"Maximum file size: 1 MB." It is one of the most common upload limits, and it is usually reachable without making your document unreadable. Work through the steps below in order and stop as soon as you are under the limit.
Step 1: Check the Current Size
Look at the file's size before doing anything. If it is 1.1 MB, you need a light touch. If it is 15 MB, you will need several steps.
Step 2: Compress at the Ebook Level
Open Compress PDF, upload the file and choose ebook. For documents with photos or scans, this alone often removes 50–80% of the size. Download and check.
Step 3: Try the Screen Level
Still above 1 MB? Go back to the original file (not the compressed copy) and choose screen. It lowers image resolution further. Zoom in to make sure names, numbers and signatures remain readable.
Step 4: Go Greyscale
If the document is colour but the colour does not matter, convert it with Grayscale PDF, then compress. This is especially effective on colour scans.
Step 5: Drop What the Reader Does Not Need
Blank pages, duplicate pages and covers add weight. Remove them with Remove Pages. If the form only needs certain pages, keep just those with Extract Pages.
Step 6: Rescan if You Can
When the source is a scan, rescanning at 150 DPI in greyscale usually beats any amount of compression on a 600 DPI colour scan.
Example
| Stage | Size |
|---|---|
| Original colour phone scan, 6 pages | 9.4 MB |
| Compressed (ebook) | 2.1 MB |
| Converted to greyscale + compressed (ebook) | 1.3 MB |
| Removed a blank page + compressed (screen) | 0.8 MB |
Check Before Uploading
- Open the final file on your phone and read one full page.
- Confirm the page count and order.
- Keep the original saved in case the office later asks for a better copy.
For even tighter limits, see compressing a PDF under 200 KB, and for background on why files get large, read why some PDFs are so large.
Why Starting From the Original Matters
Every compression pass throws away some detail. If you compress a file to 2 MB, then compress that copy again to reach 1 MB, the second pass works on already degraded images and the result is blurrier than compressing the original once at a stronger level. Keep the original open and try each level on it.
What Fits Under 1 MB
| Content | Rough capacity under 1 MB |
|---|---|
| Typed text (exported from Word) | Hundreds of pages |
| Text with a few small images | 20–50 pages |
| Greyscale scans at 150 DPI | About 5–10 pages |
| Colour photos | 1–3 pages |
These are rough guides — dense pages and detailed photos use more space.
Splitting as an Alternative
If a portal lets you upload several files, splitting a long document with Split PDF keeps every page clear instead of forcing everything into one heavily compressed file.
Readability Check
After compressing, read one full page on your phone at normal zoom. If you have to squint at numbers or signatures, go one step less aggressive. A readable 950 KB file is better than a blurry 400 KB one.
