PDF Upload Error? Fix Rejected PDF Files
When a website rejects your PDF, it's usually one of four problems: the file is too large, the PDF is a scanned image instead of searchable text, the file is password-protected, or the PDF is corrupted. PDFJolt has free tools to fix each issue — all processing happens in your browser.
Common PDF Upload Errors & How to Fix Them
| Error Message | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "File too large" / "Exceeds size limit" | PDF exceeds the portal's max file size | Compress PDF |
| "PDF not searchable" / "Text required" | Scanned PDF with no text layer | OCR Tool |
| "Password protected" / "Encrypted" | PDF has permissions or password lock | Unlock PDF |
| "Invalid format" / "Unsupported file" | File isn't a valid PDF or is corrupted | Re-render with Compress |
| "Multiple files not allowed" | Portal accepts only a single PDF | Merge PDFs |
Fix #1: PDF File Too Large
This is the most common upload error. Email providers cap attachments at 25 MB. Government portals (IRS, CRA, USCIS) typically limit uploads to 5–10 MB. University submission systems often require files under 2–5 MB. Scanned documents are the worst offenders — a 10-page scan at 300 DPI can easily reach 30–50 MB.
PDFJolt's Compress PDF tool reduces file size by 30–90% depending on the compression level you choose. The tool re-renders each page at an optimized resolution, dramatically shrinking image-heavy and scanned PDFs.
Fix #2: PDF Not Searchable or Text Required
Some portals — especially government agencies and legal filing systems — require PDFs to contain actual text data, not just images. If your document was scanned, it only contains pictures of pages. OCR (Optical Character Recognition) reads those images and adds an invisible text layer, making the PDF searchable and text-selectable without changing its appearance.
Fix #3: PDF Is Password-Protected
Some PDFs have permissions that prevent printing, copying, or editing — even though you can open them. Upload portals often reject these restricted PDFs. PDFJolt's Unlock PDF tool removes owner-password restrictions so the file can be uploaded normally. Note: you'll need the user password if the PDF requires one to open.
Fix #4: Portal Requires a Single File
Many application portals accept only one file per upload field. If you have multiple PDFs (resume + cover letter, or multiple scanned pages), merge them into a single document first. PDFJolt lets you drag and drop files, reorder pages, and combine everything into one PDF.
How to Diagnose and Fix Your Upload Error
Identify the error: check the exact message from the upload portal.
Match the error to the fix: file too large → Compress, not searchable → OCR, password-protected → Unlock.
Use the appropriate PDFJolt tool to fix the issue — free, in your browser.
Re-upload the fixed PDF to the portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related tools: Compress PDF · OCR Tool · Unlock PDF · Merge PDF · Fix PDF Too Large