Why your PDF is so big
A PDF made from a phone scan or a photo is a stack of pictures, one per page. Phone cameras take very large photos, so each page can be several megabytes on its own. Text documents saved straight from Word or a website are usually tiny; scans and photos are what blow past the limit.
So the fix is almost never "remove a page". It's storing each page as a smaller picture that's still easy to read.
Before you start, check the form
- Per file or in total? "Maximum 2 MB per file" means each upload box has its own limit. Don't combine documents that go in different boxes.
- One file or several? Some forms want every page of a document in one PDF, for example both sides of an ID card. Others take one page per upload.
- Colour? Most forms accept black and white, but some ask for colour copies of IDs or certificates.
Shrink it in four steps
- Open Compress PDF to a size and add your PDFs or photos of the pages.
- Put the files in the right order with the arrow buttons.
- Enter the limit, for example 2 MB. The tool aims a little under it, so the file passes however the form counts megabytes.
- Download the result and check it (next section).
Check it before you upload
A small file is no use if the reader can't make out your details. Open the downloaded PDF and zoom to 100%. Look closely at:
- small print, such as dates and reference numbers
- stamps, seals and signatures
- photos on ID documents
If anything is hard to read, try a slightly higher limit, or split the document into parts.
If it still won't fit
- Remove pages that aren't needed. Blank backs of pages and cover sheets add size for nothing. Split PDF lets you keep only the pages you choose.
- Trim the borders. Phone photos often show the table around the paper. The "Trim white borders" option removes plain white margins, but not a desk or table around the page, so crop the photo first for that.
- Split it across uploads if the form allows several files, for example "Bank statements, part 1" and "part 2".
- Rescan more simply. A flat, evenly lit page on a plain background compresses much better than a shadowy photo at an angle.
Why the size on your computer looks different
There are two ways to count a megabyte: 1,000,000 bytes, or 1,048,576 bytes. Windows uses the second and shows a smaller number for the same file. Forms differ too. To be safe, this site counts 1 MB as 1,000,000 bytes and aims about 2% under your limit, so the file fits under either definition.
Last updated 2026-10-23.