How to compress a pdf file on mac without losing quality

Shortcuts App, macOS’s native preinstalled offline automation utility that generates a Finder right-click one-click quick action after single setup and auto-resizes PDF images to 150 DPI while preserving sharp text, enables users to complete how to compress a pdf file on mac with no third-party software but only offers Apple’s unadjustable fixed balanced compression preset without customizable quality controls.

How to Compress a PDF File on a Mac

1. Open the pre-installed Shortcuts app on your Mac.

2. Click the + icon in the upper-right corner to create a new, blank shortcut.

3. In the search bar on the right, type “Optimize PDF file size,” then drag and drop this action into the main editing window.

4. Click the settings toggle icon in the upper-right corner of the Shortcuts page, check “Use as Quick Action,” and check “Finder.”

5. Close the Shortcuts app to save your settings.

6. To compress a PDF file:

• Right-click any target PDF file in Finder, select Quick Action, and choose the name of your custom shortcut. The system will automatically optimize the file locally.

This native macOS automation tool requires only a one-time setup to provide a permanent, one-click shortcut for compressing PDF files. It is ideal for users who prefer not to install additional software and need to frequently perform lightweight PDF compression for everyday sharing and storage organization, but it cannot meet the advanced compression needs of graphic designers working with high-resolution image PDFs.