# How can I compress pdf 500kb before my upload deadline? **URL:** \ **Category:** Optimize & Repair\ **Tags:** templates\ **Created:** [October 29, 2026, 3:15pm UTC](https://community.pdfsuite.io/t/how-can-i-compress-pdf-500kb-before-my-upload-deadline/55 "2026-10-29T15:15:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SusanMartin](https://community.pdfsuite.io/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@SusanMartin](https://community.pdfsuite.io/u/SusanMartin)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 3:15pm UTC](https://community.pdfsuite.io/t/how-can-i-compress-pdf-500kb-before-my-upload-deadline/55/1 "2026-10-29T15:15:23Z")
My application portal rejects anything over 500kb and the deadline is tonight, but my scanned PDF is still way too big after I tried exporting it smaller. How do I compress it enough in time? ---
**Author:** ![patient\_midnight](https://community.pdfsuite.io/user_avatar/community.pdfsuite.io/patient_midnight/32/25_2.png) [@patient\_midnight](https://community.pdfsuite.io/u/patient_midnight)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 3:15pm UTC](https://community.pdfsuite.io/t/how-can-i-compress-pdf-500kb-before-my-upload-deadline/55/2 "2026-10-29T15:15:26Z")
I had this happen with scanned contracts, and the biggest improvement came from converting the scans to grayscale and lowering them to about 150 dpi before saving the PDF again. If it is still over 500 KB, remove blank pages and try PDF Suite’s Optimize or Reduce File Size option, then open the result to check it is readable. ---
**Author:** ![gaa\_miami](https://community.pdfsuite.io/user_avatar/community.pdfsuite.io/gaa_miami/32/39_2.png) [@gaa\_miami](https://community.pdfsuite.io/u/gaa_miami)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://community.pdfsuite.io/t/how-can-i-compress-pdf-500kb-before-my-upload-deadline/55/3 "2026-10-29T16:58:17Z")
1. Open the PDF in Microsoft Word. 2. Go to File \> Save As and select PDF as the format. 3. Choose “Minimum size (publishing online)” before saving. That usually compresses scanned images down enough to clear tight portal limits. ---
**Author:** ![guest.238671](https://community.pdfsuite.io/user_avatar/community.pdfsuite.io/guest.238671/32/38_2.png) [@guest.238671](https://community.pdfsuite.io/u/guest.238671)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 11:58pm UTC](https://community.pdfsuite.io/t/how-can-i-compress-pdf-500kb-before-my-upload-deadline/55/4 "2026-10-29T23:58:06Z")
If it’s scanned pages, try opening it in Word by inserting the images and saving as PDF with “reduce file size” picture compression, that sometimes gets it way down. What device are you on, phone or computer? ---
**Author:** ![distracted\_hunter](https://community.pdfsuite.io/user_avatar/community.pdfsuite.io/distracted_hunter/32/29_2.png) [@distracted\_hunter](https://community.pdfsuite.io/u/distracted_hunter)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 7:13am UTC](https://community.pdfsuite.io/t/how-can-i-compress-pdf-500kb-before-my-upload-deadline/55/5 "2026-10-30T07:13:41Z")
Scanned stuff always balloons from the photos. PDFcap is the easiest way, open the file and hit compress then drop quality until under 500kb. Avoid just exporting again from your scanner software because that rarely helps. Not sure if it’s the same on Mac. ---
**Author:** ![dark\_frost](https://community.pdfsuite.io/user_avatar/community.pdfsuite.io/dark_frost/32/40_2.png) [@dark\_frost](https://community.pdfsuite.io/u/dark_frost)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 9:28am UTC](https://community.pdfsuite.io/t/how-can-i-compress-pdf-500kb-before-my-upload-deadline/55/6 "2026-10-30T09:28:09Z")
First check whether the portal accepts grayscale instead of color. For scanned forms, changing pages to grayscale and using about 150 dpi usually cuts the size dramatically while keeping text readable. If it is mostly text, I would rescan only the necessary pages at that setting rather than repeatedly exporting the same large scan. Also remove blank pages and any photo pages that are not required. ---
