Mac storage basics · Finding big files, Downloads and the Trash

How do I make a large PDF smaller on a Mac?

Q: How do I make a large PDF smaller on a Mac?

Open the PDF in Preview, choose File → Export…, and pick Reduce File Size in the Quartz Filter menu. Save it as a new file and check the result — this filter can make images noticeably softer. For scanned documents, re-scanning at a lower resolution often gives a better balance of quality and size.

Short answer: Open it in Preview, choose File → Export and set Quartz Filter to Reduce File Size, saving as a new file. Check image quality, as it can soften pictures.

Open the PDF in Preview, choose File → Export…, and pick Reduce File Size in the Quartz Filter menu. Save it as a new file and check the result — this filter can make images noticeably softer.

For scanned documents, re-scanning at a lower resolution often gives a better balance of quality and size.

Last reviewed October 1, 2026

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How do I make a large PDF smaller on a Mac?

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