Usually one click
Most everyday PDFs drop under 1 MB at the Recommended level with no visible change. Only long, image-dense documents need the Strong level.
Large document?
- Try Strong compression.
- Split into sections and send separately.
- Lower the source scan resolution before exporting to PDF.
Where 1 MB limits show up
University and job applications, HR onboarding portals, online court and tax filings, and some company email systems limit attachments to 1 MB. A CV, a cover letter, a 10-20 page report or a short scanned pack usually fits.
Before you compress
- Exporting from Word or Google Docs? Choose the smaller "minimum size" or "standard" export option where available - it often avoids the need to compress at all.
- Delete blank or duplicate pages from scanned packs.
- Large photos inside a report are the usual cause of a heavy PDF; compression shrinks them the most.
Check the result
Confirm the size reads below 1 MB (1,024 KB), then open the PDF and check charts and photos still look clean.