---
id: mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-make-a-pdf-smaller-on-a-mac
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-make-a-pdf-smaller-on-a-mac
category: "Mac storage basics"
subcategory: "Finding big files, Downloads and the Trash"
question: "How do I make a large PDF smaller on a Mac?"
alt_questions:
  - "compress pdf mac preview"
  - "reduce pdf size mac"
  - "quartz filter reduce file size"
  - "shrink pdf without software mac"
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."
tags: ["pdf", "preview", "file size"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-reduce-pages-keynote-file-size"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# 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.