How to Reduce PDF File Size on Mac

Got a PDF file that’s a little too large to send? An easy way to make a PDF smaller on Mac is to use the Reduce File Size option built into Preview.

In this article, we’ll walk you through this and other easy ways to compress a PDF on Mac which will make your files easier to store and share.

Before we start:

 

If you’re starting to become overwhelmed by PDF files on Mac, you can use the powerful Duplicates Finder in MacKeeper to find and remove redundant copies of documents that you don’t need. It’s fast, easy to use, and will help you get organized in no time at all.

 

Here’s how:

1. Download MacKeeper and install it.
2. Select the Duplicates Finder in the MacKeeper sidebar.
3. Click Start Scan.
4. Select all the duplicate PDFs and other files you want to remove.
5. Click Remove Selected, then Remove to delete everything in one go.

What is a PDF file?

PDF, which stands for portable document format, is a file type that was created by Adobe in the early 1990s. It’s designed to ensure that whenever a document is shared, it looks exactly the same on other computer screens as it did when it was first created.

PDF files appear as intended, regardless of whether you have the same fonts or software installed on your Mac as the document’s creator. What’s more, PDF documents aren’t easily editable like traditional text documents, and they can be protected with passwords and macOS file encryption if necessary.

What happens when you compress a PDF file?

When you compress PDF files, you remove unnecessary bytes from images to make files smaller. It can make a big difference with large documents that contain a lot of images. Smaller files aren’t only easier to store, but they’re also much easier to send and back up.

Note that whenever you downsize a PDF on Mac—depending on the method you use and by how much you compress it—you reduce its image quality by removing pixels. This may not be noticeable in some cases, though if you need to reduce the size of the file significantly, it’ll result in blurrier images.

How to compress PDF file size on Mac

The simplest way to compress the PDF size on a MacBook is with the Preview app. In the app, find the File menu > Export > Quartz Filter > Reduce File Size > Save.

However, there are a few ways to reduce PDF file sizes on Mac, many of which are free. Try these tips:

1. Reduce PDF files by splitting
2. Make a PDF smaller with Preview
3. Compress PDF on Mac with Acrobat
4. Decrease PDF files with third-party only compression tools

1. Reduce PDF files by splitting

In some cases, you may want to share only certain pages, or a specific section, of a PDF document. One way to reduce the size of the file is to split it so that you only keep the part that is needed. Here’s how to do that in Preview:

1. Open the PDF you want to split in Preview.
2. In the menu bar, select File, then click Print.
3. Under the Pages section, select Range from, then enter the first and last page numbers you want to include in your new PDF file. For instance, if you want to keep the first ten pages, enter 1 to 10. Alternatively, to select individual pages, click Selection, then choose the pages you want to keep in the sidebar.
4. Click PDF at the bottom of the print window, give your file a new name, then click Save. The new file will include only the pages you selected.

You may want to delete the original PDF after creating a smaller version to save space on your Mac. A great way to remove unnecessary file copies is with the Duplicates Finder in MacKeeper: it not only weeds out similar PDF files, but also photos, screenshots, and more.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Choose Duplicates Finder in MacKeeper.
2. Click Start Scan to identify all duplicate files on your Mac.
3. Once the scan is complete, select all the duplicate files you want to remove.
4. Click the Remove Selected button, then click Remove to verify.

2. Make a PDF smaller with Preview

When you need to share a complete PDF document, you can also use Preview on macOS to shrink a PDF file size on Mac. Here’s how:

1. Open your PDF document in Preview.
2. In the menu bar, click File, then select Export.
3. Next to Quartz Filter, select the Reduce File Size option.
4. Give your new document its own name, choose where you want to store it, then click Save.

Result? A smaller PDF will now be created, and the original will remain intact. You can either keep this in case you want a version with uncompressed images, or you can remove it (after ensuring the new version is complete) to save storage space on your Mac.

A hint from our team: 

 

If you’re wondering how to delete files on Mac, locate the original PDF file you no longer want, right-click it, then select Move to Trash. Remember, the file won’t be deleted until you empty the Trash, so be sure to do this regularly.

3. Compress PDF on Mac with Acrobat

It’s also really easy to decrease a PDF file size on Mac using the Adobe Acrobat app in your browser. Try this:

1. Go to Adobe Acrobat’s Compress PDF site in your browser.
2. Click Select a file, then choose the PDF you want to shrink. Alternatively, drag your PDF file into the Acrobat window.
3. Select the compression settings that work best for you. High provides the best compression, and therefore the smallest file size, but it’ll have a noticeable impact on images.
4. Click Compress, then wait for the tool to work its magic.
5. Once the compression is complete, your PDF will appear in your browser. Click the three dots at the top of the Acrobat window, then click Download this file to save the document to your Mac.

A note from our experts: 

 

Adobe Acrobat can also be used to convert PDFs to Word on Mac, but bear in mind that most features require a paid Acrobat subscription, so it’s best to use Preview whenever you can.

4. Decrease PDF files with third-party only compression tools

If Preview doesn’t provide the results you want, and you don’t have an Acrobat subscription, there are other online PDF compression tools that you can try for free. Here’s how to use them:

1. Go to a free PDF compressor in your browser. SmallPDF, PDF24, and PDF2Go are some good options.
2. Click the Choose file button, then select the PDF you want to resize.
3. Select your compression preferences if necessary, then click Compress.
4. When the process is complete, download your new PDF file.

Important: 

 

If you’re running low on storage space, and you’re not sure which PDF files you should shrink, consider looking at how to find the largest files on Mac first. You can then pick out the PDFs and use one of the methods above to resize them before deleting the originals from your MacBook.

Conclusion

There are many easy ways to minimize PDF sizes on Mac, many of which are completely free and easy to use. So, before you store, back up, or share a PDF file, consider its size and whether you might benefit from compressing the file first.

If you’ve been working with PDFs for a while, you’ve likely ended up with a lot of duplicate files that are taking up space on your Mac unnecessarily. Try the Duplicates Finder in MacKeeper to quickly weed out and remove duplicate files, photos, screenshots, and more.