PDF jobs come up at the worst moments: a visa application that needs everything in one file, a scan that is too large to email, a contract with one page that should not be there. Many online PDF tools ask you to upload the document to a server, which is uncomfortable for passports, bank statements and contracts. The tools linked in this guide work inside your browser instead, so the documents stay on your device.
Start by deciding what you actually need
| Goal | Tool |
|---|---|
| Combine several files into one | PDF merger |
| Take some pages out into a new file | PDF splitter |
| Remove pages you do not want | Delete PDF pages |
| Put pages in a new order | Organize PDF pages |
| Fix sideways pages | Rotate PDF |
| Make the file smaller | PDF compressor |
A reliable order for a messy document
- Fix orientation. A sideways page is hard to recognise, so rotate first.
- Delete what should not be there: blank pages, cover sheets, duplicates.
- Reorder once everything is upright and relevant.
- Merge with other files if needed.
- Number or sign the finished document.
- Compress last, if the file is too large to send.
Merging without surprises
The first file in the merger’s list becomes the first pages of the result, so put the files in the order the document should read. A small habit saves dragging: number the files before you add them, such as 01-cover.pdf and 02-certificates.pdf. Files with different page sizes can be merged, and each page keeps its own size. Bookmarks and fillable form fields may not carry over, and password-protected files must be unlocked first.
Splitting and extracting
The splitter can extract chosen pages into one new PDF, split every page into its own file, or cut the document into equal parts. The page box takes numbers, ranges and combinations such as 1-3, 5, 8-. Pages come out in their original order. Remember that splitting copies whole pages, so it is not a way to hide information on a page you keep.
What compression really does
The compressor draws every page at a lower resolution, saves it as a compressed image and builds a new PDF from those images. That is why a scan can shrink from 18 MB to a few megabytes. The price is that the text becomes part of the picture: you can no longer select, copy or search it, and links and form fields are not kept. Keep your original, and send the smaller copy. If a PDF is mostly text, it is already small and compression may not help.
Choose the level by where the file is going. An email attachment is fine at a medium level. Many email services limit attachments to around 25 MB, so aim comfortably below that. A strict upload portal may need the strongest level, at the cost of softer text.
Scan it well in the first place
It is far easier to avoid a huge file than to fix one. For ordinary documents, 150 to 200 DPI is plenty, and black and white or greyscale makes much smaller files than colour. Save colour for pages that really need it.
Signing and finishing
The sign PDF tool adds an image of your signature to a page, which is fine for many everyday documents but is not a certified digital signature. Some documents, such as property transfers, need more, so check what the recipient accepts. The page numbers and watermark tools add the finishing touches, and watermarking an identity document copy with its purpose and date makes it less useful to anyone who later gets hold of it.
Photos into PDF, and PDF into photos
To build a PDF from phone photos, use JPG to PDF; compress oversized photos first to keep the file small. To go the other way, PDF to JPG turns pages into images, extract images pulls out the pictures inside, and PDF to text copies the words, as long as the PDF has a text layer.
Check before you send
Open the finished file and scroll through every page. Check the page count, the order, the orientation and the size, and give the file a clear name such as application-pack-nov-2026.pdf rather than merged.pdf.
Frequently asked questions
Are my PDFs uploaded to your servers?
No. The PDF tools run in your browser, so your files stay on your device.
Why can I not select text after compressing?
Compression rebuilds each page as an image, which makes scans much smaller but removes the selectable text. Keep your original for editing and searching.
Can I merge password-protected PDFs?
Not directly. Remove the protection in the program that created the file first, then merge the unlocked copy.
Is a signature image legally valid?
It depends on the country and the document. Many everyday documents accept a simple electronic signature, but some need a certified one. Ask the person who sent the document what they accept.