Help

A little help getting your file ready

Have a requirement from an online form? Start with its exact wording. Already know what you need? Choose a task from the Tools page.

Prepare a file for a form

Open the file preparation tool and choose your photo or document. It accepts JPG, PNG, WEBP, HEIC, HEIF, PDF, DOCX and Markdown files.
Paste the form’s instructions, such as Photo between 10 KB and 100 KB, 600 × 600, JPG.
Check the requirements shown below the text box. Correct anything that does not match what the form asks for.
Select Prepare my file. If a crop is needed, review the framing before continuing.
Review the requirement checks, download your copy and open it to make sure it looks right.

In the preparation tool, the optional preview starts off. Turn it on when you want to inspect the file. Your original is not changed.

What can I type?

Use ordinary wording for file sizes, dimensions, aspect ratios, DPI, formats and filenames. A few examples:

Signature between 20 KB and 50 KB, PNG
480 × 368 pixels, less than 2 MB, JPG
3.5 × 4.5 cm at 300 DPI, JPG
PDF less than 1 MB
Convert Markdown to DOCX

Only the requirements shown as understood can be checked. Visual rules, such as a plain background or a clearly visible signature, still need your review.

Why is my file still too large?

Some limits cannot be reached without losing too much detail. For photos, JPG or WEBP usually gives more control over size than PNG. Use the format the form accepts, and reduce dimensions only if its rules allow it. A failed size check means the output still does not meet that requirement.

Will resizing cut anything off?

Changing an image’s shape may require a crop. WhatTheFile does not stretch it. When a crop is needed, you can move the image, use the arrow keys or adjust the zoom before confirming. Check that important details remain inside the frame. See the resize and crop guide.

What should I check in a document?

Smaller PDFs: compression turns pages into images. Searchable text, links, forms and digital signatures are lost. Keep your original and check every page.
Word to PDF: the PDF is image-based. Fonts, layout and page breaks may differ, and text will not be searchable. Direct DOCX compression is not supported.
Markdown to Word: headings, lists, tables and code use standard Word formatting. Custom templates and macros are not supported.
Covered details: automatic word detection can miss information. Review every page and the downloaded copy before sharing. The redaction guide explains the checks and what the export removes.

For a walkthrough of your task, browse the practical guides.

Your privacy

Your files and tool inputs stay in your browser. We use Cloudflare Web Analytics to understand overall website traffic and performance, not what you type into the tools. The privacy policy explains what is collected and how feedback is handled.

Something not working?

Tell us what you tried and what happened through feedback or email support@whatthefile.org. Share the error message if there is one, but leave out personal details and sensitive files.

Prepare a file