FAQ
Questions about KovaPDF
What KovaPDF is, what happens to your files, and what each tool does.
About the service
What is KovaPDF?
KovaPDF is a set of online PDF tools. You can edit, convert, compress, split, merge and read PDFs in your browser, including scanned ones, without installing anything.
Is KovaPDF free?
Yes. Every tool works without paying and without an account. Files can be up to 200 pages and 50 MB. Pro removes the limits.
How does KovaPDF process PDFs?
Your file stays on our server only for a short time while it is processed, then it is deleted. It is sent over an encrypted connection. A few tools work differently. Some, like Translate PDF, work in your browser and never upload the file. Summarize PDF sends only the text to an AI service. Tools that work in several steps, such as SmartShrink and Redact PDF, keep the file for up to 30 minutes after you last use it. Request Signatures keeps the document until the request is finished and deletes it 30 days later.
Does KovaPDF store my documents?
Only when you send a document for signature. It has to be kept until everyone has signed, and it is deleted 30 days after the request is finished, or sooner if you delete the request. Apart from that, we don't store your documents and there is no file library. We keep a record that a tool was used (which tool, whether it worked, the file sizes, the page count and how long it took), but not the file name or what is in the file.
Who is KovaPDF for?
People who need to change a PDF occasionally and do not want to install software: freelancers and small businesses handling contracts and invoices, students and researchers working with scanned material, and anyone who needs to fix, combine or shrink a document quickly.
Does KovaPDF work on mobile?
Yes. The site and its tools work in a mobile browser, except Translate PDF, which needs Chrome or Edge on a computer. The full editor is easier to use on a larger screen, because precise editing needs more room.
How accurate is the text recognition?
Accuracy is usually high on clean scans. It drops on low-resolution images, photos, unusual fonts and handwriting. Mistakes in recognised text can look correct, so check the text before you rely on it.
True of every tool
Is it free?
Yes. Every tool works without paying and without an account. Files can be up to 200 pages and 50 MB, and a run that fails costs you nothing. Pro removes the limits.
Do I need to create an account?
No. All tools work without signing in. An account raises your allowance and lets you see what you have processed.
What happens to my file?
Your file stays on our server only for a short time while it is processed, then it is deleted. It is sent over an encrypted connection. We keep a record that the tool was used, but not the file name or what is in the file.
Questions about each tool
What is particular to one tool: what it can and cannot do, and where it is likely to surprise you.
Turn a document into a PDF
Word to PDFConvert a document into a PDF
- How do I convert a Word document to PDF?
- Will my formatting survive?
- My table is wider than the page. What happens?
- What if my document uses a font you don't have?
- Can I change the page size and margins?
- Which files can I upload?
- Can I convert a password-protected Word document?
- Can I convert Word to PDF on my phone?
Excel to PDFConvert a sheet; .xlsx columns kept whole
PowerPoint to PDFConvert slides into a PDF
ODT to PDFConvert an ODT document
ODS to PDFConvert an ODS sheet, columns kept whole
- How do I convert an ODS spreadsheet to PDF?
- Will my columns get cut off?
- Will it squash hundreds of rows onto one page?
- Are all the sheets converted?
- Can I choose landscape, the paper size or the margins?
- Can I convert several files at once?
- Can I convert a password-protected file?
- Which files can I upload?
ODP to PDFConvert an ODP presentation
Turn anything else into a PDF
JPG to PDFPhotos and scans into one PDF
PNG to PDFScreenshots and PNGs into one PDF
HEIC to PDFiPhone photos into one PDF
TIFF to PDFTIFF scans and faxes into one PDF
CSV to PDFConvert a CSV into a real table
- How do I convert a CSV file to PDF?
- My CSV uses semicolons, not commas. Will that work?
- Will long values be cut off?
- Does the header repeat if the table runs onto more pages?
- Can I change the page size, orientation or font size?
- Why do accented letters come out wrong?
- What about commas and line breaks inside a quoted field?
- Is there a limit on the number of rows?
- Which files can I upload?
- What happens to my file?
TXT to PDFConvert plain text or a log
- How do I convert a text file to PDF?
- Will my columns and indentation stay aligned?
- What happens to lines that are too long for the page?
- Can I change the font and size, or add line numbers?
- Does it support Bangla?
- What about other scripts, like Chinese or Arabic?
- Will a Markdown file be formatted?
- Which files can I upload?
- What happens to my file?
HTML to PDFRender a web page to PDF
ZIP to PDFConvert a whole archive at once
EPUB to PDFTurn an e-book into a PDF
Get the content back out
PDF to WordConvert to an editable Word document
PDF to ExcelConvert tables and text into a workbook
PDF to PPTConvert pages into editable slides
PDF to JPGSave PDF pages as JPG images
PDF to PNGSave PDF pages as PNG images
PDF to TextCopy or download every page's text
PDF to PDF/AArchive-ready PDF/A, validated
- How do I convert a PDF to PDF/A?
