Choose a photo or scanned PDF, set the maximum file size and check the readable preview before downloading. The tool compresses the copy in your browser without uploading it, and tells you if the target cannot be reached.
Compress a photo or scanned PDF
- Choose the photo or scan of your driving licence, passport or other document. Add the back if the recipient needs both sides in one file.
- Use Crop to remove the table around the document and Rotate to make the writing upright.
- Set Maximum size to the upload limit, from 100 KB to 5 MB. Choose JPG or PDF in Format.
- Check the preview and the size above Download. Open the downloaded copy and zoom in on the small print before submitting it.
The tool reduces image quality first and resolution afterwards. If it cannot reach the limit, it shows the smallest size achieved. A smaller file is only useful if the recipient can read it.
Follow the upload service’s own requirements
GOV.UK’s visa evidence guidance explains the self-upload process and asks for readable images. Read the checklist and file requirements in the service you are using. Upload supporting scans in the requested format; do not redraw an official digitally signed document or a fillable application form as images.
A university, rental agency or bank may set a different limit. The 1 MB and 500 KB settings here are choices for your copy, not national submission rules. Here, 1 MB means 1,000,000 bytes. When a portal gives an intermediate limit, choose the available step below it and verify the result.
Keep a readable copy
For a passport, check the number and machine-readable lines. For a driving licence, check both sides where requested. Do not remove pages or fields that the checklist requires just to reduce the file size.
A PDF exported by this tool contains images. Existing selectable text, form fields and digital signatures are not preserved. Keep the original file if those features matter; this is a tool for copies of scans and photos.
If the recipient wants both sides on a printable sheet, the photo to PDF tool defaults to A4 in the UK. Use watermark or hide details only when the recipient accepts those changes.
Processing stays on your device
The file is read and encoded in your browser. Download saves the result to your downloads, usually Files > Downloads on an iPhone. Re-encoding removes location and other camera metadata; the input file stays unchanged.
Common questions
Can I compress a PDF scan to 1 MB?
Yes. Choose PDF and set Maximum size to 1 MB. The result contains images, so its text is no longer selectable. A complex scan may not fit; the tool reports the smallest size it reaches.
Is 1 MB the limit for every application?
No. Follow the limit in the actual form or upload service in the UK. The preset is a target you choose, not a government requirement.
Does compression upload my documents?
No. Processing happens in your browser. Once the page and its required resources have loaded, the tool can work offline.
What if the small print is blurred?
Choose a larger target if the recipient permits it, crop unnecessary background, or make a clearer scan. Do not submit an unreadable copy.
