How to compress PDF before uploading to DigiLocker when file size fails

If a DigiLocker upload fails because the file is too big, compress the PDF to a size comfortably below the limit DigiLocker shows (its project page on the government's OpenForge platform states 10 MB per file), keep it to PDF, JPG or PNG, and first check whether you can fetch an official issued copy instead, which needs no upload at all.

DigiLocker is the Government of India's cloud locker for documents and certificates. Its homepage reports more than 70 crore registered users and more than 900 crore issued documents as of October 2026. Most people use it to fetch documents that departments issue directly, but it also has a personal upload area for scans of older paper records, and that is where size errors appear. This guide explains the two kinds of documents, the upload rules that are published, and how to shrink a scan without making it unreadable.

Key takeaways

• Issued documents, such as a driving licence or mark sheets from participating boards, are fetched from the issuer, so there is nothing to upload or compress.
• DigiLocker says issued documents are legally at par with originals when used electronically; self-uploaded scans do not carry that status.
• DigiLocker's OpenForge project page gives a 10 MB limit per uploaded file, pdf, jpg, jpeg, png, bmp and gif formats, and 1 GB of storage per account.
• If the app or website shows a different limit, follow what the upload screen says.
• Most oversized files are phone or cyber-cafe scans; compressing them to a few hundred kilobytes keeps text readable and uploads quickly on mobile data.

Issued documents vs uploaded documents

DigiLocker separates two kinds of records, and the difference decides whether you need to compress anything.

The DigiLocker "Ask the Expert" FAQ explains both points. It says documents in the "Issued document" section are legally at par with originals, and that only authorised boards, universities and departments can add issued records; students cannot upload their own mark sheets into that section. It also gives an example of fetching an issued record: use Search Document, choose the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, select the driving licence record and enter your licence number.

So before you fight with a size error, search DigiLocker for the issuer of your document. If it is available as an issued document, you save the upload and get a stronger record.

What the published upload rules say

DigiLocker's own FAQ page did not load for automated checks while this guide was being updated, so the figures below come from the DigiLocker project page on OpenForge, a Government of India platform:

• Each uploaded file should not be more than 10 MB.
• Uploads are limited to pdf, jpg, jpeg, png, bmp and gif file types.
• Each account gets 1 GB of storage for scanned copies of legacy documents (it started at 100 MB).

Limits can change and the mobile app can behave differently from the website, so treat the number shown on your upload screen as the final word. Many older blog posts quote a 2 MB or 1 MB limit; neither figure appears on the official page cited here.

Why a document fails to upload

How to compress a PDF for DigiLocker

1. Get the file into a supported format. Convert iPhone photos with HEIC to PDF, ordinary photos with JPG to PDF, or capture the paper directly with Scan to PDF.
2. Remove any password. If the PDF is password protected, unlock it with Unlock PDF using the password you already know.
3. Combine or split. Put the front and back of a card into one file with Merge PDF; split a long deed into parts with Split PDF if it stays too large.
4. Compress. Open the DigiLocker PDF compressor or Compress PDF. Choose the Recommended level, or set a target size such as 500 KB or 1 MB. A smaller file uploads faster on mobile data and still sits far below a 10 MB limit.
5. Check and upload. Open the result, zoom in on names, numbers and seals, then upload it from the uploaded documents area of the DigiLocker app or website.

Compress PDF runs on Siliph's servers: the file is sent over an encrypted connection, processed automatically and deleted within 2 hours. It is not processed in your browser, so if a document is too sensitive to leave your device, compress it with offline software instead.

Related guides

Several government scheme portals ask for the same scans, often with stricter limits. See the guides for PM Kisan uploads and Skill India certificates, which also explains how PMKVY certificates reach DigiLocker.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum file size for DigiLocker uploads?

DigiLocker's project page on the government OpenForge platform says each uploaded file should not be more than 10 MB. If the app or website shows a different figure on the upload screen, follow that.

Which file types can I upload to DigiLocker?

The same official page lists pdf, jpg, jpeg, png, bmp and gif. Convert Word files or iPhone HEIC photos to PDF or JPG before uploading.

Is an uploaded scan as valid as an issued document?

No. DigiLocker says documents in the Issued documents section are legally at par with originals when used electronically. An uploaded scan is your own copy, so fetch the issued version whenever the issuer offers one.

Can I upload my own mark sheet into the Issued documents section?

No. DigiLocker's FAQ says only authorised boards and universities can add academic records there. If yours is missing, ask your board or university to publish it.

How much storage does DigiLocker give each user?

The OpenForge project page says each account gets 1 GB for uploaded scans of legacy documents. Issued documents are references from the issuer and are listed separately.

Sources

• DigiLocker: official homepage
• DigiLocker: Ask the Expert FAQ (PDF)
• OpenForge, Government of India: DigiLocker project page