Does compression require uploading my PDF?

No. This runs in your browser using WebAssembly; the PDF file isn’t uploaded to an external server. Once the tool is loaded in the browser, you can actually compress PDF files even without an internet connection.

Will compressing make the PDF unsearchable?

No. PDF text is vector data (this includes lines, curves, and font data), and thus stays sharp and searchable regardless of how much compression is applied. Only embedded images are compressed. However, if you choose ‘aggressive’ mode, these layers are flattened and re-encoded as images, so text will no longer be searchable.

Why is my compressed PDF sometimes larger than the original?

This happens when the original file contains heavily compressed images or mostly text with few images. In such cases, there would be little to strip, and the added overhead of re-encoding would typically result in a larger output file than the original.

What does the compression level setting actually change?

Low cleans up the internal structure, or removes unnecessary data. Medium level strips metadata like author name and rebuilds the file into a more compact binary format. High resaves images at a lower quality, usually at 30% - you’ll see more pixelated photos using this preset.

Can I compress a password-protected PDF?

No. ConvertYard cannot read or write encrypted PDFs. You must first use the Unlock PDF tool to remove the PDF password before you can use this tool to compress it.

How does target-size mode differ from the compression level slider?

Target-size mode will run the compression up to six passes automatically. It first runs the structural cleanup pass, then slowly lowers image quality from 80 to 30%, only stopping when the target size is met. Use this option if you have a hard limit (for example, an email attachment or a government portal).

Why do so many Indian portals require exactly 100 KB?

The 100 KB limit is a legacy threshold set when broadband speeds were inconsistent across India. Portals adopted it to ensure uploads completed reliably on slow connections and to constrain server storage costs. The limit has stuck because changing it would require re-testing every upload flow — so most portals simply keep it.

What happens if my PDF is already smaller than 100 KB?

The compressor detects this immediately and returns your original file untouched. Reprocessing a file that already meets the limit can only reduce quality without benefit.

My compressed file came out at 102 KB — will the portal still accept it?

Most portals check exact byte counts. 102 KB is 2% over the limit and will typically be rejected. Try enabling Aggressive compression mode and reducing image resolution. If the PDF is a scanned document, re-scanning at 150 dpi before compressing usually gets you under 100 KB.

Will compressing a PDF to 100 KB make the text unreadable?

Text in PDFs is vector data — it does not degrade under compression. Only embedded images (photos, scanned pages) lose quality. For a purely text-based PDF, 100 KB compression is lossless. For scanned documents, readability depends on original scan quality.

Can I compress a password-protected PDF?

No. ConvertYard cannot read or write encrypted PDFs. You must first use the Unlock PDF tool to remove the PDF password before you can use this tool to compress it.

How does target-size mode differ from the compression level slider?

Target-size mode will run the compression up to six passes automatically. It first runs the structural cleanup pass, then slowly lowers image quality from 80 to 30%, only stopping when the target size is met. Use this option if you have a hard limit (for example, an email attachment or a government portal).

Compress PDF to 100 KB

Hit the exact 100 KB target most government and exam portals require. Entirely in your browser.

Drop files or a folder here

or click to browse · paste from clipboard

Accepts .PDF · Up to 1,000 files

How it works

Drop your files
Drag and drop, or click to browse PDF files. For larger files over 5 MB, do smaller batches of 5 to 10. For smaller files, you can do batches of up to 250.
Choose settings
This page is specifically for compressing PDFs to 100 KB. Other fixed size options include 200 KB, 300 KB, 500 KB, 1 MB, 5 MB, 20 MB, and 25 MB.
Click Compress
Everything runs in your browser via WebAssembly. Compression happens locally — no server involved.
Download
Download files individually or grab all at once as a ZIP.

Many Indian government recruitment portals — UPSC, SSC, IBPS, NEET, JEE — accept document uploads only up to 100 KB. Generic compressors give you 'small' or 'medium' presets that often miss the mark. This page targets 100 KB exactly: the compressor runs iterative passes on your file until the output is between 90 KB and 100 KB, then stops. If your PDF can't be squeezed that small without breaking text, you'll see the closest achievable size and a clear note explaining why.

When do you need 100 KB?

UPSC Civil Services application. Photo and signature upload slots on the UPSC online recruitment portal are capped at 100 KB.
SSC CGL / CHSL application documents. Scanned supporting documents attached during SSC form-filling must meet the 100 KB ceiling.
IBPS PO and Clerk application uploads. IBPS bank exam forms require candidate photos and signature PDFs within a 100 KB limit.
NEET 2026 application certificate uploads. NTA's NEET portal enforces strict per-document size caps, including the 100 KB threshold for scanned certificates.
Bank account opening via NSDL e-KYC. NSDL's online e-KYC flow rejects document uploads above 100 KB at the browser validation step.