Why does the tool say it kept the original?

The file was already smaller than what re-encoding would produce; it is already under the limit or cannot get smaller without splitting.

Does the text stay selectable?

Yes. Only images are re-encoded; text, fonts and vector content are untouched.

Is 200 KB enough for a two-page scan?

Usually, in grayscale. In colour it is tight; try 500 KB or send the pages separately.

Get a PDF under 1 MB, 500 KB or 200 KB

Updated October 29, 2026

Online forms love hard limits: "PDF, maximum 1 MB", "scanned ID, maximum 200 KB". A phone scan of a single page is often 2 to 4 MB, so it fails at the first click.

These limits are reachable without a visible loss, because the form only needs a readable page, not a 300 dpi print master. The compress PDF tool has a target size setting exactly for this.

Use the target size

Drop the PDF, open the options and set the target: 1 MB, 500 KB or 200 KB. The tool lowers image quality step by step and, if needed, the image resolution, until the file fits. It stops as soon as it is under the target, so you keep the best quality that fits.

For a one-page scan at 200 KB, expect roughly 100 dpi equivalent: perfectly readable, with slightly softer edges on small print.

When it does not fit

A 30-page scan cannot fit in 200 KB at any quality. Options: send only the required pages (split PDF), scan in black and white or grayscale instead of colour (half the size), or convert the page to a JPG and compress the image, when the form also accepts images.

Check before you upload

Open the result and zoom on the smallest text, a signature or a stamp. If they are readable, the form will accept it and the clerk will too. Keep the original in case a human asks for a sharper copy later.

Tips

Scan in grayscale when colour carries no information: a signed contract, an invoice.
Crop the scan to the page edges first; black borders cost kilobytes.
Everything happens on your device: an ID scan is exactly the kind of file that should not travel to a server.

Questions

Why does the tool say it kept the original?: The file was already smaller than what re-encoding would produce; it is already under the limit or cannot get smaller without splitting.
Does the text stay selectable?: Yes. Only images are re-encoded; text, fonts and vector content are untouched.
Is 200 KB enough for a two-page scan?: Usually, in grayscale. In colour it is tight; try 500 KB or send the pages separately.