatically after one hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Tip:<\/strong> If you have just used another tool, for example to merge PDFs, you don't have to download the result first: there is a \"Compress\" button below the result (in the Toolbox as well).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"einstellungen\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Choosing DPI and image quality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both values only affect the <strong>images<\/strong> in the PDF. Text and lines stay sharp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>\"DPI\"<\/strong> (dots per inch, default 144) is the highest resolution at which images are stored. An image with a higher resolution, such as a scan at 300 DPI, is scaled down to this value. Images that already have fewer DPI are not scaled down, but they are saved again at the chosen image quality if that makes them smaller.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>\"Image quality\"<\/strong> (default 75 %) controls the JPEG compression of the images. Lower values give smaller files but more artefacts (blocky patterns, smeared edges).<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These values are a good start:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>For reading on screen and for email:<\/strong> the defaults, 144 DPI and 75 %.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>As small as possible, photos may suffer:<\/strong> 96 DPI and 50 %.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Scans with small print, certificates, plans:<\/strong> 150\u2013200 DPI and 75\u201385 %.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>For printing in good quality:<\/strong> 300 DPI and 85 %.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PDF24 only replaces an image if it gets smaller. Pure black-and-white scans (1 bit, as used for faxes) are left unchanged because they are already stored very compactly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Without any quality loss?<\/strong> That usually gains little: without loss, images could be neither scaled down nor compressed again \u2013 and it is the images that make a PDF large. To lose as little as possible, choose a higher \"Image quality\" and more \"DPI\", switch off \"Rasterize heavy graphics\" under the gear icon so graphics stay vector graphics, and check the result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"zusaetzliche-optionen\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional options online<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The gear icon (\"Additional options\") opens further settings. The first four are switched on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>\"Remove thumbnails\":<\/strong> removes embedded page thumbnails; PDF viewers create them themselves.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>\"Deduplicate streams\":<\/strong> content that occurs several times, such as the same logo on every page, is stored only once.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>\"Rasterize heavy graphics\":<\/strong> pages made of a very large number of vector graphics (plans, charts) are stored as an image at the DPI value; the text on them stays text. If fine lines look blurry afterwards, switch this option off (<a href=\"#unscharf\">more<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>\"Subset embedded fonts\":<\/strong> keeps only the characters of each font that the document actually uses. This saves a lot when complete fonts are embedded.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Switched off by default:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>\"Use modern image compression\":<\/strong> stores images as JPEG 2000 where that makes them smaller. Takes longer.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>\"Convert images to grayscale\":<\/strong> turns only the images gray; coloured text and coloured areas keep their colour. To turn the whole PDF gray or black and white, use <a href=\"https:\/\/tools.pdf24.org\/en\/convert-pdf-to-grayscale\">PDF to grayscale<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>\"Maximum Flate compression\":<\/strong> packs the remaining data as tightly as possible, without loss. Saves a little, takes longer.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>\"Flatten form\":<\/strong> form fields become fixed content and can no longer be filled in.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Removing things:<\/strong> \"Strip output intents\" (colour profiles for printing; not for PDF\/A files, which are no longer valid PDF\/A afterwards), \"Strip attachments\", \"Strip annotations\" (comments, highlights, links and form fields including the values entered; to keep a filled-in form, use \"Flatten form\"), \"Remove bookmarks\", \"Strip metadata\" (title, author etc.) and \"Strip structural information\" (tags for screen readers; the PDF is no longer accessible afterwards).<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"353\" height=\"586\" src=\"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/11\/compress-additional-options.png\" alt=\"The open &quot;Additional options&quot; window of Compress PDF with checkmarks at Remove thumbnails, Deduplicate streams, Rasterize heavy graphics and Subset embedded fonts, below them the other options unticked\" class=\"wp-image-67266\" srcset=\"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/11\/compress-additional-options.png 353w, https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/11\/compress-additional-options-181x300.png 181w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 353px) 100vw, 353px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The additional options behind the gear icon, the first four are ticked by default<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The removal options usually save little unless the PDF contains large attachments. Only use them if you really don't need what they remove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"toolbox\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Offline in the PDF24 Toolbox<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open the PDF24 Toolbox (part of <a href=\"https:\/\/tools.pdf24.org\/en\/creator\">PDF24 Creator<\/a>) and choose \"Compress PDF\".