Fixes for the most common PDF problems: files too large, text that will not copy, sideways pages, blurry scans, typos, signatures and passwords.
PDFs are made to be reliable, and yet everyone runs into the same few problems. This page collects them in one place, with a short explanation and a practical fix for each. Where a longer guide exists, you will find the link. All the Docsworker tools mentioned run in your browser, so your documents are not uploaded.
Why: It contains big photos or scan images.
Fix: Rebuild it at a smaller image size. If you still have the photos, use Image to PDF with the Small File mode. If you only have the PDF, convert it to JPG pages with PDF to Image at Standard resolution, then rebuild it. Full steps are in how to make a PDF smaller.
Why: The page is a picture of text, the text was converted to shapes, or the file has odd font encoding or copy restrictions.
Fix: Use PDF to Text and run OCR if prompted. Details and tests to find out which case you have are in why you cannot copy text from a PDF.
Why: Pictures were taken with the phone turned, and the scanning app did not correct it.
Fix: Add the original pictures to Image to PDF and use the Rotate button on the wrong ones before generating. If you only have the PDF, turn the pages into images first and rebuild.
Why: Pictures were added in the wrong order or the scanner reversed the stack.
Fix: In Image to PDF, move pages with the up and down arrows until the page numbers are correct. For an existing PDF, convert it to pictures with PDF to Image, then add them in the order you want.
Why: Forms usually allow just one upload.
Fix: Docsworker does not have a PDF merge tool, but you can reach the same result through images: convert each PDF with PDF to Image, collect all the pictures, put them in order in Image to PDF and generate one file. The pages are images in the result, so text is not selectable. Merge from the original photos when you can.
Why: The photo was taken in poor light, or compression was too strong.
Fix: Retake it in daylight with the phone parallel to the page and a tap to focus; see the scanning guide. If you already compressed the file, rebuild from the original with Balanced or High Quality. Compressing a blurry picture again only makes it worse.
Why: You noticed it after exporting, and you no longer have the source file.
Fix: Use the PDF Text Editor: click the line, type the correction, and download. The editor matches the original font and size where it can. Because it redraws each page as a high-resolution picture, the downloaded file has no selectable text, so if you have the source document, change it there and export again. See how to edit a PDF online.
Why: A form needs a signature and printing it is not practical.
Fix: Use Add Signature to place a drawn or typed signature. Remember that this is a visual signature, not a certified digital signature; see the difference between signature types.
Why: The owner protected it.
Fix: Ask the sender for the password or for an unprotected copy. Docsworker does not remove passwords or protection from documents.
Why: The viewer lacks the font used in the file, or the text layer does not map to real characters. This happens often with Urdu and Arabic.
Fix: Try another viewer first, such as a different browser. If you only need the words, read the page as a picture with OCR. For Urdu, see our Urdu OCR tips.
Why: You need a JPG for a form, a chat or a presentation.
Fix: PDF to Image renders every page as JPG or PNG. You can download single pages or all of them as a ZIP. Which setting to choose is explained in the PDF to JPG guide.
Fix: The Text Watermark tool adds text such as DRAFT or CONFIDENTIAL to every page, a page range or just the current page. It is also a simple way to mark a copy of an ID with its purpose.
Why: The file may be very large, or the viewer may have trouble with it.
Fix: Open it in another app or in the browser, and if the file is huge, make a smaller copy using the size tips above.
Not directly. You can still do both through pictures: convert pages to images with PDF to Image, then put the pages you want, in the order you want, into Image to PDF. Note that the pages become images.
Only if you know the password. Docsworker does not bypass passwords or document protection. Ask the sender for the password or for an unprotected copy.
To keep the look of the page while letting you change text, the editor redraws each page as a sharp image with your edits on top. The result prints well but its text is no longer selectable.
Different viewers render fonts and images in slightly different ways. If a file looks wrong, open it in another viewer or browser before assuming the file is broken.