Your photo is too small in KB — the minimum nobody reads
Over-compressed photos below the portal minimum KB fail just like oversized files. Here is why and how to fix it.
Start here: which of these is happening to you?
| Symptom | Likely cause | Jump to |
|---|---|---|
| Told to retake at counter | Background or face size | Cause 1 |
| Upload fails silently | Format or KB range | Cause 2 |
| Looks fine but rejected | Spec mismatch | Cause 3 |
Cause 1: Background or face size
Indian portals enforce a white background and minimum face height. A grey wall or small face in frame fails automated checks. See Photo size too large — how to get it under 20 KB or 50 KB for the exact spec.
Cause 2: File format or size
Portals want JPG within a KB range — not PNG or HEIC. Check Indian passport photo size — 35×45 mm (2026 rules) for upload troubleshooting.
Cause 3: Spec mismatch
Old studio sizes and outdated prints cause counter rejection. Cross-check the official notification.
Fix it now
This applies across documents and exams — pick yours and we will set the exact size automatically.
Choose your document or examIf none of these worked
Retake in daylight against a plain wall. Try a desktop browser for exam uploads.
Related problems
See also
Related guides
More PhotoFix articles on the same problem or document type.
- TroubleshootingP0Why your white background isn't white (and what to do)Background not white enough for passport or OCI? Shadows, grey walls, and halo edges from cheap removal — and how to fix each.
- TroubleshootingP0Photo went blurry after resizing: the cause is the order of operationsBlurry after resize? You likely compressed before cropping. Crop, then resize to exact pixels, then compress to KB — in that order.
- TroubleshootingP1iPhone photo won't upload? It's probably HEICHEIC photos from iPhone often fail Indian government portals. Convert to JPG and change camera settings to stop it recurring.