<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Load one or more PDFs.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Set \"DPI:\" and \"Image quality:\" (defaults 144 and 75, <a href=\"#einstellungen\">what they mean<\/a>). With \"Color\" set to \"Gray\" the images are also converted to grayscale.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Click \"Compress\". The result list shows the old and the new size next to each file.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Save the result.<\/li>\n\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1010\" height=\"1028\" src=\"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/11\/compress-toolbox-compress-pdf.png\" alt=\"PDF24 Toolbox, tool &quot;Compress PDF&quot; with two PDFs, the fields DPI, Image quality, Color, Save file suffix and &quot;Save each file next to its original&quot;, below it the result with old and new size of each file\" class=\"wp-image-67267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/11\/compress-toolbox-compress-pdf.png 1010w, https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/11\/compress-toolbox-compress-pdf-295x300.png 295w, https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/11\/compress-toolbox-compress-pdf-1006x1024.png 1006w, https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/11\/compress-toolbox-compress-pdf-768x782.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1010px) 100vw, 1010px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The result shows the old (struck through) and the new size next to each file<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>File names and location<\/strong> (since version 11.34.0):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>\"Save file suffix\"<\/strong> is appended to the name, by default <code>_compressed<\/code> (\"report_compressed.pdf\"). The placeholders <code>{dpi}<\/code>, <code>{quality}<\/code> and <code>{color}<\/code> insert the values of the run: <code>_{dpi}dpi_{quality}<\/code> gives \"report_144dpi_75.pdf\". If the field is empty, the file keeps its name.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>\"Save each file next to its original\":<\/strong> with several files, each one is saved in the folder of its original instead of PDF24 asking for one folder.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>If a file with that name already exists, PDF24 asks whether to replace it or keep both.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Toolbox never saves a larger file: if the result is not smaller, you get the original back. The additional options of the online tool are not available in the Toolbox; fonts are always subset there, data is always packed as tightly as possible, and graphics are never rasterized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"compress\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">PDF24 Compress: see the new size first, watch a folder<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PDF24 Compress is a separate program of PDF24 Creator. It shows the new size of every file before you save. You open it<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>in the PDF24 Toolbox with \"Open PDF24 Compress\",<\/li>\n\n\n<li>in the PDF24 Assistant (after printing to PDF24) with \"Compress\",<\/li>\n\n\n<li>in File Explorer with a right-click \u203a \"PDF24\" \u203a \"Open with\" \u203a \"Compress\" (in the new context menu of Windows 11: \"Open with Compress\").<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How to use it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Add files with \"Add file\" or drag them into the list. PDF24 calculates the new size at once: the list shows \"Size\" and \"New Size\", in green if the file gets smaller, in red if it would get larger.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Change \"DPI\", \"Image quality\" or \"Color model\" (\"GRAY\" for grayscale) and click \"Calc Size\" until the new size suits you.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Check the result first with \"Open File\".<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Click \"Save\".<\/li>\n\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"866\" height=\"547\" src=\"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/11\/compress-pdf24-compress.png\" alt=\"PDF24 Compress with three files in the list, columns File, Size and New Size (green), below them the fields DPI, Image quality, Save smaller file, Save each file next to its original, Color model, Save file suffix and Hot folder\" class=\"wp-image-67268\" srcset=\"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/11\/compress-pdf24-compress.png 866w, https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/11\/compress-pdf24-compress-300x189.png 300w, https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/11\/compress-pdf24-compress-768x485.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 866px) 100vw, 866px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">PDF24 Compress shows the new size before you save<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More settings at the bottom of the window:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>\"Save smaller file\"<\/strong> (off by default): if a file does not get smaller, PDF24 saves a copy of the original under the new name.