- What is PDF/A?
- Which PDF/A version should I choose?
- How do I know the file really is PDF/A?
- Will my document look the same?
- What happens to form fields, links and comments?
- My PDF is digitally signed. Can I convert it?
- Are scanned PDFs made searchable?
- Can I convert a Word file or an image straight to PDF/A?
- What happens to my file?
Pages and their order
Organize PDFReorder, rotate and delete pages visually
Merge PDFCombine documents into one, in your order
- How do I combine several PDFs into one file?
- How many files can I merge at once?
- Can I control the page order?
- Can I merge PDFs on my phone?
- Does merging reduce quality?
- Can I merge password-protected PDFs?
- Can I merge only some pages from each PDF?
- Are bookmarks kept when I merge PDFs?
- What happens to my file?
Split PDFExtract a range or split into separate files
Rotate PDFFix sideways pages, permanently
Edit PDF MetadataEdit PDF Metadata
Crop PDFCut away margins and unwanted edges
- How do I crop a PDF?
- Can I crop only some pages, or each page differently?
- How does Trim white margins work? Can it cut off my content?
- What happens when my pages are different sizes?
- Does cropping delete what is outside the frame?
- Do rotated pages crop correctly?
- Will my text, links and images still work?
- What happens to my file?
Delete PagesRemove pages, with a check before you commit
Add Blank PageInsert empty pages and type on them
Page NumbersAdd page numbers to a PDF
- How do I add page numbers to a PDF?
- Can I leave the cover page unnumbered?
- Can I start at a number other than 1?
- Can it say 'Page 3 of 12'?
- Can I add my own text around the number?
- Can I number only some of the pages?
- What is 'facing pages' for?
- Will the number be readable over a dark footer or a photo?
- Can I see where it will land before converting?
- What happens to my file?
Make it smaller
Compress PDFShrink heavy files, keep the text sharp
- How do I compress a PDF without losing quality?
- How much smaller will my file get?
- What is the difference between Light, Recommended and Strong?
- How do I get a PDF under a size limit, like 2 MB for an upload form?
- Compress PDF, SmartShrink or Split PDF: which one do I need?
- Why is my PDF still large after compressing?
- Will the text become blurry?
- What if the compressed file is bigger?
- Can I compress a PDF on my phone?
SmartShrinkCut the page count, not the text size
- How do I reduce the number of pages in a PDF?
- Does this shrink the text to fit more on a page?
- How can 200 pages become 80 without losing anything?
- Can I put 2 or 4 pages on one sheet?
- Why does it say my PDF can't be shrunk?
- What happens to links and form fields?
- How is this different from Compress PDF?
- Can I choose the pages myself?
- Does the file get smaller too?
- What happens to my file?
Resize PDFFit any document to A4, Letter or Legal
- How do I change a PDF from Letter to A4?
- Which page sizes are supported?
- Can I change a PDF from Oficio or Legal size to Letter or A4?
- Will my content get stretched?
- Does resizing a PDF make the file smaller?
- Can I set a custom page size?
- Will resizing make the text blurry?
- Can I do many files at once?
- What happens to my file?
Image
Image to TextRead text from photos in nine languages
Resize ImagePhotos and signatures to an exact KB size
Compress ImageSmaller JPG, PNG and WebP files
Lock and unlock
Protect PDFAdd a password and permissions
- How do I password protect a PDF?
- How strong is the encryption?
- Can I control printing and copying, not just opening?
- What is the owner password for?
- Will the password work in every PDF reader?
- Can I add a password to a PDF that already has one?
- Can you recover my password if I lose it?
- I blocked copying, but I can still copy the text. Is it broken?
- Then what stops someone reading my PDF?
Unlock PDFRemove a password or restrictions
Change what is on the page
PDF EditorEdit text, images and signatures in place
OCR PDFMake scanned and photographed PDFs editable
- How do I edit a scanned PDF?
- How do I make a scanned PDF searchable?
- OCR PDF, PDF to Text or Image to Text: which one do I need?
- How is this different from the normal PDF Editor?
- How accurate is the recognition?
- Will the edit be invisible?
- Which languages does it recognise?
- How many pages can it recognise?
- How do I convert a scanned PDF to Word?
PDF FormsMake a PDF fillable
- How do I make a PDF fillable?
- Will the form work outside KovaPDF?
- Does it find the fields by itself?
- What kinds of fields can I add?
- Can I use a scanned form?
- My PDF already has form fields. What happens to them?
- What is the difference between a copy and a linked copy?
- Can someone sign the form?
- Can I fill in a form with this tool?
- Can the form use Bangla, Arabic, Chinese or other scripts?
WatermarkStamp text or a logo over your pages
Header & FooterAdd running headers, footers and page numbers
- How do I add a header or footer to a PDF?
- Can the page number be inserted automatically?
- Can I put different text on the left, middle and right?
- Can I leave the first page alone?
- Can I change the font, size and colour?
