How to Get an Image Under 1 MB or 500 KB

Published: Oct 19, 2026 | Updated: Oct 19, 2026 | About (Japanese)

Key points

Lowering pixel size is the most effective first step
If still large, set quality to "Small"
For ID photos, check the required pixel size too

To get under 1 MB

Set the size to "1600px" or "1200px".
Set quality to "Normal" and compress.
If it's still over 1 MB, set quality to "Small".

To get under 500 KB

Set the size to "1200px" or "800px".
Set quality to "Small".

Choosing the format

JPEG is the default for photos. WebP gets even smaller, but check that the recipient supports it.

Notes

Over-shrinking makes text and details unreadable. Check document images especially.
ID photos sometimes require a minimum pixel size such as "at least W×H px". Don't shrink below it.

Checking the result

If the displayed size is a bit below the limit, you're done. If right at the limit, go one step smaller.

Use "Compress & Resize Images" (free)

Tools that go well with this

Crop & Rotate Image: Crop an image to any area or ratio, and rotate it.
Convert Image Format (JPG, PNG, WebP): Convert images to JPG, PNG or WebP, several at once.
Photos to PDF: Combine several photos into one PDF in the order you choose. You can rotate, reorder and set a size limit.

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