Compress Image to 2MB (2048 KB): Free, Private

How do I compress a photo to 2 MB?

To compress a photo to 2 MB, SafeResize saves it as a JPG of 2,000,000 bytes or less, which is under 2 MB whether a website counts 1 MB as 1,000,000 or 1,048,576 bytes.

2 MB in bytes	2,000,000 bytes, or 2,097,152 bytes when 1 MB is counted as 1,024 KB, as Windows does
2 MB in KB	2,000 KB, or 2,048 KB as Windows counts
The photo you download	2,000,000 bytes or less, so both counts accept it. Windows shows it as 1.9 MB or less.
Width and height	Up to 3200 pixels on the long side. They stay the same while the JPG quality can stay at 55% or more. Below that, the photo is made smaller so it does not turn blocky.
Official photo rules on SafeResize with 2 MB	As the largest file: Vietnam e-Visa, Japan Visa, Armenia e-Visa, Bahrain ID card and 8 more. As the smallest file: Mexico e-Visa.

Before you start

A 2 MB photo limit is common on application portals: 11 of the 110 official photo rules on SafeResize set 2 MB as the largest file, for example for Armenia, Bahrain, Brazil and Israel. Many phones save photos bigger than that, so a photo often has to shrink first.

The tool below opens with the size box already filled in. It shows the size in KB, and 2048 KB is 2 MB. SafeResize keeps the file under 2,000,000 bytes, which passes whether the website counts 1 MB as 1,000,000 or 1,048,576 bytes.

Tips

For an official visa or passport photo, use the page for your country. It also sets the pixels and shows the background rule and the head-size guide, not only the file size.
A photo that is already under 2 MB in the right file type is saved again at a size no bigger than it was, with very little change.
A very large photo is reduced to 3200 pixels on its longest side first. That is still far more than most forms need.

Questions and answers

Why does the box say 2048 and not 2?

The box counts in KB. 2048 KB is 2 MB, counted the Windows way. You can also switch the unit to MB and type 2.

Will a 2 MB photo look sharp?

Yes for almost every photo. At 2 MB there is room for fine detail, so the picture usually stays the same size in pixels, and only the JPG quality is adjusted.

Can I do several photos at once?

Not yet. Do them one at a time; each takes a few seconds.

How many KB is 2 MB?

2,000 KB if a website counts 1,000 KB to a MB, as phones, Macs and many websites do, and 2,048 KB if it counts 1,024, as Windows does. SafeResize keeps the photo under 2,000,000 bytes, which is under 2 MB both ways.

Compress an image to 2 MB (2048 KB)