Why 1 MB still blocks uploads
Phone scans and color marksheets often land between 2 and 8 MB. Portals that print a 1 MB limit usually mean the finished upload — not the gallery thumbnail size. A clean résumé PDF is different from a photo-heavy certificate pack.
Use Compress PDF (live tool)
Open Compress PDF, upload the rejected file, and start with Basic. Read the before/after size badge, then zoom signatures, faces, and fine print at 100%. Escalate to Strong only if you are still over 1 MB.
Leave headroom and keep a master
Aim near 900–950 KB so portal wrappers do not push you over. Keep an uncompressed master copy named clearly so a resubmission does not force you to rebuild settings under deadline pressure.
FAQ-style pitfalls
- Still over after Strong? Remove optional pages or rescan photo pages lighter.
- Text soft? Stay on Basic and drop unused pages instead.
- Privacy: supported PDF compression can run in your browser.