Help
Using a tool
Every tool page follows the same shape: a short description, an upload (or URL) form, then tool-specific how-to steps, limits, and FAQs. Pick a tool from the homepage catalog, or open one directly (for example Merge, Compress, or OCR).
- Drop in your file, or click to choose it from your device (unless the tool is URL-based).
- Fill in options the tool needs. Required fields are marked; many have safe defaults.
- Click Process and wait for the server to finish. Large scans and OCR take longer.
- Download the result. We do not keep a permanent library of your files for later re-download.
If you started on the homepage upload widget with files already selected, opening a tool can carry those pending files into the tool page so you do not re-select them.
What this site is good for
PDF123 targets everyday PDF chores: combining exports, splitting scans, compressing attachments, converting between PDF and office-ish formats, OCR on scans, basic security (passwords, sanitize), and related utilities. It is built so the browser UI and the REST API hit the same backends.
It is not a full desktop publishing suite, not a guaranteed malware scanner, and not a password-cracking service. Tool pages spell out limits (for example Unlock never guesses passwords; Convert to Word is best-effort on complex layouts).
Privacy and retention
Uploads are processed to fulfill your request. Files live in memory or temporary storage and are deleted when processing completes, subject to the Privacy Policy. Do not upload data your organization forbids sending to a hosted service — self-host or use private infrastructure when policy requires it.
This site may show Google AdSense ads. Advertising and analytics cookies are described in the Cookie Policy. Visitors in EEA/UK/Switzerland should see a consent experience once a Google-certified CMP (Privacy & messaging) is fully configured on the AdSense account; until then ads are requested in a non-personalized default where the site controls the request.
Authorized use
Only process documents you own or are allowed to modify. Security tools (Unlock, Protect, Sanitize, Remove Certificate Signature, and similar) show an on-page notice for that reason. Processing files to bypass someone else's access controls is prohibited — see Terms of Service.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an account?
No. Catalog tools work anonymously in the browser. Sign-in is not required for these flows.
Are my files stored for later?
No long-term document locker. Processing is temporary; download when the job finishes. See Privacy for operational detail.
A conversion failed or looks wrong — what should I try?
Check whether the PDF is encrypted (Unlock first if you have the password), image-only (OCR first), or damaged (Repair). For Word/Markdown conversions, complex multi-column layouts often need manual cleanup. Retry with a smaller sample to isolate the issue, then contact us with the tool name and what you observed.
Is there an API?
Yes. Each tool page includes a curl example, and the full reference lives at the API docs.
Can I run this on my own servers?
Organizations that cannot send PDFs to a public SaaS should evaluate private deployment options rather than uploading restricted data here. Contact us if you need deployment guidance for your environment.
Where is the blog / about information?
Operational background and how-PDF-works articles are on the Blog. Who operates the site and how to reach us is on About.
Still stuck?
Email [email protected] with the tool URL, approximate file size, and whether the PDF was scanned or born-digital. Avoid sending highly sensitive file contents unless we ask for a redacted sample.