Blackbar
Free · no sign-up

Make a PDF smaller.

Shrink a scan or a photo-heavy PDF so it fits an email or an upload limit. Your file never leaves your device.

1.3 MB 200 KB
No file handy?

  • Stays on your device
  • No account
  • Nothing saved

How to make a PDF smaller

  1. Choose a PDF, or drop it on the page. It opens in your browser.
  2. Pick how small: Smallest, Balanced or Sharper. Balanced suits most files.
  3. Press Make it smaller. Blackbar shows the old and new size before you download.

An example

The sample is a made-up 3-page scanned home inspection report, about 1.3 MB. On Balanced it comes out at a fraction of that, small enough for most email and upload limits. Try Smallest and Sharper to compare.

Questions

Is it free?

Yes. There's no sign-up, and no limit on pages or file size beyond what your device can hold.

Which level should I pick?

Start with Balanced. If the file is still too big, try Smallest. If small print looks soft, try Sharper.

Why can't I select the text in the new file?

Each page of the new file is a picture of the page. That is what makes a scan or a photo-heavy file smaller. Links and form fields don't carry over either.

It didn't get smaller

Files made mostly of typed text are often small already. Blackbar tells you when the new file would be bigger, and you can keep the one you have.

Does my original file change?

No. Blackbar downloads a new file and leaves the one you opened as it was.

My file won't open

It may be locked with a password. Unlock it first, then try again.

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