Before you compress: check the portal rules
Every upload box lists the rules right next to it: max size per file, usually “PDF only,” sometimes a note about resolution. Screenshot it before you start so you don’t guess.
Write down the exact number: 100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB. A file at 250 KB still fails a 200 KB check.
- File type must be PDF (not JPG, not DOCX) unless the portal says otherwise.
- Size is per file, not total: five files at 400 KB each may all need to be under 500 KB individually.
- Some portals reject password-protected PDFs, even if the size is fine.
The 4-minute portal-ready workflow
This order avoids doing it twice:
- 1. Start from the original scan or export. Do not use a previously compressed copy.
- 2. If scanned, confirm it was at 150–200 DPI grayscale. Re-scan if it was colour at 300 DPI.
- 3. Compress with Shrinklyy: pick the exact portal limit (e.g., 200 KB) or Custom → High if the limit is unusual.
- 4. Rename clearly: ‘Aadhaar_Sharma_200KB.pdf’ beats ‘scan_final2.pdf’ and helps reviewers.
- 5. Open the result, check stamps/signatures, confirm file size in your file manager, then upload. Keep the original in a folder called ‘Originals’.
When the upload still fails
If a file under the limit is still rejected, it’s usually not the size: think wrong orientation, a damaged export, or a password on the PDF.
Try these in order: re-export the PDF from the source app, flatten any form fields, verify it opens on your phone, and if needed, print-to-PDF once to produce a clean, unprotected copy before compressing again.
Privacy note for sensitive applications
Application PDFs have addresses and ID numbers. With Shrinklyy the file stays in your browser: no server sees it, no queue, no account linking it to you. Close the tab and it’s gone from memory.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about this topic.
Only if the portal asks for a single combined file. Combined PDFs are harder to keep under a tight limit. If the portal allows separate uploads, keep files separate and compress each to the stated cap.
Keep your original, then make two compressed versions: e.g., one at 500 KB and one at 200 KB. Name them by limit so you always have the right one ready.
Yes. Open Shrinklyy in Chrome or Safari, pick the portal’s exact size target, and download. iOS Safari and Android Chrome both handle the workflow without extra apps.
Try these tools
Matched to the workflow described in this guide.