The PDF format is one of the best known and currently used as a form of storage and due to its practicality when submitting documents, thanks to thus preventing the File content is modified or messed up. It is for this reason that large companies and institutions make frequent use of this portable document format.
This way of saving documents is totally independent of any program that includes the Microsoft Office package and, in turn, can contain all kinds of graphics, images, unlimited number of words and even multimedia files with sounds, in addition to hyperlinks and links that may redirect you to other websites. It also fits any platform on which you want to present it, including Linux, Windows, MacOS, among others …
However, it happens that depending on the content of the file, sometimes they can become extremely heavy and occupy a valuable space of our hard disk which we do not know how we can recover. But the weight of a PDF document will no longer be a problem , since in today’s article we will know how to compress a file in PDF format without installing any external program, with a very step-by-step guide simple.
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Steps to compress PDF documents and reduce their size without installing any program
Normally, to compress a PDF file we install an external program that allows us to reduce the weight of the document and make it much easier to send by email, WhatsApp, Google Drive or any other way.
However, there are ways in which you can perform this action without installing any of these programs on the Web and, thus avoiding filling the hard disk with additional information that already by itself, you have added the size of the PDF file.
Using the Chrome extension – Small PDF
Small PDF is a very versatile tool when compressing documents in PDF format . This compressor also works as an extension of the Google Chrome browser which makes it easier to use. This extension only allows 2 downloads every 60 minutes for free.
To perform compression, follow these steps:
- To go directly to the plugin and be able to install it in its latest version, click click up .
- After that, click on the box «Add to Chrome »
- Once this action is done, a confirmation window will appear and you must click on «Add extension»
- In the box where it said “Add to Chrome” , it will say “Checking …” for a few seconds
- Then a window where you will say that «Smallpdf has been added to Chrome» under the extension icon which will be located next to the address bar, it will have been successfully installed.
- Already in this step, click on the icon of the extension located at the top right, next to the navigation bar.
- Select the option «Compress» and you will immediately be directed to the page where you will carry out the process.
Once there, the web will give you the option to upload the document from your computer, Dropbox or Google Drive and when uploading the file, you should wait for the file to load which should take only a few seconds. When the process is finished, SmallPDF will tell you what the compression percentage has been , as well as its original weight and the one obtained at the end and you just have to click on the option of « Download file »to get your document much lighter in weight. 
With Online compression tools
There is another option other than valid to reduce the size and weight of our files without the need to download and install any external software on our computer, for this in this case we will use applications and online tools , which will make the work really efficient since they are specialized in these processes, here are some examples of them, although there are many others, such as the well-known iLovePDF .
PDF2Go
It is one of the easiest tools to use, because you only need a computer and internet connection, with this you will be able to compress your file quickly, safely and virus-free to Unlike other pages that may put your PC at risk.
To use it you just have to:
- Enter in your preferred browser the following URL to access directly: Pdf2go.com
- Now go to the option «Compress PDF»
- There you will have the option to load the document from your computer, Dropbox, Google Drive or enter it directly from the URL
- Once the file is uploaded, you will have to wait for the upload process, once finished, select the «Save changes»
box
- A new window will open with the online process and upon completion, the download of the file will start automatically. After that, you can compare how much the weight of the file has decreased.
PDFio
Of the favorite compressors par excellence, PDFio will reduce the size of your portable document formats in the blink of an eye thanks to its simplicity and versatility, which also allows it to be an editor and even a converter.
To compress your document with this tool you must:
- Enter your official website by typing the following: Pdfio.co
- Select the option “Compress PDF”
- Upload the file from your computer, Dropbox, Google Drive or from the same URL.
- Choose the option of your choice between:
- “Maximum compression”
- “Medium”
- «Minimum»
- Click on the “Compress PDF” box and wait for it the process culminates.
- Once the compression is finished, it only remains to download the file to the computer or directly to the Dropbox or Drive and compare the weight compared to the original file.
As we mentioned, there are multiple ways in which you can reduce the size of your files in PDF format, and also without the need to install an additional program on your computer equipment. Either through Google Chrome extensions or online, you can save a lot of storage space by following these simple steps .
Do you really know the advantages of compressing PDF files?
If not, we will tell you. First, the storage space , especially if you are one of those who have numerous files on your computer. This option will allow you to save as much space on your hard disk so that you can continue saving more documents and depending on the extension or online tool you use, the percentage of file reduction with respect to the original will be determined.
Another important aspect to consider is file transfer which becomes noticeably easier when they are compressed. Either by email, Google Drive, Dropbox and even through WhatsApp, Telegram or any other application, document loading will always be much easier if it is reduced and, in turn, this ensures that no will exceed the requirements of some email servers who have a limit on the weight of the files.
One of the biggest advantages is cost savings, because you will not be obliged to buy an extra or external hard drive to store more files, if with the method of compression you reduce the size and the space by at least 35% -50%. This, added to the savings in the cost of the internet service because many times companies add to their account the amount of data that can be downloaded.
Last but not least, the download speed which is reduced by a significant percentage after the compression of the file, because they have a smaller amount of so-called “Bits” of data and this results in a decrease in the use of bandwidth in the download process.