Troubleshooting Large Downloads: How to Compress Files Before Emailing
Sometimes a file you download from ITO Health—such as a SNAP application or supporting documents—may be too large to email.
If that happens, you can reduce the file size in one of two ways:
- Compress (zip) the file
- Reduce the PDF size using Adobe Acrobat
Use the steps below depending on the file type and your device.
Option 1: Compress the File Into a Zip Folder
Windows
- Locate the file on your computer.
- Right-click the file.
- Select Send to → Compressed (zipped) folder.
- A new .zip file will appear in the same location.
- Attach the .zip file to your email.
Mac
- Locate your saved file.
- Control-click (or right-click) the file.
- Select Compress “[filename]”.
- A new .zip file will appear in the same folder.
- Attach the .zip file to your email.
Option 2: Reduce the PDF Size Using Adobe Acrobat
If the file you downloaded is a PDF, you can compress it directly using Adobe Acrobat.
Using Adobe Acrobat Pro
- Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
- Go to File → Save as Other → Reduced Size PDF.
- Choose the default compatibility setting.
- Click OK and save the compressed PDF.
- Attach the new, smaller file to your email.
Using the PDF Optimizer (Advanced Control)
- Open the PDF in Acrobat.
- Go to File → Save as Other → Optimized PDF.
- Review optimization options such as Images, Fonts, or Clean Up.
- If helpful, click Audit space usage to see what's taking up the most space.
- Adjust settings and save the optimized file.
Using Acrobat (Non-Pro Subscription)
Most subscription versions (even without “Pro”) include a simple Reduce File Size option under File.
- If you don’t see this, your license may not include PDF optimization tools.
If the File Is Still Too Large
If the file is still too big to send:
- Try removing unnecessary attachments before downloading again.
- Consider splitting the document into multiple smaller PDFs, if allowed by your organization.
- If you continue to have trouble, contact your ITO Health support contact.