Guides
Short, practical how-tos for getting PDF jobs done. Each one links to the free tool that does it.
How to make a PDF smaller
Email attachment limits and upload caps are usually 10–25 MB, and a scan-heavy PDF blows past that fast. Compressing it re-encodes the images and strips waste so the file shrinks while staying readable.
How to combine PDF files into one
Sending five separate PDFs is annoying for whoever receives them. Combining them into one ordered document is cleaner, and it takes a few seconds.
How to convert a PDF to Word
PDFs are built to look the same everywhere, which is exactly why they're awkward to edit. Converting to Word gives you back an editable .docx you can change.
How to split a PDF
Sometimes you only need chapter three, or you want each invoice as its own file. Splitting lets you carve a big PDF into the pieces you actually need.
How to make a scanned PDF searchable
A scanned PDF is really just a photo of a page. You can't search it or select its text because, to the computer, there are no words, only pixels. OCR fixes that.
How to password protect a PDF
If a PDF holds anything private — a contract, a payslip, medical notes — a password stops anyone who gets the file from opening it. The PDF is encrypted, so the password isn't just a prompt you can click past.
How to remove a password from a PDF
If you already know a PDF's password but you're tired of typing it on every open, you can save a copy with the password stripped out. This only works on files you can legitimately open.
How to rotate a PDF and save it
Scanned pages often come in sideways or upside down. Rotating them and saving means the fix sticks — unlike tilting your head, or a viewer setting that resets next time you open the file.
How to add a watermark to a PDF
A watermark marks a document's status or ownership — DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, a company name — across every page. It signals intent and makes casual copying obvious.
How to convert JPG to PDF
Phone photos of a document are fine to look at but awkward to send — five separate images instead of one file. Converting them to a PDF makes one tidy document that opens the same way everywhere.
How to convert PDF to JPG
Sometimes you need an image, not a document — a page to drop into a slide, paste into a chat, or post where PDFs aren't allowed. Converting to JPG gives you one picture per page.
How to delete pages from a PDF
Scans pick up blank backs, duplicate pages, and cover sheets you don't want to send. Deleting them leaves a clean document with the pages in the same order, minus the junk.
How to add page numbers to a PDF
A long document without page numbers is hard to talk about — "the bit near the end" helps no one. Adding numbers makes it easy to reference, especially once it's printed.
How to sign a PDF
Printing a document just to sign it and scan it back is a waste of time and paper. Signing a PDF directly lets you drop your signature where it belongs and send it straight back.
How to convert PDF to Excel
Retyping a table out of a PDF is slow and error-prone. Converting to Excel pulls the rows and columns into a spreadsheet you can actually sort, total, and edit.
How to convert Word to PDF
A Word file can shift its layout depending on who opens it and what fonts they have. A PDF locks the formatting in place, so what you send is exactly what they see.
How to reduce PDF size for email
Most email providers cap attachments around 20–25 MB, and a scan-heavy PDF blows past that easily. Compressing it brings the file under the limit so the message actually sends.