Compress PDF to 1MB, free
Portal upload caps love the number 1MB — job applications, visa forms, and school submissions all seem to agree on it. Hitting it exactly is a targeting exercise: drop the PDF below and walk quality and resolution down while watching the live "After" size until it slides under the line with the most readability intact. Start at 110 DPI / 70% quality; step to 72 DPI if you're still over. Everything renders locally.
How to hit 1MB
- 1Drop your PDF and compare the "Before" size to your 1MB target — that gap is your budget.
- 2Lower quality first drag toward 50–60% and watch "After". Then step resolution 150→110→72 DPI if needed.
- 3Download under the line. Verify the After size, download, and upload to the portal with confidence.
Landing under 1MB legible
Text survives compression well
Letterforms stay readable far longer than photos degrade — forms and CVs compress aggressively without pain.
Photos are the weight
If the file is scan-heavy, resolution cuts save more than quality cuts. 110 DPI reads fine on screens.
Already-optimized PDFs resist
If the result comes out bigger, your file was already efficient — the tool warns you instead of pretending.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compress a PDF to 1MB?
Drop it above, lower quality toward 50–60%, then step resolution down until "After" dips under 1MB. Download and submit.
Will it still be readable?
Almost always yes for text — letterforms survive heavy compression. Check the output before submitting anything critical.
Why do portals demand 1MB?
Storage and bandwidth at scale. Hitting it exactly avoids their brutal auto-compression.
Are my documents uploaded?
Never. Compression renders 100% in your browser.