How to Compress PDF on Mac? (6 Effective Ways)

Do you need to know how to compress a PDF on Mac? If yes, you're in the right place!

Managing large PDFs can be challenging because they can slow down your system and make sharing difficult. But worry not! We will help you find the best solution for you.

This guide shows you six practical ways to compress PDFs on a Mac. Whether you need a free, built-in tool, a quick online solution, or a professional-level option, there's a method for you.

From using UPDF and Preview to online tools and Adobe Acrobat, you'll find the perfect way to compress PDF Mac files easily. Let's get started and make PDF compression simple!

Part 1. How to Reduce PDF Size on Mac Without Losing Quality? (3 100% Workable Ways)

Are you looking for an efficient way to reduce pdf size mac without losing quality? If so, UPDF is here to assist you!

There are three methods to compress PDF on Mac using UPDF:

• The first one involves a compression feature in which you can choose the size to keep the quality.
• The second is that you can select to split the PDF by size, page numbers, etc.
• The last one is to use the deleting page features to reduce the PDF file size on Mac.

You may feel confused about why to use UPDF instead of other tools. You can click the below button to download the UPDF and check the reasons below one by one.  

Why Does UPDF Stand Out?

● User-Friendly Interface

UPDF's intuitive design makes PDF reading, editing, converting, and compressing easier.  Its interface matches the user's experience of Mac.

● Active Support Service

Our 24/6 customer service allows us to improve and update features continuously.

● Chat-GPT-4 Powered

You can translate, summarize, and chat with PDF using UPDF's AI Assistant, powered by Chat-GPT-4.  

● Localized Interface

Its interface is localized in 11 different languages.  

Now you know why you should use UPDF rather than other tools for compressing PDF Mac.

So, are you ready to make compressing PDFs on Mac easier? Download UPDF now from App Store or clicking the button below!

Now, let's discuss reducing the PDF size on Mac without losing quality.

Way 1. Compress PDF Files on Mac without Losing Quality by Compressing

You can use this method when:

• You need to reduce the file size of a PDF without losing quality.
• You have to share large documents via email.
• You need to upload them to websites with size limits.

How to Compress PDF Files on Mac with UPDF?

Below are the steps to compress PDF files on Mac with UPDF without compromising quality by compressing.

Step 1: Open PDF with UPDF

The first step is to open PDF with UPDF, which you want to compress when you launch the UPDF.

Step 2: Access to Save as Other

Click the "Save as Other" icon on the right menu,

Step 3: Reduce File Size

Now, click the "Reduce File Size" to compress the PDF.

Step 4: Customize the Compressing Settings

• You can choose the PDF document quality from highest to lowest. Here, you will find four options. Choose any one of them, for instance, medium.
•  Finally, choose Save As to save your compressed PDF on Mac.

That's all about compressing PDF on Mac with UPDF. It's an efficient method. However, if you don't want to try this method, you can move on to the next one.

Also Read: Resize PDF On Mac: Your Ultimate Guide

Way 2. Make a PDF Smaller on Mac Without Losing Quality by Splitting

You can use this method if

• The above method doesn't work.
• PDF is too large.

The following steps will help you compress PDFs on Mac without losing quality by splitting.

Step 1: First of all, download and install UPDF on Mac. Next, open the PDF with UPDF.

Step 2: Go to Organize pages. Here, you can find the Split icons. Click on the Split button.

Step 3: Next, you can select split by number, split by size, or split by bookmarks per your requirements. For instance, if you want to split by number of pages, click on it, and enter the page numbers you want to split or custom split pages and click on the split.

Step 4: Now, you can get the PDF files in smaller sizes to share with others individually.

That's it about this method! Hopefully, the above guide will prove helpful for you when compressing PDFs on Mac. Yet, if there are some pages that you don't need, you can delete them. To do so, let's move to the next method!

Way 3. Make a PDF Smaller on Mac by Deleting Pages

You can make PDFs smaller on Mac by deleting unnecessary pages. Let's look at how to do this!

Follow the steps mentioned below to compress PDF on Mac by deleting Pages using UPDF.

Step 1: First, go to organize pages.

Step 2: Hold on the "Command" and click on the pages that you want to delete.

