Identify what makes the PDF large
Scanned pages and photographs are commonly stored as embedded images, which can account for most of a PDF's size. Text, vector diagrams, fonts, forms, attachments, and duplicated resources can also contribute. Inqita's current PDF compressor focuses on recompressing compatible embedded JPEG images. It does not claim to rebuild every possible PDF object.
Choose a quality level deliberately
Lower image quality usually produces a smaller file but can introduce blocking, blur, or ringing around letters and high-contrast edges. Start near the default, compare the new size with the original, and lower quality only when the upload or email limit still requires it. A scanned form must remain readable after compression.
Why some PDFs do not shrink
A mostly text-based document may contain little recompressible image data. A source may also already use aggressive compression or an image format the tool leaves unchanged to avoid color or compatibility damage. In those cases, an honest result may be nearly the same size. Removing unnecessary pages with Delete PDF Pages can help when content, rather than image encoding, is the cause.
Verify the result before sharing
Keep the original file. Open the compressed result at normal size and zoom into small text, signatures, diagrams, and photographs. Confirm the page count and test any forms, links, or signatures that matter. Browser-local processing keeps the file out of an Inqita upload endpoint, but your organization's document-handling rules still apply.
Related PDF resources
Compress PDF · Resize PDF pages · PDF tools · How Inqita tests tools · Security and privacy architecture