Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about PDFUtilityPro
General Questions
Is PDFUtilityPro really free?
Yes! All our tools are completely free to use with no hidden fees, subscriptions, or premium tiers. We support our service through non-intrusive display advertisements. You get full access to all 11 PDF tools without any limitations or watermarks on your output files.
Do I need to create an account or register?
No account is required. You can use all our tools instantly without any registration, login, or providing personal information. We believe in frictionless access - just visit the site and start processing your PDFs immediately. We don't even ask for your email address.
What file formats do you support?
We currently support PDF files as both input and output format. Our Images to PDF tool accepts common image formats (JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, WebP) and converts them to PDF. All other tools work exclusively with PDF files. We may add support for additional formats in the future based on user demand.
Can I use PDFUtilityPro for commercial purposes?
Absolutely! Our tools are free for both personal and commercial use. Businesses, freelancers, educational institutions, and organizations are welcome to use our service for their professional PDF processing needs. There are no licensing restrictions or commercial usage fees.
How do you make money if everything is free?
We display advertisements through Google AdSense on our website. These ads cover our operational costs including hosting, domain registration, development, and maintenance. We've intentionally chosen this model to keep all features free for everyone rather than creating paid tiers or subscription models.
Security & Privacy
Are my files really secure? How can I verify this?
Absolutely! All file processing happens locally in your browser using JavaScript. Your files never leave your device and are never uploaded to any server, including ours. You can verify this yourself by opening your browser Developer Tools (F12), going to the Network tab, and watching the traffic while using our tools - you will not see any file uploads. You can even disconnect from the internet after loading the page and the tools will still work.
Do you store, access, or have copies of my files?
No, we cannot access your files even if we wanted to. Since all processing happens client-side in your browser, your files never reach our servers. We don't have any server-side file processing infrastructure. Your data stays on your device throughout the entire process, and once you close your browser tab, all data is automatically cleared from memory.
Can I use your tools for sensitive or confidential documents?
Yes! Our client-side processing architecture makes PDFUtilityPro ideal for handling sensitive documents like legal contracts, medical records, financial statements, tax documents, or confidential business materials. Since files never leave your device, there is no risk of data interception, server breaches, or unauthorized access during transmission.
What data do you collect about users?
We use Google Analytics to collect anonymous usage statistics (page visits, browser types, general location by country) to understand how our service is used and improve it. We also display ads through Google AdSense, which may use cookies for ad personalization. However, we never collect, store, or have access to the content of your PDF files or any file metadata. You can review our Privacy Policy for complete details.
Are your tools GDPR and CCPA compliant?
Yes. Since we don't collect, process, or store personal data from your PDF files, and we only use standard analytics/advertising tools with proper cookie consent mechanisms, we comply with GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy regulations. You maintain complete control over your documents.
Merge PDF Tool
How many PDFs can I merge at once?
You can merge as many PDFs as your browser and device memory can handle. In practice, most users can easily merge 20-50 files. The limitation is your device's available RAM, not any restriction we impose. For very large batches (100+ files), consider merging in smaller groups for better performance.
Can I change the order of PDFs before merging?
Yes! Upload your files in the specific order you want them to appear in the final merged document. Many users find it helpful to rename their files with numbers (01-intro.pdf, 02-chapter1.pdf) before uploading to ensure correct ordering.
What happens to bookmarks and links when merging?
Currently, internal PDF links and bookmarks may not be preserved during the merge process. The page content, formatting, and visual elements are maintained perfectly, but navigation structures like bookmarks and internal hyperlinks may need to be recreated in the merged document using professional PDF software.
Can I merge PDFs with different page sizes or orientations?
Yes! You can merge PDFs with mixed page sizes (A4, Letter, Legal, custom) and orientations (portrait, landscape). Each page will maintain its original dimensions and orientation in the merged document. This is useful when combining documents from different sources.
Is there a file size limit for merging?
There's no artificial limit we impose. The only constraint is your device's available memory. Most modern computers can handle merging PDFs totaling several hundred megabytes. If you're merging very large files (500MB+ total), ensure you have sufficient RAM and close unnecessary programs.
Split PDF Tool
How do I specify which pages to extract?
Use page ranges and individual page numbers. Examples: "1-3" extracts pages 1, 2, 3; "5, 7, 9" extracts just those pages; "1-3, 5, 7-9" combines ranges and individual pages. Separate different selections with commas. The tool will create a new PDF containing only your selected pages.
Can I split a PDF into multiple separate files at once?
Yes! Our split tool can create multiple PDF files from one source. Specify different page ranges, and each range will become its own separate PDF file. This is perfect for dividing a large document into chapters or sections.
Will the quality be reduced when splitting?
No. Splitting creates exact copies of the original pages with absolutely no quality loss. The extracted pages are identical to the originals - same resolution, same formatting, same file quality. It's a pure extraction process, not a conversion.
Can I extract every nth page (like all odd or even pages)?
While we don't currently have an automatic "every nth page" feature, you can manually specify page ranges. For example, for odd pages from a 10-page PDF, enter "1, 3, 5, 7, 9". We're considering adding automatic interval extraction in future updates.
Compress PDF Tool
How much can I reduce the file size?
