Guides
PDF guides
Each guide starts from a situation rather than a feature, explains what is actually going wrong, and says where the approach runs out of road. Everything described here runs in your browser — no upload, no account.
Common problems
- Your PDF is too large to emailGet a file under the 25 MB Gmail limit — or any limit — without uploading it anywhere.
- Convert a scanned PDF to editable WordWhy a scan converts to an empty .docx, and the OCR step that fixes it.
- Remove a password from a PDF you ownStrip the password from a document you have the right to open, without uploading it.
- Redact a PDF before you share itWhy black rectangles are not redaction, and how to remove content so it stays removed.
- Make a scanned PDF searchableAdd an invisible text layer so Ctrl+F works, without changing how the pages look.
- How to compress a PDF without losing qualityKeep selectable text when you can, and only rasterize when scans force the issue.
- How to convert PDF to Word without wrecking formattingGet editable text out of a PDF without expecting a pixel-perfect Word clone.
- How to merge multiple PDFs into oneCombine PDFs in a browser tab on Windows, Mac, or mobile — same steps everywhere.
- How to unlock a password-protected PDF legallyRemove protection from a document you are allowed to open — with the password, not a crack.
- PDF to JPG vs JPG to PDFPick the direction based on whether you need images or a single document.
- Best free PDF tools for students in 2026A practical stack for submissions, notes, and scans — without paying or uploading coursework.
- How to reduce PDF size for email, WhatsApp, and uploadsHit real-world attachment limits without uploading your file to a compressor.
- Is it safe to use online PDF tools?Upload-based tools keep copies under their policies; local tools never need the file.
- PDF privacy: what happens to your files on online toolsA clear picture of upload pipelines vs in-browser processing — and how to share PDFs with less risk.
- How much can you compress a PDF without visible quality loss?What to expect from Keep text, Max shrink, and Target size on common PDF types.
Privacy workflows
Looking for how this stacks up against other PDF software? The comparison pages cover that, including what the alternatives do better.