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Performance tips

Optimize your PDFs for fast loading and a better customer experience.

Optimize PDF file size​

Target under 5MB:

  • Files under 5MB load quickly
  • Customers won't wait for large downloads
  • Mobile users especially need small files

Compress PDFs:

  • Use online compression tools
  • Reduce image quality to 150-200 DPI
  • Remove unnecessary embedded fonts
  • Flatten layers

Remove unnecessary content:

  • Delete blank pages
  • Remove hidden layers
  • Eliminate unused graphics
  • Compress embedded images

Choose the right display style​

Button display = faster:

  • Page loads immediately
  • PDF loads only when customer clicks
  • Better for mobile
  • Better for multiple PDFs

Embedded viewer = slower:

  • PDF loads with page
  • Customers wait for viewer to initialize
  • Takes screen space
  • Can slow page load

Use button display when performance matters.

Optimize for mobile​

Keep files small:

  • Mobile data is slower
  • Customers won't wait for large files
  • Under 3MB is ideal for mobile

Test on mobile devices:

  • Real phones, not just browser simulation
  • Try on 4G and 5G
  • Test on slow connections

Use button display:

  • Embedded viewers can be cramped on mobile
  • Buttons work better on small screens
  • Popup gives full-screen experience

Limit PDFs per page​

Fewer is faster:

  • Each PDF adds load time (embedded view)
  • 1-3 PDFs per page is ideal
  • More than 5 can slow pages significantly

Combine related content:

  • One comprehensive PDF instead of many small ones
  • Reduces number of files to load
  • Easier for customers to find information

Use inactive status:

  • Hide seasonal PDFs when not needed
  • Reduces load even if linked
  • Activate only when relevant

Image optimization in PDFs​

Reduce image size before adding to PDF:

  • Resize images to display size (don't use large originals)
  • Compress images (JPEG at 70-80% quality)
  • Use appropriate format (JPEG for photos, PNG for graphics)

Limit images in PDFs:

  • Text-only PDFs load fastest
  • Images should be necessary
  • Consider text alternatives

Lazy loading​

How it works:

  • PDFs load only when visible on screen
  • Customers scrolling down trigger loading
  • Saves bandwidth for content they don't see

Automatically enabled:

  • PDF Connect uses lazy loading by default
  • No configuration needed
  • Works with both display styles

Browser caching​

PDFs are cached:

  • First load takes time
  • Repeat views load from cache
  • Much faster for returning customers

Clear cache carefully:

  • Old cached PDFs might show
  • Update PDFs get cached quickly
  • Cache busting built-in for updates

Page load impact​

Test your page speed:

  • Use Google PageSpeed Insights
  • Check before and after adding PDFs
  • Aim for minimal impact

Embedded viewers slow pages more:

  • Each embedded viewer adds weight
  • Consider button display for better scores
  • Homepage especially needs fast load

Hosting and delivery​

Cloud delivery:

  • PDFs served from fast cloud storage
  • Global CDN for quick access worldwide
  • Automatic optimization

No performance penalty:

  • PDFs don't slow your Shopify store
  • Hosted separately from your store
  • Fast delivery regardless of your plan

Multiple PDFs performance​

Button display scales better:

  • 10 PDFs as buttons = minimal load impact
  • 10 embedded viewers = significant slowdown
  • Choose wisely for multi-PDF pages

Load on demand:

  • Buttons load PDFs only when clicked
  • Better bandwidth usage
  • Customers choose what to load

Monitor performance​

Check regularly:

  • Test page load speeds monthly
  • Review customer feedback
  • Watch for slow load complaints

Track file sizes:

  • Know size of your largest PDFs
  • Compress outliers
  • Set max size policy (like 5MB limit)

Test on slow connections:

  • Simulate 3G speed
  • Test actual mobile data
  • Consider worst-case scenarios

Quick optimization checklist​

Before uploading PDFs:

✅ Compress to under 5MB
✅ Reduce image quality to 150-200 DPI
✅ Remove blank or unnecessary pages
✅ Flatten layers
✅ Embed fonts properly
✅ Test load time

After uploading:

✅ Use button display when possible
✅ Limit embedded viewers per page
✅ Test on mobile devices
✅ Check page load speed
✅ Monitor customer experience

Tools for optimization​

PDF compression:

  • Adobe Acrobat Pro
  • Smallpdf.com
  • PDF Compressor
  • Preview (Mac) - Export with Reduce File Size

Image compression:

  • TinyPNG
  • ImageOptim
  • Photoshop export for web
  • Squoosh.app

Testing tools:

  • Google PageSpeed Insights
  • GTmetrix
  • WebPageTest
  • Browser DevTools

Next steps​