- Can I write the header in Bangla or another language?
- Will it cover up what is already on the page?
Enhance ScanClean up a grey or speckled scan
Redact PDFPermanently remove sensitive text and images
- How do I redact a PDF?
- Is the text really removed, or just covered with a black box?
- Can I redact a scanned PDF?
- Can I redact every email address or phone number at once?
- Can I use a white box or add a label like "REDACTED"?
- Can I change my mind before applying?
- Can a redaction be undone after I download the file?
- What does "Also remove hidden information" remove?
- Why did one of my pages turn into an image?
- What happens to my file?
Fix a broken PDF
Repair PDFFix a damaged or corrupted PDF
Sign and verify
Sign PDFDraw, type or upload your signature
- How do I sign a PDF?
- Do I need a certificate or an account to sign?
- Can I use a photo of my signature on paper?
- Can I add my initials, my name and the date as well?
- Can I fill in other details, or tick a box?
- How do I put my initials on every page?
- How do I move or resize something after placing it?
- Can I sign in blue ink?
- Are the name and date saved as text or as a picture?
- Can I sign a Word document or a photo of a page?
- Does it work on a phone?
- Is a signature made this way legally valid?
- Why does a signature checker say my signed PDF has no digital signature?
- What is the difference between Sign PDF and Digital Signature?
- How do I get someone else to sign a PDF?
- Is my signature stored anywhere?
Request SignaturesSend a PDF to others to sign
- How does Request Signatures work?
- Do the people I send it to need an account?
- How many people can sign one document?
- Are these signatures legally binding?
- Can people sign in a set order?
- How do I know who has opened and signed it?
- What if someone forgets to sign?
- What is the certificate of completion?
- How can anyone tell the signed file was not changed afterwards?
- Can a signer decline, or can I cancel a request?
- What is an access code?
- Do signing links expire?
- Is it free?
- Do I need to create an account?
- What happens to my file?
Digital SignatureSign with your digital certificate
- How do I digitally sign a PDF?
- What is a digital signature?
- What do I need to use this tool?
- I don't have a certificate. Can I still sign my PDF?
- Can I create my own digital ID?
- Will Adobe Acrobat show a green tick?
- What does the trusted timestamp add?
- Why was my certificate refused?
- The error says the certificate chain is missing. What do I do?
- Is my certificate or password kept?
- Can more than one person digitally sign the same PDF?
- Can I sign a password-protected PDF?
Verify SignatureCheck a PDF's digital signatures
- How do I check if a digital signature in a PDF is valid?
- My PDF clearly has a signature on it. Why does it say there is no digital signature?
- It says there may be a signature image on one of my pages. What does that mean?
- What does the coloured message above each signature mean?
- How do I see what was changed after signing?
- Can I get the version that was signed?
- What is in the certificate details?
- Can I save or share the result?
- The file was digitally signed, but now no signature is found. What happened?
- What does "Signature: Valid" mean?
- What does "Signature: Invalid" mean?
- Does "Not trusted" mean the signature is fake?
- What is the Adobe trust list line?
- What does "Revocation" mean?
- Why does the report say the file was changed after the last signature?
- Can it check signatures made in Adobe Acrobat or other apps?
Bangla text
Bijoy to UnicodeBijoy Bangla into Unicode
- Why does my Bijoy text show up as “Avwg evsjvq” on Facebook?
- What happens to English words in my text?
- Can I convert a whole Word, Excel or PowerPoint file?
- How do I change SutonnyMJ to Nikosh in a Word file?
- How do I convert Bijoy to Avro?
- How do I copy Bangla out of a PDF typed in Bijoy?
- How accurate is it?
- My text was typed in an older Bijoy. Will it still work?
- What do the marked characters mean?
- Are my text and files uploaded?
Unicode to BijoyUnicode Bangla into Bijoy
- Why does the result look like English letters?
- How do I convert text typed in Avro to Bijoy?
- Can I convert a Word file in Nikosh, Kalpurush or SolaimanLipi to SutonnyMJ?
- Is Nikosh Bijoy or Unicode?
- Why would I still need Bijoy?
- What happens to English words?
- Can I convert a Word, Excel or PowerPoint file?
- What if a character cannot be converted?
- Does it work on a long text?
- Does Copy add anything to the text?
- Are my text and files uploaded?
Hindi text
Kruti Dev to UnicodeKruti Dev Hindi into Unicode
- Why does my Kruti Dev text show up as “vkSj” on WhatsApp?
- Is Mangal the same as Unicode?
- What happens to English words in my text?
- Can I convert a whole Word, Excel or PowerPoint file?
- How do I copy Hindi out of a PDF typed in Kruti Dev?
- Why do offices ask for Unicode instead of Kruti Dev?
- I practise typing in Kruti Dev for an exam. Can I use this?
- How accurate is it?
- What do the marked characters mean?
- Are my text and files uploaded?
Unicode to Kruti DevUnicode Hindi into Kruti Dev
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