Compress a PDF so it fits in an email

Select the PDF, hold Ctrl, right-click and choose Reduce size, then Target size. Type the largest size your email allows and Flecto saves a copy that fits. The document never leaves your PC.

Free to try. 10 conversions a week, no account needed.

How to shrink a PDF for email with Flecto

  1. Select one PDFClick the file in File Explorer. Target size works on one file at a time.
  2. Hold Ctrl and right-clickFlecto opens the blue edit dial. Choose Reduce size, then Target size.
  3. Type the limitEnter the limit in MB, for example 9 in the size box, or drag the slider. Flecto shows the original size above it.
  4. Continue and get your copyFlecto saves a new file ending in "- reduced" next to the original, and only when it really fits under the limit. If it cannot fit, Flecto tells you and saves nothing.

Good to know

How big can an email attachment be?

ServiceAttachment limit
Gmail25 MB
Outlook.com20 MB
Company mail serversOften 10 MB, sometimes less

These limits apply to the whole message, so two attachments share them. They are set by the mail provider and can change, so check when a message bounces. The recipient’s server has its own limit too, and a message that leaves your outbox can still be refused on arrival.

Why not use an online PDF compressor?

The PDFs people email are often the ones that should not be uploaded to a stranger’s server: contracts, payslips, ID scans, medical letters. Flecto does the work on your own PC, shows you the size before it saves, and leaves the original file exactly as it was.

Questions

How do I get a PDF under 10 MB?

Choose Target size, type 9 and continue. Flecto saves a copy below that size, or tells you if it is not possible.

Will the text still be searchable?

Yes, unless you allow image-only pages. Flecto asks before it uses them.

Is it free?

Yes. Reducing a PDF is included in the free plan and uses one of your 10 weekly conversions.

Is my file uploaded?

No. The conversion runs on your PC, and the file never leaves it.

More guides

Use Flecto.

Convert your next file in two clicks. Free to try. 10 conversions a week, no account needed.

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