Fix your PDF so it uploads
Most upload rejections are caused by 3 things. We fix all of them — free, private, right in your browser.
PDFJolt fixes PDFs that won't upload by addressing the three most common causes: oversized files, missing text layers in scanned documents, and format incompatibilities. All processing happens in your browser — your file is never uploaded to any server.
Too large
Your file exceeds the portal's size limit. Most government portals, university submissions, and job applications cap uploads at 5-10MB. Email attachments typically max out at 25MB.
Compress your PDF to reduce file size by up to 90%.
Not searchable / no text layer
Your PDF is a scan or photograph — it looks like a document but has no actual text data. Many portals require searchable (OCR) PDFs so they can index and verify content.
Run OCR to add a searchable text layer while keeping the original appearance.
Wrong format or corrupted
Some portals are strict about PDF versions or structure. If your PDF was created by an older app or exported badly, it may have structural issues the portal can't handle.
Convert your PDF to Word, then re-export as a clean, standards-compliant PDF.
Still stuck?
If none of the above fixes work, your PDF may need to be reconstructed. Convert it to Word first, make any edits, then export back to PDF.
Why PDFs Get Rejected on Upload
PDF upload rejections are one of the most common and frustrating document problems. According to user surveys, over 40% of people have experienced a PDF upload failure when submitting documents to government portals, university applications, or job boards.
File Size Limits
The most common reason for upload rejection is file size. Government portals like USCIS, IRS, and state DMVs typically cap uploads at 5-10MB. University application portals (Common App, Coalition) usually allow 10MB. Job application systems (Workday, Greenhouse, Lever) often limit uploads to 5MB. Meanwhile, high-resolution scans can easily reach 20-50MB.
PDFJolt's Compress PDF tool reduces file sizes by optimizing embedded images and stripping unnecessary metadata. Most users see 50-90% size reduction while maintaining visual quality.
Missing Text Layer (Scanned Documents)
When you scan a document, the resulting PDF is essentially a photograph — it looks like text but contains no actual text data. Many portals require searchable PDFs so they can automatically extract and verify information. If your PDF is a scan, the portal may reject it outright or flag it for manual review.
PDFJolt's OCR tool adds a searchable text layer on top of your scanned images. The original appearance is preserved — but now the PDF contains real, selectable, searchable text. This runs entirely in your browser using Tesseract.js WebAssembly, so your sensitive documents stay on your device.
Format & Structural Issues
Some portals are strict about PDF compliance. PDFs created by older software, exported from mobile apps, or generated by certain print drivers may use non-standard structures that cause validation errors. In these cases, converting your PDF to Word and back to PDF creates a clean, standards-compliant file.
Privacy Advantage
Unlike other online PDF tools (iLovePDF, Smallpdf, Adobe), PDFJolt processes everything in your browser. Your tax returns, legal documents, medical records, and personal files never leave your device. This is a genuine technical difference — not marketing. Every operation runs client-side using WebAssembly.
| Feature | PDFJolt | iLovePDF | Smallpdf |
|---|---|---|---|
| Files stay on device | Yes | No | No |
| Free tier | Yes | Limited | 2/day |
| Compress + OCR + Convert | All free | Some paid | Some paid |
| Account required | No | Yes (for most) | Yes |
Last updated: February 2026