If a PDF is too large to upload or slow to open on a phone, start with the document that created it. Reducing oversized images before export is often more useful than repeatedly saving the same PDF.

Pagelet hosts PDFs; it does not currently include a PDF compression tool. The steps below help you prepare a smaller file using your own document or PDF editor.

Start with the source document

Keep a copy of the original. In your document, presentation or design app, look for PDF export settings related to file size, image quality or web viewing. The names vary by application.

For a document intended for screens, try a smaller-file export preset and compare it with the original. Avoid reducing quality so far that text or diagrams become hard to read.

Resize images before export

A photograph sized for a large print may be unnecessary in a one-page handout. Resize it to suit its displayed dimensions, and choose an image format appropriate for its content.

Pagelet's image optimiser handles supported image files such as JPEG, PNG and WebP. It does not accept a PDF. You can use it on source images before placing them in a document, if your editor supports the exported format.

Handle scanned documents carefully

A scan is usually an image of each page. If you still have the scanner settings or source images, choose a suitable resolution and colour mode there before making a new PDF.

Check small print, handwriting and diagrams after every change. For searchable scans, make sure your export retains the text layer and any accessibility information you need.

Use an existing PDF editor when the source is unavailable

If your PDF editor offers an optimise or reduce-size command, try it on a copy. Inspect the result before replacing the original.

Different tools change different things, and some documents are already compressed. There is no fixed percentage reduction to expect. Avoid repeated conversions that visibly degrade the pages.

Check the result before uploading

  • Compare the file size with the original.
  • Open every page and check text, charts and images.
  • Test reading it on a phone.
  • Check links and searchable text if you need them.

Pagelet Free supports PDFs up to 5 MB each, and Pro supports up to 50 MB. If a document is too large, consider splitting it into clearly named sections instead of making it unreadable.

Share the smaller PDF with a link

Upload your PDF to Pagelet, wait for its security checks, and copy the link. Claim it with a free account to keep and manage it.

For the complete upload, claim and QR-code walkthrough, see how to turn a PDF into a shareable link.