Compress and repair PDFs
This article shows how to reduce the size of a PDF so it is easier to send, and how to repair a damaged PDF. Compress PDF is available in the free edition. Repair PDF requires Pro or higher.
Both commands are on the Convert tab. Compress PDF is also on the Tools tab and in the File menu.
Compress a PDF
- Open the PDF you want to compress.
- Click Convert › Compress PDF. The Compress PDF dialog opens with the active document.
- Under Method, choose a compression mode.
- For Smart image and Strong, set the Image quality. For Strong, also choose the Resolution.
- Click Compress.
Choose a mode
| Mode | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Lossless | Restructures the PDF without touching images. Quality stays exactly the same. | Documents that must stay identical. |
| Smart image | Recompresses the pictures inside the PDF. Text stays real text, sharp and searchable. | Documents that mix text and photos. |
| Strong | Turns every page into a JPEG image. Smallest files, but text becomes part of the image. | Scans and image-heavy documents. |
Additional settings:
- Image quality: 30% to 95%, 75% by default. Lower values give smaller files. This setting is not used in Lossless mode.
- Resolution: 96 dpi · smallest, 120 dpi · balanced, or 150 dpi · sharp. It applies only to Strong mode.
The compressed result
The compressed result opens in a new tab with a name ending in -compressed. The original document stays open and unchanged. Check the result, then save it with File › Save As.
If the size cannot be reduced, no new tab opens and Farino PDF shows a message, for example:
- Lossless: the PDF is already fully optimized. Try Strong mode for larger savings.
- Smart image: no recompressible images were found, for example in a text-only PDF.
Check the result size
The original file size appears in the Compress PDF dialog, below the file name. To see the size of the result, switch to the result tab, click File › Properties (Ctrl+D), and look at File size. If the result is not small enough, close the result tab without saving, then try another mode or a lower quality.
You can also start from the start screen with the Compress PDF card or the Compress PDF quick action.
Repair a PDF
Requires Pro edition or higher
Repair PDF rebuilds a damaged PDF so it opens again.
- Open the problem PDF.
- Click Convert › Repair PDF.
- Wait for the process to finish. The result opens in a new tab with a name ending in
-repaired. - Check the result, then save it with File › Save As.
Repair PDF works in two stages:
- First, Farino PDF reads the file structure and rewrites the document. Text, images, and page content are kept.
- If the structure is too damaged, Farino PDF rebuilds the document from an image of each page. In that result, text becomes part of the image.
If the file is too damaged or is not a PDF, a message says it cannot be recovered. Files for Repair PDF are limited to 50 MB.
If the feature is locked
In the free edition, Repair PDF shows a locked feature page. Click Enter License Key to enter your license, or Try it free for 30 days to start a Business trial. See pricing to compare editions.