Compress PDF to 2 MB
Bring a PDF under 2 MB for an upload portal or email, right in your browser.
- 1Select
- 2Configure
- 3Process
- 4Download
Your PDF is processed locally and never uploaded.
Accepts PDFOne PDF, up to 50 MBDrop a PDF file here
One PDF, up to 50 MB. Works best on scans and picture-heavy PDFs.
Several steps to do? PDF Maker combines photos and PDFs, adds page numbers and fits a size limit in one go.
Guide: How to compress a PDF to meet an upload limit
Where the 2 MB limit comes up
2 MB is one of the most common upload caps. Admissions systems, job application sites, scholarship forms and government e-services often stop at 2 MB per file, and some email providers bounce messages long before their stated attachment limit once several files are attached.
A PDF over that line is nearly always one built from pictures: a phone scan, a document exported from photos, or a brochure with large images. A typed document of the same length would usually be a small fraction of the size.
Reaching 2 MB without blurry pages
Two megabytes leaves room for good quality. A typical 10-page scan fits comfortably at a resolution that still reads well on screen and prints cleanly. The compressor tries the highest picture quality first and only steps down as far as it must.
- Start from the original file. A PDF that was already squeezed once has lost detail; compress the first version you have.
- Mostly text but still large? Large embedded fonts or print-colour images may be the cause; those are left alone, so the saving will be small.
- Need 1 MB instead? Some portals are stricter; the Compress PDF to 1 MB page starts at that target.
- Sending by email? Under 2 MB per file also keeps a message with several attachments well below typical email limits.
How to compress a PDF to 2 MB
- Choose the PDF or drop it onto the box. Phones open it from the Files app.
- 2 MB is already chosen under Target size.
- Press Compress PDF. The result shows the new size, ready to download and upload.
How your files stay private
Your browser re-compresses the pictures in memory, on your device. The page is locked so it cannot send data to any other website. When you press Start over or close the tab, everything is cleared.
Limits
- One PDF at a time, up to 50 MB
- Black-and-white scans (JBIG2, CCITT) and print-colour (CMYK) pictures are left as they are
- Password-protected or restricted PDFs can't be changed
Questions
How do I make a PDF smaller than 2 MB?
Open it here with Target size set to 2 MB and press Compress PDF. The pictures are re-saved until the file is at or under 2,000,000 bytes.
Why is my scanned PDF so large?
Each scanned page is a full-page photograph. At high scan resolutions, a few pages add up to many megabytes.
Will the text still be searchable?
Yes. Text and fonts aren't changed; you can still search, select and copy it.
Can I compress a PDF to 2 MB on my phone?
Yes. Open the page in your phone's browser, pick the PDF from your files and save the smaller copy back to your phone. It works on Android phones and iPhones alike, with nothing to install.
What if 2 MB can't be reached?
You get the smallest readable version with a note. Removing pages or splitting the document are the next steps.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. Your browser re-compresses it on your own device. The file is never sent to our servers or anyone else's.