PDF problems, solved
PDF problems usually start with a limit: an email attachment cap, an upload maximum, or a document that cannot be searched. Each page below covers one problem end to end.
PDF Is Too Large
What to do when a PDF file is too large — why PDFs grow, and how to reduce one to a size that works.
PDF Is Too Large for Email
Email attachment limits explained, and how to compress a PDF to a size that will actually send.
PDF Is Too Large to Upload
When a website or portal rejects a PDF for exceeding its size limit, here is how to bring the file under the cap.
Scanned PDF Is Not Searchable
Why scanned PDFs cannot be searched or copied, what OCR does, and how to make a scanned document searchable.
I Need to OCR a PDF
When you need to extract text from a PDF — including a scanned one — and how OCR fits into the rest of the workflow.
I Need to Understand a Long PDF
When a document is too long to read end to end, ask it questions instead. How on-device AI document chat helps.
I Need to Sign a PDF
How to sign a PDF on iPhone or iPad without printing it, and what a flattened export means.
Compress a PDF on iPhone
How PDF compression works on iPhone — from Files, from the share sheet, and without a desktop computer.
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