Compress & convert
How to make a PDF small enough to email
Why PDFs get too big for Gmail or Outlook, which image quality and ppi settings to pick in Compress PDF, and what to do when a file won't shrink.
Converting PDF to Word: what survives and what doesn't
Why PDF to Word conversion never gives a perfect copy, what usually converts cleanly, what needs fixing afterwards, and what to do with scanned PDFs.
How to turn photos into one PDF (receipts, notes, ID copies)
Combine phone photos of receipts, homework or documents into one PDF. Page size, margins, photo order and how to keep the file small enough to upload.
How to turn PDF pages into JPG images
Save PDF pages as JPG, PNG or TIFF images. Which resolution to pick, what dpi means in pixels, when PNG beats JPG, and how to convert only the pages you need.
How to convert a Word document to PDF
Convert a .docx to PDF in your browser: what carries over (tables, lists, pictures, page breaks), what doesn't (headers, fonts, alignment) and when to use Word.
How to get tables out of a PDF and into Excel
Convert PDF tables to Excel or CSV in your browser, why scanned statements need OCR first, and how to clean up the spreadsheet so the numbers add up.
How to repair a PDF that won't open
What usually breaks inside a damaged PDF, how Repair PDF rebuilds the structure and recovers pages, and why a half-downloaded file can't be fully fixed.
How to get images out of a PDF at full quality
Pull the original photos out of a PDF instead of screenshotting pages: how Extract images works, when PDF to JPG is the better choice, and what it can't find.
How to save a web page or HTML file as a PDF
Turn an HTML file, pasted code or a web address into a PDF, why most websites block it, and when your browser's own Save as PDF is the better choice.
How to convert a PDF to PowerPoint and edit the slides
Turn PDF pages into PowerPoint slides with editable text or exact-look pictures, why the background becomes one image, and what to check before you present.
How to extract text from a PDF without the mess
Get the text out of a PDF as plain text, why copy and paste mixes up columns and line breaks, and what to do when a scan or odd font gives you nothing.
How to convert a PDF to Markdown
Turn a PDF into a Markdown file for notes apps, wikis, GitHub or AI chat tools, how headings and lists are detected, and what to fix in the .md file after.
How to convert a PDF to HTML (and get a real web page)
Turn a PDF into a web page with HTML, CSS and images: keep the exact look of every page, or get a clean, phone-friendly page. Free, in your browser.
How to get the fonts, colors and styles of a PDF as CSS
Turn the fonts, text sizes, colors, line height and margins of a PDF into a CSS file, so a website can match a brochure, report or brand document.
How to convert a PDF to grayscale
Turn a color PDF into grayscale while keeping the text selectable, choose between gray or solid black text, and avoid the colors that end up looking the same.
How to automate repetitive PDF tasks with a workflow
Chain rotate, watermark, grayscale, compress and password steps into one saved workflow, run it on each PDF, and pick the step order that keeps text selectable.
Edit & sign
How to sign a PDF on your phone without printing it
Sign a PDF in your phone's browser: draw, type or upload a signature, add the date and initials, lock form fields, and know when a drawn signature isn't enough.
How to fill in a PDF form without printing it
Fill in fillable and flat scanned PDF forms in your browser, tick boxes, add dates and a signature, then flatten. Plus why old XFA forms show up blank.
How to get a PDF signed by other people online
Send a PDF to one or more people to sign in their browser, no account needed. How the request works, where the file is stored, and when to use something else.
How to edit text in a PDF, and add text, images and shapes
Change words in a PDF with Edit PDF, use find and replace, add text, logos and arrows, and know why edited text is only covered, never removed.
How to add a watermark to a PDF (and what it won't stop)
Add a DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL or logo watermark to a PDF: placement, opacity, tiling and layer settings, plus an honest look at how easy watermarks are to remove.
How to create a fillable PDF form
Turn a flat PDF into a form people can type into: add text fields, checkboxes and drop-downs, use Detect on blank lines, then download it or publish it online.
How to compare two versions of a PDF
Find what changed between two versions of a contract or report: how Compare PDF matches words page by page, which options hide noise, and where it falls short.
How to flatten a PDF form before you send it
What flattening does to form fields, comments and stamps, which of the three Flatten PDF modes to pick, and why the default turns every page into an image.
How to edit PDF metadata (title, author and keywords)
What PDF metadata fields exist, where the title and author show up, and how to change them or strip every property before sharing, right in your browser.
How to remove comments and annotations from a PDF
Strip highlights, sticky notes, stamps and drawings from a reviewed PDF, choose which types to keep, and learn why some markup can't be removed this way.
