Short answer
Open the photo in Preview, export a JPEG, and lower the Quality slider. For a specific limit, select it in Finder and choose NeatClick → Make Under → 1 MB, 2 MB, or a custom size.
Option 1: reduce one photo with Preview
- 1
Find the upload limit
Look for the maximum file size and accepted formats. If the form also asks for a minimum width, such as 1200 pixels, keep that in mind when resizing.
- 2
Export a new JPEG
Open the photo in Preview, choose File → Export, and select JPEG. Lower the Quality slider, give the copy a new name, and save. Use PNG for a transparent logo.
- 3
Check the size
Select the copy in Finder and press Command-I. If it’s still too large, export again from the original with a lower quality setting.
- 4
Resize if you need more room
On a copy, choose Tools → Adjust Size. Select pixels, keep Scale proportionally and Resample image enabled, and enter a smaller width. Then save and check how it looks.
Option 2: meet a size target with NeatClick
When you select several supported images, the limit applies to each image separately.
- Select the source images in Finder. Right-click → NeatClick → Make Under.
- Choose 1, 2, 5, 10, or 25 MB, or Custom Value… for another limit. For a strict “below 2 MB” rule, a custom 1.9 MB target leaves a small margin.
- Open the finished copies and check their size and appearance. NeatClick skips a new copy when the source already fits.
Example: our app icon below 1 MB
Make Under → 1 MB took our app icon from 1.25 MB to 0.92 MB. To get there, it reduced the image from 1254 × 1254 to 878 × 878 pixels.
The previews below use the same display size. Download both PNGs to compare them at full size.
| What we checked | Original | After Make Under |
|---|---|---|
| File size | 1,254,831 bytes | 924,394 bytes |
| Pixel dimensions | 1254 × 1254 | 878 × 878 |
| Format | PNG | PNG |
| Original file | Kept | Unchanged |
Processed October 2, 2026 with NeatClick’s v1.2 development engine on macOS 26.3.1.
Pick the right format
A photograph usually becomes smaller as JPEG than as PNG. A screenshot with small text may look cleaner as PNG, even if it is larger. A transparent logo needs a format that supports transparency and that the destination accepts.
To shrink an image, change its pixel dimensions rather than just the DPI number. Use Resize Exactly in NeatClick when you need a particular width or height.
If the upload still fails
Make sure you’re uploading the smaller copy. If it fits the size limit, check the form’s required format and pixel dimensions. For a strict “below 2 MB” limit, try 1.9 MB to leave a little room.
Built-in controls referenced in this guide
Frequently asked questions
Is 2 MB the same as 2 megapixels?
No. MB measures stored file size; megapixels measure the number of image pixels.
Will reducing file size change dimensions?
NeatClick first attempts to preserve dimensions, then may reduce them when that is necessary to meet a difficult target.