What Is DPI in Images? How to Convert Photo DPI

Have you been asked to upload a "200 DPI" photo for Kerala PSC or a "300 DPI" image for your passport? This is one of the most confusing requirements for students. Let's confirm what it means and how to fix it effortlessly.

DPI Cheat Sheet:
  • Standard Web: 72/96 DPI
  • Kerala PSC: 200 DPI (Strict)
  • Passport / Print: 300 DPI

⚡ Convert DPI Instantly

Change photo metadata to 200 or 300 DPI without quality loss.

Go to DPI Converter →

What Does DPI Mean?

DPI (Dots Per Inch) tells a printer how dense the ink dots should be. For digital screens, it is just metadata. However, older government systems rely on this metadata to verify image quality.

If your photo is perfect quality but has "72 DPI" in its metadata, the system may reject it saying "Low Quality".

2026 Common Requirements

  • Passport Photos: 300 DPI (High Quality Print Standard).
  • Kerala PSC: 200 DPI (Strict Requirement).
  • General Exams: Usually ignore DPI, but 200 is a safe bet.

How to Fix DPI Mismatch

You don't need Photoshop. Our free online tool modifies the image header to reflect the correct DPI value without re-compressing your image.

  1. Upload your photo to our DPI Converter.
  2. Select 200 DPI or 300 DPI.
  3. Download. The file size barely changes, but the system will now accept it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing DPI blur my photo?
No! Changing DPI metadata does not affect pixel resolution. Your photo will look exactly the same on screen.
Why does the file size stay the same?
Because we are only changing a text tag inside the image file, not the image data itself.