PDF guides
Clear, practical explanations of the everyday PDF jobs: what is going on inside the file, what can go wrong and how to check the result. Every guide pairs with a free tool that runs in your browser, so your documents stay on your device.
How to redact a PDF properly
Why black boxes often leave text recoverable, and how to check a redacted file before sharing it.
7 min readHow to OCR a scanned PDF without uploading it
Make scanned pages searchable, pick the right language and get cleaner results from difficult scans.
8 min readPDF to Excel: why tables break and how to fix them
Why merged columns, split rows and broken numbers happen, and how to fix them quickly.
8 min readHow to compress a PDF for email and upload limits
What makes PDFs large, what each compression level trades away, and other ways to fit under a limit.
6 min readAre online PDF tools safe? What happens to your files
Upload-based versus in-browser tools, and how to check where your documents really go.
7 min readHow to sign a PDF: signature images vs digital signatures
When a signature image is enough, when you need a certificate, and how to make a clean signature.
6 min readHow to password protect a PDF, and what it really protects
Open passwords versus permissions, choosing a strong password and sharing it safely.
6 min readHow to merge, split and reorder PDF pages
Combine files, put pages in order, fix sideways scans and split long documents.
6 min readLooking for a specific tool?
Each tool also has its own page with step-by-step instructions, a worked example and answers to common questions. Browse them all in the PDF tools directory.