How to format a PDF: what each task needs and what we can't do
Updated 2026-09-30
People search for “format a PDF” when they mean very different things. Find your task below. GetFormatted works on the pages of a PDF: it can combine, split, reorder, rotate, number and mark them. It is not a word processor and does not let you retype or reflow the text inside a page.
Task to tool
| I want to | Tool | Available? |
|---|---|---|
| Combine several PDFs into one | Merge PDF | Yes |
| Pull some pages out into a new file | Delete or extract PDF pages | Yes |
| Cut a PDF into parts | Split PDF | Yes |
| Change the order of pages | Reorder PDF pages | Yes |
| Turn pages the right way up | Rotate PDF pages | Yes, every page by the same amount |
| Make a PDF from photos or scans, on A4 or Letter | JPG/PNG to PDF | Yes |
| Get each page as an image | PDF pages to JPG/PNG | Yes |
| Add page numbers | Add page numbers | Yes |
| Add a watermark | Add watermark | Yes |
| Add simple notes or marks | Basic annotations | Yes, basic only |
| Make a PDF smaller | Compress PDF | Yes, when the size is in JPEG images. See getting a PDF under a size limit. |
| Trim margins from pages | Crop PDF pages | Yes. It hides the trimmed area; it does not delete it. |
| Put pages on A4 or Letter | Resize PDF pages | Yes. Links and form fields on resized pages are not kept. |
| Print several pages per sheet, or make a fold-and-staple booklet | Pages per sheet and booklet | Yes. Links and form fields are not kept, and you check the duplex setting with a test print. |
| Edit the text inside a PDF | None | Not available. There is no text editor for existing PDF content. |
| Convert Word, Excel or PowerPoint to PDF | None | Not available. Save or export as PDF from the program that made the file. |
| Convert a PDF to Word | None | Not available |
| Make a scan searchable or copy text from it (OCR) | None | Not available |
| Open a password-protected PDF | None | Not available. The tools ask you to remove the password first. |
Worked examples
These use made-up file names, not real documents. The tools run in your browser, so the files stay on your device.
One file from a cover sheet and two scans
cover.pdf (1 page) scan-a.jpg (page 2) scan-b.jpg (page 3) 1. JPG/PNG to PDF: scan-a.jpg + scan-b.jpg, order as listed, A4 -> scans.pdf (2 pages) 2. Merge PDF: cover.pdf, then scans.pdf -> application.pdf (3 pages)
Keep only the pages a portal asks for
report.pdf (12 pages). The portal wants pages 1-3 and page 12. Delete or extract PDF pages: keep 1-3, 12 -> extract.pdf (4 pages)
Part of a file over the portal's page limit
records.pdf (10 pages). The portal accepts 5 pages per upload. Split PDF, one range per line: 1-5 6-10 -> records-1.pdf, records-2.pdf
Limits of the PDF tools
Each PDF tool caps the size of the input file and the number of pages, for example Merge PDF states its limits on the page. Password-protected files are declined with a message asking you to remove the password first.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I edit the text in a PDF here?
- No. The tools work on whole pages. You can add page numbers, a watermark or basic annotations, but you cannot retype the existing text.
- Can GetFormatted compress a PDF?
- Yes, with Compress PDF, but only where the size is in JPEG images, such as scans and photo pages. A mostly-text PDF may not get smaller. See the guide on getting a PDF under a size limit.
- Can I convert Word to PDF here?
- No. Export or save as PDF from Word, Google Docs or the program you used. Office conversion is not offered.
- Are my PDFs uploaded?
- No. Every PDF tool available today runs in your browser.