Does it shrink the file?

No. Linearizing rearranges the PDF for faster first-page rendering; size stays similar.

Is it safe for all PDFs?

Yes, as long as they are valid PDFs. Corrupt files will fail safely.

What browsers support it?

All major browsers that support the linearized PDF format.

files.tools

Linearize (web-optimize) a PDF

Run qpdf --linearize to make a PDF streamable for browsers, improving load time over HTTP.

You’ll need: PDF
80 MB max
You’ll get: PDF
How long: Under 20s

Linearizing a PDF lets browsers display the first pages before the entire file downloads. Linearize (web-optimize) a PDF uses qpdf to rearrange the stream.

How to linearize

Upload a PDF up to 80 MB.
Press Convert file.
Download the streamable PDF.

What you get

A linearized PDF with the same content and page count, arranged for fast web viewing.