Common photo and signature upload errors, and how to fix them
Updated 11 October 2026
You have filled every field, and then the photo upload fails with a vague message. Most upload errors fall into a handful of causes, and almost all can be fixed in a few minutes. Use the table below to find yours, then read the detailed notes.
To find the cause in one step, choose the file in the photo size checker and pick your exam. It reads the size in KB both ways portals count it, the real format inside the file, the pixels and the phone's rotation tag, and opens the right tool to fix what fails.
Quick reference
| Error message or symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| File size exceeds limit | Photo is larger than the maximum KB | Compress to a little under the limit, e.g. 45 KB for 50 KB |
| File size too small | Below the minimum KB | Raise quality or dimensions slightly |
| Invalid dimensions | Width or height in pixels is wrong | Resize to exact pixels in the notice |
| Invalid file type / format | HEIC, PNG, WebP or PDF uploaded instead of JPG | Convert properly to JPG |
| File not selectable in picker | Format not allowed by the form's filter | Convert to the allowed format |
| Upload fails with odd name | Spaces or special characters in file name | Rename to letters, digits, underscore |
| .jpeg rejected but .jpg allowed | Strict extension check | Rename extension to the one the form lists |
| Image shows broken or black | Corrupt file, or renamed instead of converted | Re-export from the original |
| Photo shows sideways after upload | The phone's rotation tag, which the portal ignores | Save it again upright, for example with the photo resizer |
| Old photo still shows after re-upload | Browser cache | Hard refresh or clear cache |
| Upload spins forever | Slow network or session timeout | Retry on stable connection, log in again |
Size too large or too small
Forms check the exact byte count, and devices disagree on whether a KB is 1000 or 1024 bytes. Stay a few KB inside both ends of the range. Read KB, MB and bytes for the reason. Our presets like compress to 50 KB hit a target directly.
If a file is too small, do not upscale a tiny image. Go back to the original photo and export at a larger size or higher quality.
Wrong dimensions
Some portals check pixel width and height exactly, others accept a range. If the notice says 200 × 230 px, a 201 × 230 image may fail. Also check orientation: a photo that is 230 wide and 200 tall is the wrong way round. If the notice gives cm, convert using the DPI formula.
Wrong format
Most portals want JPG/JPEG. iPhone photos are often HEIC, screenshots are PNG and images saved from websites may be WebP. Renaming photo.png to photo.jpg does not convert it; the data inside is still PNG and the portal may reject it or display it wrongly. Convert properly using Compress Image or Resize Image. See image formats explained.
File names
Names like My Photo (1).jpg, फोटो.jpg or photo#final.jpg occasionally break older upload scripts. Rename to something simple such as photo_rahul.jpg or sign_2026.jpg: English letters, digits, underscores or hyphens, no spaces. Also check for a double extension like photo.jpg.jpg, which can happen on Windows when extensions are hidden.
.jpg vs .jpeg
These are the same format. A few portals compare the extension against a fixed list, so if the error says only ".jpg" is allowed and your file is ".jpeg", renaming the extension is safe and correct here, because the content really is JPEG.
Corrupt or partially downloaded files
A file that was not fully downloaded, or was edited by several apps in a row, may be damaged. Signs: it will not open on your own device, shows grey bands, or the form shows a broken image icon. Re-create it from the original photo.
Browser cache and session problems
- After re-uploading, if the old photo still appears, press Ctrl + Shift + R (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + R (Mac) to reload without cache, or open the form in a private window.
- Many portals log you out after a period of inactivity. If the upload does nothing, log out, log in again and retry.
- Try another browser such as Chrome, Edge or Firefox. Disable aggressive ad blockers on the official portal if the upload button does not respond.
- On mobile, some portals work better in desktop mode or on a computer.
Worked example
Priya uploads IMG 2026 (2).jpeg, 3.1 MB, 3024 × 4032 px. The form asks for JPG, 200 × 230 px, 20 to 50 KB, and shows "invalid file". There are three problems: size, dimensions and possibly the name. She crops and resizes to 200 × 230 px, compresses to 42 KB, and renames it priya_photo.jpg. The upload succeeds.
Before final submission
Always preview the uploaded photo and signature on the form. Check that the photo is in the photo box and the signature in the signature box; swapped uploads are a common reason for rejection that no automatic check catches.
Questions people ask
- Why does my photo say invalid format when it is a JPG?
- It may be a PNG or HEIC renamed to .jpg, or the portal may expect .jpg rather than .jpeg. Convert it properly and match the extension the form lists.
- Why does the form say my file is too large when it shows under the limit?
- Your device may count 1 KB as 1024 bytes while the portal counts 1000. Compress a few KB below the limit.
- Can spaces in the file name cause upload errors?
- Sometimes. Use simple names with letters, digits and underscores, such as photo_name.jpg.
- My old photo still shows after uploading a new one. What should I do?
- Do a hard refresh with Ctrl + Shift + R, or open the form in a private window to bypass the browser cache.
- What if the upload keeps failing on my phone?
- Try a different browser, a stable connection, desktop mode, or a computer. Also log out and in again in case the session expired.
- How do I fix wrong dimensions errors?
- Resize the image to the exact pixel width and height in the notice, cropping first so the photo is not stretched.