How to Reduce Image Size for Google Forms

Google Forms is widely used in UK schools, universities, and businesses for everything from job applications to event registrations. When a form includes a file upload field, Google imposes a limit — and files over that limit simply can't be submitted. Reducing your image file size before uploading takes less than a minute and prevents a frustrating failed submission.

Google Forms File Upload Limits

Google Forms file upload fields typically have a maximum of 10 MB per file by default (the form owner can set this lower). However, for ID photos, headshots, or document scans, most form creators expect much smaller files — often under 1 MB or 2 MB. Check the form instructions for any stated size requirement before uploading.

How to Reduce Image Size for Google Forms

1. Open the Image Resizer at imgresizr.com and reduce your image to a sensible screen size, e.g. 1024×768px.
2. Then open the Image Compressor and set quality to 75–80%.
3. Download the compressed file and check the size — it should now be well under 2 MB.
4. Return to the Google Form and upload the compressed image.

Tips for Document Scans and ID Photos

Scan at 150 DPI for Web Submissions

Many people scan documents at 300 or 600 DPI, which is great for print but unnecessary for digital submissions. For Google Forms and online portals, scan at 150 DPI — this produces clearly readable documents at a fraction of the file size. You can always scan at higher resolution separately if you also need a print-quality copy.

Convert PDF Scans to JPG

If your scanned document is a PDF, convert individual pages to JPG first (PDF → JPG), then compress the JPG. A multi-page PDF scan can be 20+ MB, while the same document as a compressed JPG is typically under 500KB.