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How to Compress PDF Files on Mobile

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🌍 Foreign Residents in Korea Series

Step-by-step guides for foreigners living in Korea — from address registration and visa to banking, taxes, and digital certificates.

When one file feels too big to handle — here’s how I made it lighter on my phone.

How to Compress PDF Files on Mobile

In short

On iOS and Android, you can shrink PDFs using built-in share flows, cloud drives, or dedicated apps. Choose a size/quality preset, keep a copy of the original, and verify the result before sending.

Quick Methods (No New App)

Before installing anything, try these built-in options that can reduce PDF size during export or share:

  • Print to PDF (Reduce): From the PDF viewer’s Share or Print, choose Save as PDF. Many viewers re-encode images to a smaller size.
  • Export/Share Presets: Some readers offer Small file or Compressed when exporting.
  • Cloud Drive: Upload to a drive app and use its built-in Reduce size or Make a copy (smaller) feature if available.
💡 Tip Keep the original PDF untouched. Save compressed copies with “-small” in the filename for easy comparison.

iOS Steps (Files & Shortcuts)

Method A: Using the Files App

  1. Open Files and locate your PDF.
  2. Tap Share → choose Print.
  3. On the print preview, pinch-out (zoom) the page; it opens as a new PDF view.
  4. Tap Share again → Save to Files. This often creates a smaller PDF due to re-encoding.

Method B: Using a Shortcut (One-Tap Compress)

  1. Open Shortcuts → create a new shortcut.
  2. Add actions: Get File → Make PDF (set Image Quality to Medium or Low) → Save File.
  3. Run it from the Share Sheet to quickly generate a compressed copy.
⚠️ Note If your PDF is mostly text (vector), size changes may be small. Big gains come from image-heavy PDFs (scans, photos).

Android Steps (Drive & Share)

Method A: Google Drive + Print to PDF

  1. Open the PDF in Google Drive or a viewer app.
  2. Tap Share or three dots → Print.
  3. Select Save as PDF as the printer → More options → set paper size and toggle Fit to page. Save the new file.
  4. Compare file sizes in your file manager; keep the smaller one for sharing.

Method B: Compact via Third-Party App (Offline)

  1. Install a reputable PDF app that offers Compress/Reduce Size and works offline.
  2. Open your PDF → choose Compress → pick a preset (e.g., Low/Medium/High quality).
  3. Export as a copy and verify text readability and image clarity.
💡 Tip For scanned PDFs, enable OCR (text recognition) before compressing. Searchable text keeps quality at smaller sizes.

Quality, Privacy, and Tips

  • Pick the right preset: High keeps detail for forms and IDs; Medium is good for general sharing; Low for quick previews.
  • Downscale images to 150–200 DPI for reading on screens; avoid below 96 DPI for documents with small text.
  • Remove extras: delete unneeded pages, large images, or embedded fonts before compressing.
  • Protect sensitive files: prefer offline compression; if using online tools, avoid confidential content and clear uploads after use.
  • Check accessibility: keep text as text (not images) when possible to preserve search/select and screen-reader support.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Q. How small can I make a PDF without losing readability?
    A. It depends on images and fonts. As a rule, try Medium first, then preview at 100% zoom. If small text blurs, use a higher preset.
  2. Q. Does compressing change the document content?
    A. The text and layout stay the same, but images may be downsampled and re-compressed. Always keep an original for legal or archival needs.
  3. Q. Can I compress multiple PDFs at once on mobile?
    A. Yes, some apps support batch compression. Look for a Select multiple or Batch option, then apply one preset to all files.
  4. Q. Is online compression safe for sensitive documents?
    A. Prefer offline tools for IDs, contracts, and financial records. If you must go online, check the site’s deletion policy and avoid uploading confidential data.

Notes

Note. After compression, open the PDF on the target device (phone, tablet, or desktop) to confirm readability and form fields before sending.

Explore the Series

More step-by-step guides for foreigners in Korea. Browse them on the hub, or jump directly below.

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