Compression results vary significantly depending on the original file content. PDFs with many high-resolution images can often be reduced by 50-80%. Text-heavy PDFs with few images may only compress 10-30% since text is already efficiently encoded. Try our tool to see how much space you can save with your specific file.
What compression levels are available?
We offer three compression levels: Low (minimal compression, 70-90% quality, preserves most detail), Medium (balanced compression, 50-70% quality, good for most uses), and High (maximum compression, 30-50% quality, for situations where file size is critical). We recommend starting with Medium for the best balance.
Will compression make my PDF unreadable or blurry?
Text remains sharp and readable at all compression levels - text compression is lossless. Images may show some quality reduction, especially at High compression. Medium compression typically provides excellent results that are virtually indistinguishable from the original for most purposes. Always check the compressed file before deleting your original.
Can I compress already-compressed PDFs?
Yes, but you may see diminishing returns. If a PDF has already been optimized or compressed, there may be little room for additional size reduction. Our tool will still attempt compression, but the results may be minimal. Heavily compressed PDFs might even increase slightly in size due to processing overhead.
Other PDF Tools
How do I rotate only specific pages, not the entire PDF?
Our Rotate PDF tool allows you to select specific pages or page ranges to rotate. You can rotate all pages uniformly, or selectively rotate only certain pages while leaving others unchanged. This is particularly useful when you have mixed orientation scans.
Can I password protect an existing password-protected PDF?
You need to remove the existing password first before adding a new one. Most PDF readers allow you to open a protected PDF with the correct password and save an unprotected copy. Then you can use our Protect tool to add new password protection.
What watermark customization options are available?
Our Watermark tool lets you customize text content, font size, color, opacity/transparency, position (center, corners, custom), rotation angle, and whether to apply to all pages or specific pages. You can create subtle watermarks for branding or prominent ones for draft documents.
Will adding page numbers affect existing content?
Page numbers are added as an overlay on top of existing content. We position them carefully to avoid covering important information (typically in headers or footers), but if your document has content in those areas, there may be some overlap. Preview your result before finalizing.
Technical Questions
What browsers and devices are supported?
Our tools work on all modern browsers: Chrome 90+, Firefox 88+, Safari 14+, Edge 90+, and their mobile versions. We support Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and ChromeOS. For the best experience, keep your browser updated to the latest version. Very old browsers may not support the required JavaScript features.
Can I use these tools on my phone or tablet?
Yes! Our tools are fully responsive and optimized for mobile devices. You can upload, process, and download PDFs on smartphones and tablets. The interface adapts to smaller screens, though we recommend using landscape orientation on phones for better usability with complex tools.
Why is processing slow on my device?
Processing speed depends on your device's CPU, available RAM, and file size/complexity. Older or low-end devices will process slower than high-performance computers. Large files (50MB+) naturally take longer. To improve speed: close unnecessary browser tabs, close other applications, try smaller files or batches, use a desktop computer instead of mobile for large files.
Do I need an internet connection to use your tools?
You need internet initially to load the website. Once loaded, file processing happens offline in your browser. Some users add our site to their home screen on mobile for quick offline access. However, ads and analytics require connection. For maximum privacy, you can disable internet after loading (ads won't display but tools work).
Which PDF standard/version do you output?
Our tools output PDF 1.7 format, which is compatible with all modern PDF readers and software. This ensures maximum compatibility across different platforms and applications.
Can I process multiple files simultaneously?
You can open multiple browser tabs and process different files in parallel if your device has sufficient resources. However, processing multiple large files simultaneously may slow down each operation. For batch processing of many files with the same operation, we recommend processing them sequentially for reliability.
Troubleshooting
What should I do if the tool shows an error?
First, try these steps: 1) Refresh the page and try again, 2) Clear your browser cache and cookies, 3) Try a different browser, 4) Ensure your PDF isn't corrupted by opening it in a PDF reader, 5) Check that JavaScript is enabled. If problems persist, contact us with error details, your browser/OS info, and file size.
My PDF won't upload or process. Why?
Common causes: 1) File is password-protected (remove password first), 2) PDF is corrupted (try opening in Adobe Reader), 3) File is extremely large (>500MB - try on desktop with more RAM), 4) Browser issue (try Chrome or Firefox), 5) JavaScript disabled (enable it in browser settings). Contact support if none of these help.
The download isn't working. What can I do?
Check: 1) Your browser isn't blocking downloads, 2) You have sufficient disk space, 3) Download folder permissions, 4) Try a different browser, 5) Disable browser extensions that might interfere. Some browsers require you to manually allow downloads for first-time use of a website.
Why does my browser tab crash or freeze?
This usually happens with very large files or when your device runs out of memory. Try: 1) Close all other tabs and applications, 2) Process smaller files or batches, 3) Restart your browser, 4) Use a device with more RAM, 5) Try a lighter-weight operation first. Chrome users can check Task Manager (Shift+Esc) to see memory usage.
The output file looks different from the original. Why?
Some operations like compression intentionally modify files. For non-destructive operations (merge, split, rotate), differences shouldn't occur. If you notice unexpected changes: 1) Check compression settings if you used compress, 2) Verify the original file isn't corrupted, 3) Try the operation again, 4) Contact us with before/after examples if the issue persists.