PDF Tools FAQ - Common Questions Answered

PDFBEAR is a complete online PDF workspace with 50+ tools that run right in your browser - no software to install. You can merge, split, and compress PDFs, convert files to and from PDF (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, images), e-sign documents, run OCR, and use AI features like Chat with PDF and Summarize. Most everyday tasks take just a few clicks.

Yes. Every core tool - merging, splitting, compressing and converting - is free to use, with no watermark added to your files and nothing to install. A free account adds saved files and sharing, while Premium raises the limits and unlocks the AI suite.

You can try our tools as a guest, but creating a free account unlocks saved files, sharing, and a smoother workflow. Sign up with your email (or a Google/Microsoft account), and your processed files start saving automatically. Guests can work with up to 5 files, after which you'll be prompted to create a free account to keep going.

Guests can use PDFBEAR's tools for up to 5 files before being asked to sign up. Creating a free account removes that cap, automatically saves your work to My Files, and lets you share documents with a link. It only takes a moment to register, and the core tools stay free.

Yes - PDFBEAR runs entirely in your web browser, so it works on phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops without installing anything. The interface adapts to smaller screens, letting you merge, convert, compress, sign, and share PDFs on the go. For the smoothest experience with large files, a stable internet connection helps.

Free users can upload files up to 50 MB per file, which covers the vast majority of everyday documents. If you regularly work with large scans, high-resolution image PDFs, or long reports, upgrading to Premium raises the limit so big files process without trouble. If a file is just slightly over, try our Compress PDF tool first to shrink it under the limit.

We handle PDF plus all the common office and image formats: Word (.doc/.docx), Excel (.xls/.xlsx), PowerPoint (.ppt/.pptx), and images such as JPG and PNG. You can convert Word to PDF, Excel to PDF, PowerPoint to PDF, and JPG to PDF, and go the other way with PDF to Word and PDF to JPG. Each tool page lists exactly which extensions it accepts.

We'd love to hear from you - visit our contact page to ask a question, report an issue, or suggest a feature you'd like to see. Our team reads every message and replies as quickly as possible. You can also review our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy for the finer details.

Pick the matching tool - Word to PDF, Excel to PDF, or PPT to PDF - upload your Office file, and we'll convert it while preserving your layout, tables, and formatting. To go back the other way, PDF to Word turns a PDF into an editable document. All conversions happen on our servers and finish in seconds for typical files.

Yes. Use JPG to PDF (it also accepts PNG and other common image types) to turn one or several pictures into a single PDF. You can set the page order before converting, and the finished file carries no watermark.

Use PDF to Word for documents you want to rewrite, PDF to Excel for tables you need to recalculate, and PDF to PPT for slides. You can also export pages as images with PDF to JPG or pull out plain text with PDF to Text.

Yes, but run OCR PDF first. A scanned PDF is really an image, so OCR is what turns it into real, selectable text. Once it has been OCR'd you can convert it to Word, Excel or text and the content will come through as editable.

Use PDF to JPG when you want each whole page as an image. Use Extract Images from PDF when you only want the photos and graphics embedded inside the document, saved as separate image files in a zip.

We work hard to preserve your original layout - fonts, spacing, tables, and images - when converting Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files to PDF. If a document uses an uncommon or custom font that isn't embedded in the file, the closest available match is substituted, which can shift spacing slightly. To guarantee an exact match, embed your fonts in the original Office file before converting.

No. PDFBEAR never stamps a watermark or logo onto your files - what you download is just your document in the new format. A watermark only appears if you add one yourself with Add Watermark.

Large files, very high-resolution scans, or complex layouts naturally take a little longer to process. If a conversion fails, double-check that the file is under the 50 MB free limit and isn't password-protected or corrupted, then try again. Compressing the file first with Compress PDF often resolves size-related issues - and if it still won't work, contact our support team.

Open the Merge PDF tool, upload all the files you want to combine, then drag the thumbnails to set the order you want. Click merge and we'll stitch them into a single PDF you can download or save to your account. It's perfect for combining contracts, invoices, or scanned pages into one tidy document.

Use the Split PDF tool to break one PDF into multiple files or pull out just the pages you need. Upload your document, choose the pages or ranges to extract, and download the result. It's the fastest way to separate a single chapter, a signature page, or one invoice from a larger bundle.

The Compress PDF tool reduces file size while keeping your document readable - ideal for email attachments or upload forms with strict size caps. Upload the PDF, let us optimize the images and structure, and download a lighter version. This is also the quickest way to get a file under the 50 MB free upload limit.

Yes. Rotate PDF fixes sideways scans, Delete Pages removes the ones you don't need, and Organize PDF lets you drag pages into a new order. To pull selected pages into their own file, use Extract Pages.

Use Add Page Numbers to number a document and Add Watermark to stamp text or an image (for example "Confidential" or a logo) across every page, with control over position and opacity.

Open Edit PDF to add or change text, insert images and shapes, and annotate pages directly in your browser. For interactive form fields specifically, Fill PDF Forms is the faster choice.