Step 3: The final step is to delete the unwanted pages by clicking the delete button in the top navigation.

Additional Features of UPDF

The features of UPDF are not limited to compressing PDFs on Mac only!

You can also enjoy many other features, for example:

• Annotation tools: Add notes, comments, and highlights to your PDF.
• Conversion options: Convert PDFs to various formats such as Excel, Word, and more.
• Editing capabilities: Edit text and images directly within your PDFs.
• Security Feature: Protect your documents with passwords and permissions.
• Form Filling: Easily fill out and sign PDF forms.

So, are you ready to explore all these features and more? Download UPDF now and start maximizing your PDF productivity! If you need clarification, you can watch the video below to learn more.

Are you still thinking about how to make a PDF smaller on Mac? If so, the next part is for you!

Part 2. How to Compress PDF with Preview on Mac?

Mac computers come with the Preview application already installed. In a few steps, you can change your PDF sizes. Use Preview when

• You need a quick and free solution.
• You don't want to install extra software.
• Your PDF doesn't require high-quality images.

Steps to Compress PDF with Preview

Below are the steps to compress pdf preview Mac:

Step 1: Go to the Preview app and open the PDF you want to compress.

Step 2: Click "File" and choose "Export...".

Note: Do not choose Export as PDF.

Step 3: Click the "Quartz Filter" dropdown menu and select "Reduce File Size."

Till now, you know how to compress PDF with preview on Mac. Let's look at the pros and cons of using a built-in Preview app.

So far, we have discussed using the preview app to compress PDFs on Mac. Let's move ahead to the next part of our discussion.

Part 3. How to Compress PDF on Mac Online?

An online tool can help you avoid installing a program to compress a PDF on your computer. One of the most reliable tools is iLovePDF. You can use this method when:

• You don't have access to the Preview app.
• You need a quick solution without installing software.
• You are using a shared or borrowed Mac computer.

Steps to Compress PDF On Mac Online

Here's how to use it:

Step 1: To access the PDF compressor tool, go to the iLovePDF compressor tool.

Step 2: Hit the "Select PDF files" button to import the PDF.

Step 3: Next, click the "Compress PDF" button when completing the process. Then, it will be downloaded to your computer.

We have covered compressing PDFs on Mac online, too. Let's keep up the momentum and discuss our topic in more detail!  

Part 4. How to Downsize PDF on Mac With Adobe Acrobat? (2 Ways)

There are two methods for downsizing PDFs on Mac with Adobe Acrobat. You can use this method when:

• You need advanced features for PDF editing and compression.
• You often work with large PDFs and need high-quality compression.
• You already have Adobe Acrobat installed on your Mac and have its license.

Have a look at them individually!

Way 1. Reduce PDF File Size on Mac Offline

You can compress a single file effortlessly with an online PDF compressor - Acrobat Pro.

If you need to compress multiple PDFs, using a more powerful tool is smart. Adobe Acrobat Pro gives you everything you need to compress several PDFs — follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Launch Acrobat Pro.

Step 2: Click on the "Tools" and open the Optimize PDF tool.

Step 3: Search for your file and click Open.

Step 4: In the top menu, click Reduce File Size.

Step 5: Select appropriate compatibility settings and click OK.

Step 6 : Name your file and click Save.

That's all about way 1. Now, let's move to the Way 2, a "Compress PDF on Mac online." 

Way 2. Compress PDF on Mac Online

You can also compress PDF on Mac online with Adobe Acrobat using the steps below.

Step 1: Launch Safari or any other internet browser. Go to the Adobe Acrobat online PDF compressor.

Step 2: Click the "Select a File" button and search for the PDF file you want to compress. Also, you can simply drag and drop your document into the Compress PDF field.

Now, you can select the quality to compress, click on the compress to start the process.

Step 3: Once the PDF compression is complete, download your compressed PDF file.

Final Words

This guide explored six ways to compress PDF on Mac. Each method suits different needs. However, we highly recommend you to use UPDF. It is a versatile, high-quality compression tool with three different methods. And it is much cheaper to use when compared with Adobe Acrobat. You can check its price here. Moreover, it has many other features like UPDF AI, converting PDF, and more. So, download UPDF for efficient PDF compression!