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>\"Save file suffix\"<\/strong> (default <code>_compressed<\/code>, without the placeholders of the Toolbox) and <strong>\"Save each file next to its original\"<\/strong> as in the <a href=\"#toolbox\">Toolbox<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>\"Hot folder\":<\/strong> a folder that PDF24 Compress watches (<a href=\"#automatisch\">compress automatically<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"explorer\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Right-click in File Explorer and in PDF24 Reader<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In Windows File Explorer:<\/strong> select one or more PDFs, right-click them and choose \"PDF24\" \u203a \"Compress\" (on Windows 11 in the new context menu or under \"Show more options\"; depending on the installation, \"PDF24\" opens the File Tools window, where you click \"Compress\"). In the window \"PDF compression settings\" you set \"DPI\", \"Image quality\", \"Color model\" and \"Save file suffix\" (with the placeholders <code>{dpi}<\/code>, <code>{quality}<\/code>, <code>{color}<\/code> as in the <a href=\"#toolbox\">Toolbox<\/a>), with several files also \"Save each file next to its original\". \"Remember settings\" keeps the values for next time. After \"Ok\", PDF24 asks where to save. With an empty suffix and a single file, PDF24 suggests the original file so you can replace it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In PDF24 Reader:<\/strong> choose \"Save compressed\" in the save menu. The same window with the compression settings opens, then you choose the file name. \"Save using profile\" saves with a quality profile instead (<a href=\"#drucken\">profiles<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"drucken\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Small from the start: PDF printer and profiles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you create the PDF with the \"PDF24\" PDF printer (<a href=\"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/how-to-create-pdf-files-with-pdf24\/#pdf-drucker\">how it works<\/a>), you set the size right when saving. In the PDF24 Assistant, choose the output profile above the buttons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>\"Low quality\":<\/strong> images at 96 DPI at most, strong JPEG compression. The smallest file.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>\"Medium quality\":<\/strong> 150 DPI. Usually the best choice for email.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>\"Good quality\"<\/strong> (default): 300 DPI.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>\"High quality\":<\/strong> 600 DPI.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>\"Best quality\":<\/strong> images are not scaled down.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The selected profile applies to \"Save as PDF\", \"Send by Email\" and \"Compress\". The Assistant remembers the profile you chose last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"914\" height=\"440\" src=\"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/11\/compress-assistant-profiles.png\" alt=\"PDF24 Assistant with the open profile list above the buttons: Low, Medium, Good, High, Best and Fax quality and Custom\" class=\"wp-image-67269\" srcset=\"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/11\/compress-assistant-profiles.png 914w, https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/11\/compress-assistant-profiles-300x144.png 300w, https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/11\/compress-assistant-profiles-768x370.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 914px) 100vw, 914px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Choose the profile for the output file above the buttons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Fine-tuning:<\/strong> \"Save as...\" \u203a PDF opens the settings. Under \"General\" choose the \"Quality of PDF\", under \"Resolution\" (\"Use resolution\") the DPI values for colour, gray and black-and-white images, under \"Compression\" the \"JPEG Quality\". If you need certain settings again and again, create your own profile: in the Toolbox with \"Manage output profiles\" or in the Assistant with \"Output profiles\" at the bottom. Your own profiles then appear in the profile list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A profile affects images the same way as compressing. A PDF that was already created with lower values does not get smaller with \"Good quality\". To shrink finished PDFs, the tools above are the better choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"automatisch\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Compress automatically<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Save small automatically when printing:<\/strong> in the PDF24 settings (in the Toolbox \"Open Settings\"), section \"PDF Printer\", choose \"Automatically save documents after printed\" under \"PDF Printer Tool\", and under \"Auto Save\" set the \"Profile\", for example to \"Medium quality\". Every print job is then saved in this quality without asking (<a href=\"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/how-to-create-pdf-files-with-pdf24\/#automatisch-speichern\">more about automatic saving<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Shrink existing PDFs automatically (hot folder):<\/strong> in PDF24 Compress, choose a folder under \"Hot folder\", for example the folder your scanner saves to. Every PDF that arrives there is compressed with the values set in the window and saved next to the original with the \"Save file suffix\" (<code>_compressed<\/code> if empty). The original is kept. The folder is only watched while PDF24 Compress is open; files that arrive in the meantime are processed the next time you open it. Files that are still being written are left alone until they are complete; an incomplete or damaged file is shown as \"Incomplete\" in the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For scheduled tasks without an open window, use the <a href=\"#kommandozeile\">command line<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"kommandozeile\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">From the command line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The PDF24 DocTool compresses without any window, for example from a batch file or the Windows Task Scheduler:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>\"C:\\Program Files\\PDF24\\pdf24-DocTool.exe\" -compress -dpi 144 -imageQuality 75 -silent -outputFile \"C:\\Scans\\small.pdf\" \"C:\\Scans\\large.pdf\"<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All PDFs of a folder into another folder:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>\"C:\\Program Files\\PDF24\\pdf24-DocTool.exe\" -compress -dpi 120 -imageQuality 70 -expandDirs -includeFileExtensions .pdf -silent -outputDir \"C:\\Scans\\small\" \"C:\\Scans\"<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><code>-dpi<\/code> and <code>-imageQuality<\/code> correspond to \"DPI\" and \"Image quality\" (defaults 144 and 75); <code>-colorModel gray<\/code> converts images to grayscale.