How to compress a pdf file on mac without losing quality

Print to PDF is a native compression method inside Mac Preview that helps you how to shrink pdf file size mac.

It compresses embedded images with gentler downsampling to retain clearer graphics, but this improved visual quality comes with a less significant drop in file size.

First, open your target PDF file in Preview. Navigate to File → Print or press the Cmd + P shortcut on your keyboard.

Tap the PDF button located in the bottom-left corner of the print pop-up window, then choose Save as PDF from the pop-up list. Enter a new name for the file and click Save to finish exporting the compressed copy.

The print-to-PDF mechanism reprocesses image data with balanced compression logic, so it preserves far sharper visuals compared to the aggressive Reduce File Size Quartz filter.

This workflow for how to shrink pdf file size mac cannot cut file sizes to the same minimal level as the built-in Reduce File Size preset, so it only fits users who prioritize crisp image display over maximum compression ratio.

If you have image-heavy documents and refuse blurry output from heavy compression, you can try this native method. It sacrifices maximum space savings for better graphic clarity, so you should weigh your quality and storage needs carefully.