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Compress an Image to 1 MB

Full-size photos under 1 MB for forms and apps with that limit.

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Your files are processed on your device and never uploaded.

Quick answer: To compress an image to 1 MB, add it here, keep the 1 MB target and download the result. Photos are limited to 2560 pixels on the longest side, still enough to fill a large screen, and saved at the highest quality under 1 MB. Nothing is uploaded.

Phone photos are often 3 to 5 MB, and many forms and apps stop at 1 MB. Add your photos and get large, high-quality versions under 1 MB in one step.

Compress image to 1 MB at a glance

PriceFree, no sign-up, no watermark, no daily limit
AcceptsJPG · PNG · WEBP
Largest file50 MB per file, several files at once
Where it runsIn your browser: files are never uploaded
Works onAny modern browser on iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac and Linux
Send the resultDownload it, or send it free with a link or by email (up to 20 GB)

How to compress image to 1 MB

  1. Choose one or more photos: JPG, PNG or WebP.
  2. Keep 1 MB, or pick 500 KB or 2 MB.
  3. Press Compress to 1 MB.
  4. Check the size shown next to each photo and download them.

Large and sharp, just lighter

A 12-megapixel phone photo is about 4000 × 3000 pixels. Squeezing all of them into 1 MB would push the quality down far enough to show. So this page first limits the photo to 2560 pixels on its longest side, which still fills a large monitor, and then homes in on the highest quality that fits in a few quick tries. The dimensions only come down further if even a modest quality is too big.

Need every original pixel, for example to crop later? Set Maximum width or height to Keep original size. The file still ends up under 1 MB, at a lower quality.

Where a 1 MB limit comes up

  • Profile photos and ID uploads on some job, visa and government sites.
  • Support tickets, forum posts and website contact forms.
  • Older content management systems and online shops with small upload limits.

Always check the form's own instructions for the format and dimensions too. If you have an iPhone HEIC photo, the form may need JPG: set Save as to JPG, or convert it with HEIC to JPG. For stricter limits see 500 KB and 200 KB.

Location data is removed

The compressed copy does not keep EXIF metadata, so the GPS position and camera details of a phone photo are not passed on to the site you upload it to. Your original stays unchanged on your device, and the compression itself happens in your browser: nothing is uploaded to us.

Sending photos to a person rather than a form? You do not need to shrink them: send the originals with a link, free up to 20 GB.

How this compares

This toolOnline converters (e.g. TinyPNG, iLoveIMG or CloudConvert)Desktop apps (e.g. Photoshop)
Your file is uploadedNoYes, to their serversNo
Install or accountNoneAccount for some featuresInstall needed
Watermark or daily limitsNoneCommon on free plansDepends on the app

Plans of other services change; check their sites. More image tools.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a photo smaller than 1 MB?

Add it here, keep the 1 MB target and press Compress. You get the highest quality version under 1 MB, up to 2560 pixels on the longest side.

Will my photo lose its resolution?

It is limited to 2560 pixels on the longest side by default, which keeps it sharp on screen. Choose Keep original size if you need the full resolution; the quality is then lowered instead.

Can I compress to 2 MB instead?

Yes. Pick 2 MB, or Other for any size you need.

Are my photos uploaded?

No. They are compressed in your browser on your device.

Need to send a big file?

Send files up to 20 GB with a download link or by email. Free, no account needed, original quality.

Send large files free

Guides & how-tos

Step-by-step help for moving files between devices, using every sharing feature, and choosing the right service.

See all guides

Phones & computers 33