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
- Select one PDFClick the file in File Explorer. Target size works on one file at a time.
- Hold Ctrl and right-clickFlecto opens the blue edit dial. Choose Reduce size, then Target size.
- 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.
- 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
- Flecto first rewrites the PDF without touching how it looks. Only if that is not enough does it offer image-only pages, which removes selectable text and links, and only when you allow it.
- Aim a little below the limit. Attachments grow slightly when they are encoded for sending, so a 9 MB target is a safe choice for a 10 MB limit.
- In a hurry? The same menu has Keep quality, Smaller and Smallest, each showing its size before you choose.
- The free plan includes 10 conversions every week. Failed or cancelled files do not count.
How big can an email attachment be?
| Service | Attachment limit |
|---|---|
| Gmail | 25 MB |
| Outlook.com | 20 MB |
| Company mail servers | Often 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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