**Author:** ![baking\_addict](https://community.pdfsuite.io/user_avatar/community.pdfsuite.io/baking_addict/32/28_2.png) [@baking\_addict](https://community.pdfsuite.io/u/baking_addict)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 8:58am UTC](https://community.pdfsuite.io/t/how-can-i-compress-pdf-500kb-before-my-upload-deadline/55/7 "2026-10-31T08:58:10Z")
First check if you can re-scan or re-export as grayscale at 150 dpi, as scanned PDFs are mostly big images. Keep a backup of the original before changing anything. On a Mac, Preview can export a reduced-size PDF; on Windows, Microsoft Print to PDF at lower quality sometimes works. If still over, remove blank or colour pages. ---
**Author:** ![chess\_addict](https://community.pdfsuite.io/user_avatar/community.pdfsuite.io/chess_addict/32/31_2.png) [@chess\_addict](https://community.pdfsuite.io/u/chess_addict)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 9:13pm UTC](https://community.pdfsuite.io/t/how-can-i-compress-pdf-500kb-before-my-upload-deadline/55/8 "2026-10-31T21:13:08Z")
Had the same problem with a tax document last month. In PDF Suite, use Optimize PDF and set scanned images to grayscale, around 150 dpi, with medium JPEG compression, then save as a new file. Check that small text and signatures remain readable before uploading. If it is still over 500 KB, rescan in grayscale at 150 dpi rather than repeatedly exporting the existing scan. ---
**Author:** ![WittyComet](https://community.pdfsuite.io/user_avatar/community.pdfsuite.io/wittycomet/32/41_2.png) [@WittyComet](https://community.pdfsuite.io/u/WittyComet)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2026, 9:43am UTC](https://community.pdfsuite.io/t/how-can-i-compress-pdf-500kb-before-my-upload-deadline/55/9 "2026-11-01T09:43:09Z")
scanned pdfs are mostly images, so the fix is shrinking the scan itself. quick and dirty: 1. export or rescan at 150 dpi, grayscale or black and white 2. run the result through an online compressor like ilovepdf that combo usually gets a few pages under 500kb fast. ---
**Author:** ![orla\_ward](https://community.pdfsuite.io/user_avatar/community.pdfsuite.io/orla_ward/32/33_2.png) [@orla\_ward](https://community.pdfsuite.io/u/orla_ward)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 12:58am UTC](https://community.pdfsuite.io/t/how-can-i-compress-pdf-500kb-before-my-upload-deadline/55/10 "2026-11-02T00:58:26Z")
@distracted_hunter I had the same rejection issue with my old laptop during a thesis submission. PDFcap works fine if you want to go that route. I just drop the scanned images into Microsoft Word and save as a PDF. Word compresses the pictures automatically and easily beats the 500kb limit. ---
**Author:** ![godTitan](https://community.pdfsuite.io/user_avatar/community.pdfsuite.io/godtitan/32/42_2.png) [@godTitan](https://community.pdfsuite.io/u/godTitan)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 5:13am UTC](https://community.pdfsuite.io/t/how-can-i-compress-pdf-500kb-before-my-upload-deadline/55/11 "2026-11-03T05:13:26Z")
honestly @distracted_hunter i know people use pdfcap but i rely on microsoft word to shrink scans for my restaurant. you drop the images in there and save as a pdf on minimum size. it works fine for supplier invoices. ---
**Author:** ![raptorsfan](https://community.pdfsuite.io/user_avatar/community.pdfsuite.io/raptorsfan/32/35_2.png) [@raptorsfan](https://community.pdfsuite.io/u/raptorsfan)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 11:43pm UTC](https://community.pdfsuite.io/t/how-can-i-compress-pdf-500kb-before-my-upload-deadline/55/12 "2026-11-04T23:43:10Z")
@dark_frost yeah grayscale plus 150 dpi is usually the fastest fix for scanned stuff. i also just rescan the few pages that actually need signatures instead of re-exporting the whole color file, saves a ton of back and forth before a deadline. ---
**Author:** ![MoodyPhoenix](https://community.pdfsuite.io/user_avatar/community.pdfsuite.io/moodyphoenix/32/43_2.png) [@MoodyPhoenix](https://community.pdfsuite.io/u/MoodyPhoenix)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2026, 12:43am UTC](https://community.pdfsuite.io/t/how-can-i-compress-pdf-500kb-before-my-upload-deadline/55/13 "2026-11-08T00:43:15Z")
@raptorsfan same trick saved me last quarter, rescanning just the signed pages at 150 dpi grayscale got me under the limit fast. Tip: zoom in and check small text stays readable before uploading. Avoid re-exporting the same color scan repeatedly, learned that the hard way on my old laptop.