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>With <code>-outputDir<\/code>, the results are named like the original plus the values, e.g. \"scan1_120dpi_70%.pdf\". <code>-outputFile -<\/code> saves each result next to its input file.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><code>-silent<\/code> shows no windows and reports errors through the exit code (0 = success).<\/li>\n\n\n<li><code>-useCompressionParamsDialog<\/code> shows the window with the compression settings first (not together with <code>-silent<\/code>).<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To save with a profile right when creating the PDF: <code>-applyProfile -profile default\/medium<\/code> (profiles <code>default\/low<\/code>, <code>default\/medium<\/code>, <code>default\/good<\/code>, <code>default\/high<\/code>, <code>default\/best<\/code>). The DocTool runs one command per call, so merging and compressing are two calls. All options are described in the <a href=\"https:\/\/creator.pdf24.org\/manual\/11\/#11123-compress-pdf-files\">manual<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"e-mail\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Make a PDF small enough for email<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PDF24 has no \"compress to 5 MB\" option; how small a file gets depends on its images. This is how you get below the limit of your email provider or portal quickly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Compress with the default values first (144 DPI, 75 %).<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Still too large? Lower the \"DPI\" first (e.g. 120 or 96), then the \"Image quality\" (e.g. 60 or 50). PDF24 Compress shows the new size before saving (<a href=\"#compress\">more<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n\n<li>No colour needed, for example for certificates or invoices? Grayscale saves even more.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Still not small enough? Split the PDF into parts: <a href=\"https:\/\/tools.pdf24.org\/en\/split-pdf\">Split PDF<\/a> with the mode \"By file size\" and the \"Maximum size\" in MB creates parts that each stay below it; only a page that is larger on its own goes into a file of its own. So compress first (in the Toolbox since version 11.34.0, <a href=\"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/split-delete-rotate-sort-pdf-pages\/#teilen\">more<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Online, you can send the result right away with \"Email\" below the result. From 10 MB PDF24 points out that many mailboxes don't accept attachments that large; above 72 MB PDF24 doesn't offer sending. Download the file instead and share it another way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Job applications:<\/strong> first <a href=\"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/how-to-merge-pdf-files-with-pdf24\/\">merge<\/a> your cover letter, CV and certificates, then compress the finished PDF. For scanned certificates with small print, 150 to 200 DPI is a good compromise between size and legibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Make scanned PDFs searchable:<\/strong> with <a href=\"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/pdf-ocr-text-recognition\/\">text recognition (OCR)<\/a>. The recognized text layer is kept when compressing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"kaum-kleiner\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why does my PDF hardly get smaller, or even larger?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The PDF contains hardly any images.<\/strong> Text takes little space. A text-only PDF from Word is usually so small already that there is little left to gain.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>The images are small already.<\/strong> If an image already has fewer DPI than set, it is not scaled down; if it was compressed strongly before, the image quality gains little as well. It only gets smaller with lower values.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Black-and-white scans<\/strong> (1 bit) are stored very compactly already and stay unchanged.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>The PDF has already been compressed,<\/strong> with PDF24 or another program. A second run with the same values gains little.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Compressing no longer makes a file larger: online you get your file back unchanged with the note \"Your file was already optimally compressed\". On the PC (Toolbox, PDF24 Compress, right-click, command line) you get the original back as well. The exception applies online only: if you chose options that change the content (such as grayscale or removing something), you get that result even if it is not smaller. On the PC you get the coloured original back even with \"Gray\" if the result is not smaller; for a fully gray PDF use <a href=\"https:\/\/tools.pdf24.org\/en\/convert-pdf-to-grayscale\">PDF to grayscale<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A PDF created with the PDF printer is much larger than expected?<\/strong> Choose a smaller <a href=\"#drucken\">profile<\/a> in the Assistant. With the driverless PDF printer on Windows 11, version 11.31.0 embedded every font again on every page; since version 11.32.0 each font is in the PDF only once. Update <a href=\"https:\/\/tools.pdf24.org\/en\/creator\">PDF24 Creator<\/a> if you have an older version. If a program prints pages as images, the PDF becomes large too; you can tell because the text cannot be selected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"unscharf\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Images or drawings are blurry after compressing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Photos and scans are blurry or pixelated:<\/strong> raise the \"DPI\"; it has the strongest effect on sharpness. For small print on scans, use 200 DPI, 300 for very small print. Blocky patterns and smeared edges come from an \"Image quality\" that is too low; use 85 or more.