Compress Image to 20KB — Instant, Free
Drop your photo below and it compresses to exactly 20KB automatically — no extra button click. Works for SSC, IBPS, SBI, state PSCs, and every govt portal that enforces a 20KB limit.
Drop Image → 20KB Instantly
Drop or click to select your photo. Compression starts immediately — result downloads in 1–3 seconds.
Drag & drop your photo here
or click to browse
Which Portals Require 20KB Photo?
| Exam / Portal | Photo Limit | Format | Signature |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSC CGL / CHSL / MTS / CPO | 20KB | JPEG | 10KB |
| IBPS PO / Clerk / RRB | 50KB photo / 20KB sig | JPEG | 20KB |
| SBI PO / Clerk | 50KB | JPEG | 20KB |
| RBI Grade B / Asst | 50KB | JPEG | 20KB |
| UPSC Civil Services (IAS) | 300KB (but 50KB preferred) | JPEG | 300KB |
| State PSC (BPSC/RPSC/MPPSC) | 20–50KB (varies) | JPEG | 10–20KB |
| Aadhar Card Update / Enrolment | < 20KB | JPEG | N/A |
Why "Resize and Save" in Paint Doesn't Hit 20KB
🎲
JPEG quality is unpredictable
MS Paint and basic editors give you a quality slider — but the resulting file size is unpredictable. You might get 15KB or 35KB. Our binary search finds the exact quality level that produces 18–20KB.
📐
Resizing dimensions ≠ reducing file size
Making an image "200×230px" in Photoshop does NOT compress it to 20KB. Dimension resize and file size compression are separate operations. Our tool handles both.
🔁
Re-compressing a JPEG degrades it
If you repeatedly save a JPEG, quality degrades with each save. Our tool compresses from your original in one pass — maintaining maximum quality at the target size.
Exact 20KB Photo Requirements — 2026 Rules
Updated March 2026 · Based on official portal notifications
| Rule | SSC Portal | Aadhar / UIDAI |
|---|---|---|
| Max file size | 20KB (strictly enforced) | < 20KB |
| Format | JPEG / JPG only — no PNG | JPEG only |
| Photo dimensions | 200 × 230 pixels recommended | 35mm × 45mm equivalent |
| Background | Plain white or off-white only | White only |
| Age of photo | Within 3 months of application date | Recent (same requirement) |
| Face coverage | Face must cover 70–80% of frame | 70–80% of frame |
| Glasses / accessories | Not permitted — even prescription | Not permitted |
| Signature | 10KB max · JPEG · 140×60px | N/A for Aadhar update |
Why Government Portals Reject Your Photo — 5 Real Causes
File is above 20KB (even by 0.5KB)
Portals check file size byte-by-byte. 20.1KB → instant rejection. Our tool targets 18–20KB — always stays under.
PNG file renamed to .jpg — not a real JPEG
The server checks the file header (magic bytes), not the extension. A PNG renamed to .jpg has PNG magic bytes → rejected. Convert using our PNG → JPG tool, then compress here.
Photo older than 3 months
Not caught at upload — rejected at document verification. If your form date is March 2026, the photo must be from December 2025 or later. Retake if unsure.
Non-white background
Blue, grey, cream, or patterned backgrounds fail document verification even if the portal accepts them at upload. Use our Background Remover to replace with pure white (#FFFFFF).
Photo already compressed / WhatsApp-forwarded
WhatsApp re-encodes images during transfer — adding compression artifacts. Never use a WhatsApp-received photo. Always compress from the original camera/scan file.
Common Upload Error Messages — Decoded
❌ "Please upload a file smaller than 20KB"
✅ Compress using this tool with autoCompress on. Output targets 18–20KB — guaranteed under the threshold.
❌ "Invalid file format. Only JPG allowed."
✅ Your file is PNG or HEIC. Step 1: use PNG → JPG converter. Step 2: compress here to 20KB.
❌ "Image upload failed. Please try again."
✅ Usually a server overload issue before deadlines. Switch to Chrome, clear cache (Ctrl+Shift+Delete), try at off-peak hours.
❌ "File is corrupted or cannot be read."
✅ Photo was damaged during transfer (WhatsApp, Telegram). Use the original camera file — never a forwarded photo.
Related Size Tools
SSC Photo Resize — All Exams
Most PopularCGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, GD — all covered with exam details
Compress Image to 50KB
Also NeededUPSC, IBPS, RBI, SBI portal requirement
Compress Image to 10KB
SignatureSSC signature requirement — 10KB JPEG
Compress to 100KB (Railway)
RailwayRRB NTPC, RPF, Railway Board portals
PNG to JPG Converter
Format FixConvert before compressing if your photo is PNG
Image Size Checker
VerifyVerify the output is exactly under 20KB
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about compressing photos to 20KB for government portals.
SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, SSC MTS, SSC CPO, SSC GD Constable, IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, SBI PO, SBI Clerk, RBI, NABARD, many state PSC boards (BPSC, KPSC, MPPSC, RPSC, UPPSC), and Aadhar update/correction forms. When in doubt, check your admit card or notification — if it says "photo max 20KB JPEG", this tool handles it.