Choose the right PDF tool

A PDF can contain selectable text, scanned page images, form fields, or a mixture. That matters more than the filename when you choose how to edit or convert it. Start with a copy and keep the original.

Can you select the words?

If words can be selected individually in a PDF reader, PDF to Word or PDF to text can extract them. If the page behaves like one photograph, use OCR PDF to recognize English text first. OCR results need checking, especially names, prices and account numbers.

Edit text or fill in a form

Use Edit PDF for existing text objects, new text, images and annotations. Choose Whole paragraph to edit neighboring lines together, or drag a box around the words you want to change. Replacement text wraps within the original width; check the result because fonts and spacing can change. For a long rewrite, edit the source Word document and export it again. Use Fill PDF forms for standard form fields or to place an answer over a page.

Make a PDF small enough to email

Compress PDF rebuilds pages as images to reduce size. This can remove selectable text and fillable fields. Try it on a copy, then inspect small text, diagrams and signatures. A target size is a goal rather than a guarantee: page count and image complexity affect the result. If only a few pages are needed, extract those pages first.

Combine documents or change page order

Merge PDF puts files into one document. Organize PDF changes page order, rotates pages, duplicates pages or removes them. Split PDF creates individual page files. Review the final page order before sending an application, receipt packet or report.

Convert for editing or for appearance

Word export focuses on editable text rather than retaining images or complex layouts. Excel export estimates columns from text positions; verify totals and row alignment. PowerPoint export places page images on slides, so the text is not individually editable. JPG export makes page images for sharing. Use the original application’s export when exact document layout is essential.

Hide page edges or remove sensitive content

Cropping hides page edges; it does not securely erase what is outside the visible area. For sensitive content, use Redact PDF. Redaction rebuilds pages as images and removes underlying document streams. Inspect every resulting page before sharing. Drawing an ordinary shape over text is not a substitute for redaction.

Signatures and passwords

Sign PDF adds a drawn or typed visual signature, without certificate validation, identity verification or an audit trail. Ask the recipient what signature process they accept. Protect PDF adds a password; keep it somewhere safe. Unlock PDF needs the current password.

Save and check your result

Processing happens in your browser. Files can be up to 100 MB each, with up to 100 files and 200 MB total per batch; PDFs can have up to 500 pages. Large documents may exceed your device’s memory. Start with smaller batches on a phone, download the result, open it in a PDF reader, and check the pages before closing this tab.