How to reduce your document size to under 1MB

Our system can only accept files up to 1 MB in size. If your document is too large to upload, please try the steps below.

Step 1: Check Your File Size

Windows

1. Locate the file on your computer.
2. Right-click the file and select Properties.
3. Look for Size.

Mac

1. Locate the file in Finder.
2. Right-click (or Control-click) the file and select Get Info.
3. Look for Size.

iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Files app.
2. Find your document.
3. Press and hold the file name.
4. Select Get Info.
5. Check the file size displayed.

Android

1. Open the Files app or your device's file manager.
2. Locate the document.
3. Tap the three-dot menu or file details option.
4. Select Details or Properties.
5. Check the file size displayed.

If the file is larger than 1 MB, follow the steps below.

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Step 2: Save the Document as a PDF

PDF files are often smaller than Word documents and are easier to upload.

Microsoft Word

1. Open your document.
2. Select File > Save As.
3. Choose a location to save the file.
4. Select PDF from the file type options.
5. Save the file.

On a Phone

Many document apps, including Microsoft Word and Google Docs, allow you to save or share a document as a PDF:

1. Open the document.
2. Select Share, Export, or Save As.
3. Choose PDF.
4. Save the PDF to your device.

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Step 3: Reduce the Size of Images

Large photographs and screenshots are the most common reason documents exceed the file size limit.

If your document contains images:

• Remove any images that are not essential.
• Crop images to show only the relevant information.
• Use screenshots instead of high-resolution photographs where appropriate.
• Avoid inserting multiple photographs unless required.

If Taking Photos on a Phone

Before taking a photo of a document:

• Ensure the text is clear and readable.
• Avoid using the highest camera quality setting if a lower setting is available.
• Take the photo in good lighting to avoid needing multiple images.

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Step 4: Compress a PDF

If your PDF is still larger than 1 MB:

Adobe Acrobat

1. Open the PDF.
2. Select File > Compress PDF or Reduce File Size.
3. Save the compressed version.

On a Phone

Many free PDF apps include a Compress PDF feature. Search your device's app store for a PDF compression app if needed.

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Step 5: Rescan Documents at a Lower Quality

If your file is a scanned document:

• Scan in black and white rather than colour if possible.
• Select a resolution of 150–200 dpi.
• Avoid scanning blank pages.
• Save the scan as a PDF rather than an image file.

Using a Phone Scanner App

Many phones have built-in document scanning features:

• iPhone: Open the Notes app, create a new note, tap the camera icon and select Scan Documents.
• Android: Use Google Drive or your phone's built-in scanning feature if available.

When scanning:

• Scan only the pages required.
• Use black and white or a standard-quality setting if available.
• Review and remove any blank pages before saving.

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Step 6: Remove Unnecessary Content

To further reduce file size:

• Delete blank pages.
• Remove duplicate pages.
• Remove unnecessary images, logos, or graphics.
• Keep only the pages required for your application.

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Step 7: Check the New File Size

After making changes:

1. Save the document.
2. Check the file size again.
3. Confirm it is less than 1 MB before uploading.

Uploading From a Mobile Phone

If you are uploading from a smartphone:

1. Ensure the document has been saved to your device.
2. Select the Upload or Choose File button on the application form.
3. Choose the file from your Files, Downloads, Documents, or Photos folder.
4. Wait for the upload to complete before moving to the next page.
5. If the upload fails, check the file size and ensure it is below 1 MB.