PDF Too Big to Send? Compress, Split or Extract Pages

Why Does a PDF Get Too Heavy to Send?

A PDF made from a scan or photos holds each whole page as a large image, so the file grows with the page count. Email attachments, chat apps and application-form uploads all have size limits, and you cannot send anything above them. The limit differs by destination, so check the recipient's instructions first.

How Do the Three Ways to Lighten a PDF Differ?

With every method, your original PDF stays as it is, and the result is added to your library as a new document.

How Do I Lighten It With “Compress”?

1. In PDF Toolkit, open “Tools” (the wrench icon) at the top right of the Library screen
2. Tap “Compress PDF” and pick the PDF you want to make lighter
3. When it finishes, a document whose name starts with “Compressed PDF” is added to your library
4. Check the page count and file size shown on the document screen
5. Use “Share” to attach it to an email or chat message and send it

You cannot choose the strength of compression. It rebuilds each page as an image about 60% of its original size. A PDF that already contains many images tends to get lighter, but depending on the content it may not shrink as much as you expect. Compare the original file's size (you can check it in a file manager app) with the size shown on the document screen after compressing.

How Do I Keep Only the Pages I Need With “Extract Pages”?

1. Open “Extract pages” under Tools and pick the PDF (all pages start out selected)
2. Tap “Deselect all,” then check the pages you need
3. Tap “Extract N pages”

A new PDF with only the pages you chose is added. Page quality does not change, so it suits cases where you do not want to lose image quality. See How to Rotate and Extract PDF Pages for more.

How Do I Break It Into Several Files With “Split”?

1. Open “Split PDF” under Tools and pick the PDF
2. Enter the number of pages you want in each file under “Pages per file”
3. Tap the confirm button, and several documents such as “Split PDF 1” and “Split PDF 2” are added

For example, entering “10” for a 30-page PDF gives three PDFs of 10 pages each. If it does not divide evenly, only the last file is shorter. Because splitting divides evenly, use “Extract pages” when you want to pick specific pages.

When Does Combining Methods Work Well?

• When you know which pages the recipient needs: first remove the unneeded pages with “Extract pages,” and if it is still too heavy, apply “Compress”
• When you are sending every page but it will not fit in one message: break it up with “Split” and send it in several emails

What Should I Check Before Sending?

• The destination's size limit: email, chat and application forms differ. Compare it with the file size on the document screen before you send
• Readability after compressing: zoom in and check that text, numbers and charts are legible
• The free version's watermark: PDFs you share or send carry a small “Created with PDF Toolkit” at the bottom of each page. To remove it, use “Export without watermark” (watching one video ad covers that PDF once) or the PRO version (one-time purchase)

Summary

For a PDF too big to send, “compress” if you must send every page, “extract pages” if some will do, and “split” if you can send it in parts. Compressing affects image quality and text search, so always check the result before you send. Your original PDF remains, so you can try another method if one does not work.

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