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Fine lines, plans or charts are blurry (online):<\/strong> switch off \"Rasterize heavy graphics\" under the gear icon. The graphics then stay vector graphics. On the PC (Toolbox, PDF24 Compress) vector graphics always stay vector graphics.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Keep the original:<\/strong> detail that has been scaled away cannot be restored. Always compress again from the original, not from the already compressed result.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"grenzen\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How large may the file be?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Online:<\/strong> each file up to 1,000 MB, all files of one run together up to 10 GB. Large files take time to upload.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Offline in the Toolbox and in PDF24 Compress:<\/strong> no fixed limit; the limit is the memory of your PC. Since versions 11.33.0 and 11.34.0, PDF24 also compresses books and plans of several hundred MB, files with very many bookmarks or fonts, which used to fail with an out-of-memory error. So update first.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>If a PDF consists of an exceptionally large number of parts (e.g. millions of bookmarks), you get it back unchanged; online PDF24 says so below the result.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"probleme\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Problems and solutions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Letters are missing or boxes appear after compressing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This can happen when fonts are subset, for example with PDFs that were already compressed with another program. Online: remove the checkmark at \"Subset embedded fonts\" under the gear icon and compress the original again. In the Toolbox this cannot be switched off; update PDF24 Creator, because several such cases have been fixed in the latest versions. If it still happens, write to us (see below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Links, bookmarks or form fields are gone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check the checkmarks under the gear icon: \"Strip annotations\" also removes links and form fields, \"Flatten form\" makes forms unfillable, \"Remove bookmarks\" removes the bookmarks. With the default settings all of this is kept. PDF24 also remembers these checkmarks for your next visit. The round arrow button (\"Reset options to default values\") resets everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The compressed PDF shows blank or white pages (e.g. in Safari or Preview on the Mac)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This could happen with PDFs compressed with an older version of the online tool or with PDF24 Creator before version 11.33.0. Compress the <strong>original<\/strong> again, online or with the current PDF24 Creator. Compressing the already compressed result again does not help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The digital signature is invalid after compressing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Compressing rewrites the file, so a signature is no longer valid afterwards. Compress before signing (<a href=\"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/sign-pdf\/#invalid\">more<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Toolbox reports \"File could not be compressed\" or not enough memory<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Update PDF24 Creator first. Compressing needs the component \"OpenJDK (GPL)\" (or Ghostscript); if it was deselected during installation, run the setup again and select it. For out-of-memory errors, see <a href=\"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/pdf24-creator-troubleshooting\/#java-memory\">PDF24 Creator troubleshooting<\/a>. If it does not work on your PC, try <a href=\"https:\/\/tools.pdf24.org\/en\/compress-pdf\">Compress PDF<\/a> online (files up to 1,000 MB). PDFs with very many embedded fonts, e.g. from many merged documents, are already compressed online with much less memory; in the Toolbox this comes with the next version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The result has a different name than the original<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Toolbox, PDF24 Compress and the right-click command append the \"Save file suffix\" (default <code>_compressed<\/code>). Clear the field if the file should keep its name. Online, the result has the name of the original; in your downloads folder the browser often adds \"(1)\" if the name already exists there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are missing a feature or something doesn't work, write to us at team@pdf24.org or ask in the <a href=\"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/forums\/\">PDF24 forum<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Make a PDF smaller for email and uploads: choose DPI and image quality, save small when printing, compress automatically, fix common problems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-creator","category-online-tools"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67121","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67121"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67121\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67322,"href":"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67121\/revisions\/67322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67121"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67121"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/help.pdf24.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67121"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}