Why is my PDF file so big?

I'm not 100% on why the two of you would be getting different sized files. I've got a couple of possible ideas. Examples of some of the ideas being possible setting differences. Like Sparkleberry (above) shows in their screenshot of Powerpoint's settings and changing the Print Quality. Other setting difference might be if there is a Quartz filter being applied to it (Dropdown Options for Quartz Filters Show up in some Save As Dialog Boxes). Side Note: I don't have Powerpoint so I can't check this myself, but if there is a Quartz filter option on the PowerPoint > Save As > Dialog box you could try selecting" Reduce File Size" before you save your file.

Another Idea I would have to ask if you've modified the PowerPoint file. Adding Images or the like. As it might be including those images in your PDF vs the Original Creators PDF and that could account for the flux in size. Though if you are just opening the Original then exporting it unmodified and this is happening then this idea is no good.

If your super interested in it, you could see if his or your computer are using different pdf processor, as they might have different compression methods, which effect the PDF Sizes. To do so open the PDF's in Preview and goto Tools (Found in the Menu Bar) > select Show Inspector. On the window that pops up goto General Info (The tab that looks like a Piece of Paper). There you should see the PDF Producer. My PDF Producer is: macOS Version 10.15 (Build ******) Quartz PDFContext.

Also as a side note you can reprocess the PDF's using a Quartz Filter if you wanted to reduce their file sizes. Though I get that this is extra work on your part, and I apologize for that. There are multiple ways to do this... One way is by opening the PDF in Preview (App). Then going to File (Menu Bar) > and selecting Save As... (Shows up when the [Option] modifier key on the keyboard is held down). On the dialog that appears Set "Format:" to "PDF" and the "Quartz Filter:" to "Reduce File Size" > Click Save. There you have it a PDF with a reduce file size. I do caution you to look at the PDF after reduction, as I've had some smaller details disappear in the compression. I think that it reduces all the images dpi's and possible flattens some vector image files. But again I'm not an expert and don't really know the magic behind it.

The last little bit is I will wish you the best in your journey to solve this, good luck!

Weston

Two last thoughts:

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes and see what is found.

MalwareBytes Download Link: MalwareBytes Anti-Malware for Mac 10.10 and I later

If nothing is found, then this seems to be a bug with the OS installation.

So, call Apple and request to speak to an Apple Rep over the phone. Share the screen with them so they can see first hand what is going on.

Also, ask the Apple Rep about setting up a Genius Bar Appointment at your local Apple Store.

Contact Us - Choose Locations

USA: 1(800)MY-APPLE

[Edited by Moderator]

You don't state which version of Office you are using)

First thing to reduce your file size, within PPT Preferences within PowerPoint go to General, to Print, and reduce quality (see below)

(2) compress pictures within PPT (see below), save your PPT and export as PDF again

OR

3 Import your PPT to KeyNote, reduce within KeyNote and export

OR

4 Try converting the generated PDF using Adobe to OCR format

You might want to ask on a PDF help site or a PowerPoint site, neither product is an Apple product. In PowerPoint when saving as a PDF you have a couple of size options, maybe you are selecting a different option than the originator.

Contact Links for Adobe or Microsoft:

• Microsoft - Go To: Microsoft.com > Click: Contact Microsoft (on bottom of the screen) > Proceed from there as necessary.

• Adobe - Go To: Adobe.com > Click: Support (on top-right of the home page)> Click: Contact Us > Proceed from there as necessary.

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In PowerPoint...

Try Exporting this as a PDF Document:

How are you creating this PDF document? Are you exporting this as an image? Or are you exporting this a PDF document? Try manually exporting this as a PDF document. To do so, Go To: File > Export... > File Format: > Select: PDF > Click: Export

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In System Preferences...

Try Creating a New User:

What happens when you create a new user? Does this still occur?

You asked about a PowerPoint file and a PDF conversion size. Nowhere did you mention Finder. PowerPoint and PDF are not Apple products. I suggested that maybe you are not selecting the same conversion options in PowerPoint as the originator. I tested the result of choosing different options before posting in response to your question.

Ian Chamandy1 wrote:

When you make a PDF from the Save As... dialogue box or the Print dialogue box of an application such as PowerPoint, you don't have options.

To make a PDF Document, export it as such. Go To: File > Export... > File Format: > Select: PDF > Click: Export

Contacting Apple is a great idea, just be aware that if you call and you are beyond your warranty, there might be a charge for a service call. Getting an appointment at a Genius Bar may be difficult since they switched to focus on mainly hardware issues for the Genius Bar; your best bet may be to click on the contact support link in the upper right corner, answer the questions during the triage process, and wind up with a couple of options.

Screenshots of making a PDF Document...

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STEPS 1 - 2

Go To: File > Export...

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STEPS 3 - 5

Go To: File Format: > PDF > Export