Choose a task and follow the checklist
Edit or annotate
Work on selected text, markups and comments; save a derivative and reopen it to verify.
Merge or split
Assemble pages, reorder, preview, then export the intended final PDF.
Make a scan searchable
Run OCR if your build provides it and verify extracted words before sharing.
Prepare a signature
Choose between a visual signature and a verified eSign process based on legal assurance.
Continue after a crash
Look for a locally encrypted recovery prompt, confirm base version and inspect draft state.
Investigate a fault
Collect privacy-safe metadata and use a customer-authorized support case.
How to edit an existing PDF
- Open a PDF you are authorized to edit. Create a backup or work on a derivative.
- Choose Edit, select text or an image, and apply changes using the editing tools available in your build.
- Review font substitution, image positions, page breaks, and whether the source contains signed content.
- Save as a new local file or a governed version where permitted; reopen it and inspect the result.
Merge, split and organize pages
- Open the page thumbnail or Organize/Pages workspace.
- Select files, page ranges or thumbnails to insert, rotate, extract or reorder.
- Verify the resulting page count and intended sequence.
- Save a new document and confirm bookmarks, annotations and form fields survived, where applicable.
Search scanned PDFs and fill forms
- For scans, open the file and choose OCR if your edition includes a certified provider.
- Check page orientation and language, then review recognition confidence and extracted text.
- For forms, choose Forms, fill required fields and check validation prompts before finalizing.
- Save a completed copy and reopen to confirm field values, checkboxes and signatures persist.
Use visual signatures and digital signing correctly
- Choose whether a reusable visual signature is sufficient, or a certificate-backed signed workflow is required.
- Create or select the authorized visual signature only in supported builds, keeping stored signature assets protected.
- For higher-assurance signing, use the configured Numerish eSign/PKI provider and confirm signer identity, intent and required fields.
- Verify the output and retained signature evidence. Editing a signed PDF can invalidate the existing digital signature.
Remove sensitive data safely
- Inspect every page, annotation and embedded attachment for sensitive material.
- Mark intended removal regions in a certified redaction tool.
- Apply permanent redaction. Do not rely on black shapes layered over text.
- Reopen the output, search/copy text and check metadata to confirm that the information has actually been removed.
- Keep a separate original where legally required and route the redacted derivative through applicable approval policies.
Recover unfinished supported drafts
- Reopen PDF Studio using the original device/browser profile after a crash.
- If Unfinished draft found appears, verify the document and checkpoint timestamp.
- Choose Restore only after reviewing the available data, or Discard to delete the local draft.
- If the baseline PDF changed, resolve the version conflict before attempting to apply document operations.
- Use an explicit Save/Save As or authorized document-version commit; the checkpoint is not a final PDF.
| Recovery situation | What it usually means | Next safe action |
|---|---|---|
| Saved locally, not synced | Draft persists in this browser profile only | Keep profile/data; export or save when supported |
| Different device/browser | Local encryption key is unavailable | Use authorized cloud recovery if enabled; otherwise use original device |
| Key missing or corrupt file | Ciphertext alone does not establish recoverability | Check legitimate backups and recovery-key arrangements |
| Recovery conflict | Original PDF revision changed | Review the change; do not overwrite blindly |
| Browser data cleared | IndexedDB and browser key may be erased | Try backup; no guaranteed recovery |
Gather useful diagnostics without exposing data
| Symptom | First checks | What to share with support |
|---|---|---|
| App closes unexpectedly | Restart, check autosave indicator, verify build | Crash ID, OS, app version, UTC time, operation category |
| PDF will not open | Check size, PDF header and original source | SHA-256, file size, format, sanitized error code |
| Text or forms look wrong | Check zoom, fonts, OCR output, form compatibility | Version and redacted reproduction steps |
| Cloud request denied | Check sign-in, active tenant, ACL and entitlement | HTTP status, correlation ID, redacted request path |
| Sync shows conflict | Inspect base revision and checkpoint generation | Version ID or nonsecret hash, error code |
| Signature validation fails | Check certificate chain, timestamp and signed bytes | Verification result and nonsecret signature metadata |
| Not yet published | No approved installer for that platform | Platform and preferred release channel |
Customer-controlled support recovery
- Open a support ticket describing the technical issue and request metadata-only diagnosis first.
- Identify the affected document and authorized tenant using approved references, not an unrestricted file share.
- If content recovery is necessary, review the scope and give explicit consent through the customer-controlled channel.
- An independent checker must approve permitted access; approved key material must be available. Support Admin rights alone do not allow decryption.
- Review recovered results through secure delivery and verify the evidence; temporary access and artifacts must expire under policy.
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose edits when the software crashes?
Any work that was not durably saved can be lost. A supported encrypted checkpoint may restore eligible draft data, but this is not equivalent to an explicit committed PDF revision.
Can support unlock a file that I upload?
Not without the required key and customer authorization. Browser-local encrypted drafts generally need the original browser profile; corrupt files or missing keys may be unrecoverable.
Why is an editing tool missing?
Confirm your verified release, platform, entitlement, document permissions and configured providers. A tool shown in a concept image may still be under certification.
Why do I see a conflict when saving?
Your baseline document or draft generation may have changed. Compare the newer version and reconcile instead of overwriting it.
Can I upload a signed PDF and edit it?
You may be able to make a derivative, but changing signed bytes can invalidate the signature. Preserve the signed original and re-sign the new version if required.
Continue working with PDF Studio
Browse the documentation or check verified releases and available platform installers.