How to add a header and footer to a PDF
Put a title, date, confidentiality note or page count at the top and bottom of every PDF page, skip the cover, and keep the new text clear of existing content.
Organize pages
How to merge PDF files into one (and keep them in the right order)
Combine PDFs and photos into one file in the right order: sorting tips, page ranges, bookmarks, a table of contents, double-sided printing and form fields.
How to split a PDF into separate files
Split a PDF by page ranges, split points, every N pages, bookmarks or file size. Which mode fits which job, how the download works, and what to check first.
How to rotate PDF pages and save the rotation
Why turning a page in your PDF viewer often isn't saved, how to rotate one page, odd or even pages, or all of them with Rotate PDF, and when to deskew.
How to rearrange, delete and extract pages in a PDF
Reorder pages by dragging, delete the ones you don't need, or pull a few out into a new file, and what happens to bookmarks and links when you do.
How to add page numbers to a PDF
Add page numbers to a PDF in the format and position you want, skip the cover page, start from any number, and stop numbers landing on top of text.
How to add Bates numbers to PDFs for a document production
What Bates numbers are, how prefixes, digits and start numbers work, and how to number a whole set of PDFs in one continuous sequence in your browser.
How to split a PDF by bookmarks into chapters
Split a PDF into one file per chapter using its bookmarks. What the outline is, why some PDFs have none, and how the bookmark level changes the result.
How to split PDF pages in half (scanned book spreads)
Turn scanned two-page spreads into single pages. How the cut keeps full quality, which pages to keep whole, and how to fix booklet and right-to-left scans.
How to split a PDF by file size
Split a large PDF into parts that each stay under a size limit. How the parts are measured, what MB means to upload forms, and when to compress instead.
How to split a PDF by text, such as invoice numbers
Split a combined PDF of invoices or statements into separate files using the text on each page. Which of the two modes to use, and why scans need OCR first.
How to crop PDF margins and trim white space
Trim wide margins, scan borders and white space from PDF pages, set one crop for all pages or each page, and why cropped content is hidden rather than deleted.
How to change a PDF's page size (Letter to A4 and back)
Change PDF pages from Letter to A4, A4 to Letter or a custom size, choose between scaling and centering, or add margins, without turning the text into images.
How to print multiple PDF pages on one sheet
Put 2, 4, 6 or more PDF pages on each sheet for handouts or to save paper, pick the page order and margins, and how this differs from printing a booklet.
How to flip or mirror a PDF for iron-on transfers and more
Mirror PDF pages horizontally or vertically for iron-on transfers, decals or reversed scans, why flipping isn't rotating, and what to check before printing.
How to add bookmarks to a PDF
What PDF bookmarks really are, why many PDFs have none, and how to add, nest and fix a clickable outline in your browser without uploading the file.
How to rename PDF files using the text inside them
Turn names like scan_0012.pdf into Invoice 48213.pdf by reading text from the page. How name patterns, lines and areas work, and where batch renaming fails.
How to combine front and back scans into one PDF in the right order
Scanned all the fronts, then all the backs? Interleave the two PDFs page by page, fix backs that came out in reverse, and deal with blank or missing pages.
How to extract pages from a PDF and save them as a new file
Pull a few pages out of a long PDF into a new file without changing the original: selecting by range, one file or several, bookmarks and file names.
Scan & OCR
How to scan documents to PDF with your phone
Use the scanner already on your iPhone or Android phone, get a clean scan, then straighten, OCR, combine and shrink the PDF so it's ready to send.
How to make a scanned PDF searchable (OCR explained)
Why Ctrl+F finds nothing in a scanned PDF, what OCR adds to the file, and how to get good results: language settings, 300 dpi scans, straight pages.
How to straighten a crooked scanned PDF
Fix scanned pages that came out tilted. How automatic deskew measures the angle, when to set it by hand, and why to straighten before you run OCR.
Security & privacy
How to password-protect a PDF properly
Which PDF password actually encrypts the file, which encryption to pick, why print and copy restrictions are easy to ignore, and how to share the password.
How to remove a password from a PDF (when you know it)
Remove the password or printing and copying restrictions from a PDF you're allowed to open. What the two PDF passwords do, and what to try if you forgot one.
How to redact a PDF properly (a black box isn't enough)
Why a black rectangle over text doesn't hide it, how real redaction removes the text underneath, and how to check a redacted PDF before you send it.
Are free online PDF tools safe to use?
Most online PDF tools upload your file to a server. What that means, how browser-based tools differ, and a simple way to check where any site processes files.