Yes. After a tool finishes, the result screen shows "Continue to..." buttons that hand your finished file straight to the next tool - no re-uploading. For example you can compress a freshly merged PDF, then protect it, in one flow.

Open the eSign PDF tool, upload your document, and add your signature by drawing, typing, or uploading an image of it. Place it exactly where you need it, then download or save the signed PDF to My Files. It's a fast, paperless way to sign contracts, forms, and agreements.

Yes. Fill PDF Forms detects the interactive fields in a PDF so you can type your answers and download the completed form. If a document has no form fields, use Edit PDF to add text on top instead.

Use Protect PDF to add a password and encryption to a document before you share it, and Unlock PDF to remove a password from a file you already have the rights to open.

From your file manager, choose a document and generate a share link, then send that link to anyone you like. Only people with the link can open the file, and these share pages aren't indexed by search engines. For free accounts, opening the share link counts as activity and resets the 14-day retention clock on that file.

OCR (Optical Character Recognition) turns scanned pages and image-based PDFs into real, selectable, searchable text. Use the OCR PDF tool when you have a photo or scan of a document and need to copy text, search it, or edit it elsewhere. It's also the right first step before converting a scanned file with PDF to Word.

Our AI suite lets you get more out of your documents: Chat with PDF answers questions about a file in plain language, Summarize condenses long documents into key points, Translate converts text between languages, and the Question Generator creates study or quiz questions from your content. Upload a PDF, pick the AI tool, and you'll get results in seconds. These advanced features are part of Premium.

Yes. The AI Presentation Maker researches a topic you describe and builds a slide deck as a downloadable PDF. It is available to signed-in users, with a free daily deck and higher limits on Premium.

When you use an AI feature, the relevant file or text is sent securely to our AI provider (OpenAI) only to generate the result you asked for - such as a summary, answer or translation. We don't use your documents to train models or for any other purpose. As a precaution, avoid submitting information you wouldn't want processed by an external AI service. Full details are in our Privacy Policy.

Every file you create or upload while signed in is automatically saved to your My Files area, so you don't have to re-download or re-upload between tools. From there you can rename, download, share, or delete files, and feed them straight into another tool. It works a bit like a cloud drive built specifically around your PDF work.

For free accounts, files are automatically removed 14 days after your last activity on them - and any activity, such as downloading the file or opening its share link, resets that 14-day clock. Premium users keep their files for as long as their subscription is active, with no automatic cleanup while you are subscribed. If you cancel, your files are removed 30 days after your subscription ends. You can see and manage everything you've saved in your file manager at any time.

Email verification keeps accounts secure, prevents abuse, and makes sure we can reach you for important notices like password resets. After you register, we send a confirmation link to your inbox - just click it to activate full access to saving and sharing files. If it doesn't arrive within a few minutes, check your spam folder or request a new link from the login screen.

Yes. On the login and register pages you can choose Continue with Google or Continue with Microsoft for one-click access - no separate password to remember. Accounts created this way are verified automatically, so you can start saving files right away. You can always set a password later from your account settings if you prefer.

On the login page, click the password-reset link and enter your email; we'll send you a secure link to choose a new password. Follow the link, set your new password, and you're back in. If you originally signed up with Google or Microsoft, just use that same button to sign in instead.

Head to your account settings to update your password whenever you like. To change the email on your account or sort out any login issue, contact us through the contact page and our team will help. Keeping a current, verified email ensures you never lose access to your saved files.

Yes - protecting your documents is a top priority. Files are transferred over encrypted connections and are only used to perform the task you requested. For free accounts they're automatically removed 14 days after your last activity, and you can delete any file yourself at any time from My Files. For full details, see our Privacy Policy.

Your files are private to your account and are never shared or made public unless you choose to share them. If you generate a share link, only people who have that exact link can open the file, and those share pages are kept out of search engines. You stay in control - delete a file or revoke access whenever you want from your file manager.

Open your My Files area, find the document, and choose delete - it's removed from your account right away. Free-account files also disappear on their own 14 days after your last activity with them. If you ever need help clearing data, our support team is happy to assist.

The core tools - merging, splitting, compressing, and converting - are free to use. Premium adds higher file-size limits, files that are kept for as long as you stay subscribed instead of being auto-removed after 14 days, priority processing, and full access to the advanced AI features. It's designed for anyone who works with PDFs regularly and wants the limits lifted.

Premium is $13.99/month (or $99.99/year) and starts with a 7-day free trial, so you can explore everything before you're charged. Start the trial from the pricing page; you won't be billed until the trial ends, and you can cancel any time before then at no cost. It's the simplest way to unlock unlimited storage and the AI tools.

Everyday conversion and editing tools are free for everyone. Premium is what unlocks larger uploads, permanent file storage, faster processing, and the AI suite - Chat with PDF, Summarize, Translate, and Question Generator. You can review exactly what's included on the pricing page before starting your free trial.

You can cancel whenever you like from your account settings, and you'll keep Premium features until the end of your current billing period. If you cancel during the 7-day free trial, you won't be charged at all. Need a hand? Just reach out via the contact page and we'll take care of it.