100% Free · No Sign-Up · Files Never Stored

Simple PDF tools
for everyday people

Whether you need to combine documents, reduce file size for an upload form, or convert a PDF to an image — PDF Vault has you covered. Free, fast, and completely private.

Try the Tools — It's Free →

8

Free Tools

100%

Browser Based

0

Files Stored

Free

Forever

🔒 Files processed in your browser only

⚡ No software to install

📱 Works on any device

🚫 No account needed

🇮🇳 Trusted in India

All Tools

8 free PDF tools — pick one to start

All tools run entirely in your browser. Your files are never sent to any server and are automatically cleared when you close the page.

📎

Merge PDF

Combine files

🗜️

Compress

Reduce size

✂️

Split PDF

Extract pages

🖼️

PDF to JPG

Convert pages

📝

PDF to Word

Extract text

💧

Watermark

Add text stamp

🔢

Page Numbers

Number pages

🔓

Unlock PDF

Remove password

Merge PDF Free

Combine two or more PDF files into a single document. Perfect for combining marksheets, compiling reports, or joining multi-part documents. Drag the files to reorder them before merging.

📄

Drop your PDF files here

You can add as many files as you need

Processing...0%

✅

Merge complete!

What is Merge PDF?

The Merge PDF tool allows you to combine multiple PDF files into one single, organised document. Instead of sending five separate attachments or managing a folder full of files, you can bring everything together into one clean PDF that's easy to share, store, and submit.

This is especially useful when you have pages that belong together — like separate invoice pages, a multi-part assignment, scanned notes from different sessions, or chapters of a report — and you want them in one place without re-creating them from scratch.

🎯

When to Use It

Submitting assignments or projects as a single file
Combining monthly bills or bank statements
Merging multiple scanned pages from a mobile scanner app
Joining chapters or sections of a report
Sending multiple documents as one email attachment

📋

How to Use It

Step 1 — Click "Choose Files" and select two or more PDFs
Step 2 — Drag and drop the files to arrange them in the correct order
Step 3 — Click the "Merge PDFs" button
Step 4 — Download your combined PDF file

💡 Pro Tip: Before merging, make sure all your PDFs are properly oriented (right side up). You cannot rotate individual pages after merging through this tool, so it's best to fix any upside-down pages beforehand.

Common Questions

Will the quality of my files change after merging?No. Files are combined as-is without any re-processing or compression. The original quality is fully preserved.

Is there a limit to how many files I can merge?There is no hard file count limit. However, very large files may take slightly longer to process since all work happens in your browser.

Are my files stored after merging?No. All files are processed locally in your browser and permanently cleared the moment you close or refresh the page.

Can I merge password-protected PDFs?Password-protected PDFs need to be unlocked first. Use our Unlock PDF tool to remove the password, then merge.

🔒 Your privacy is protected. All merging happens inside your browser. Your files are never uploaded to any server and cannot be seen by anyone.

Compress PDF Free

Reduce your PDF file size so it's easier to share by email or upload to government and college portals. Choose your compression level based on how small you need the file to be.

🗜️

Drop a PDF here

Select one file at a time

🟢

Low

Best quality

🟡

Medium

Balanced

🔴

High

Smallest size

Compressing...0%

✅

Compression complete!

What is Compress PDF?

The Compress PDF tool reduces the file size of your PDF document while keeping the text readable and the overall layout intact. A smaller file is easier to send by email, faster to upload, and takes up less storage space on your device.

This is one of the most commonly needed PDF tools in India — government portals like UPSC, SSC, passport seva, and college admission sites all have strict file size limits. Compression helps you meet those limits without having to re-scan or re-create your documents.

🎯

When to Use It

Uploading documents to government portals (UPSC, SSC, Passport)
Sending files as email attachments with size limits
Submitting job applications or HR forms online
Uploading to college admission or scholarship portals
Saving storage space on your phone or computer

📋

How to Use It

Step 1 — Upload your PDF using the file picker above
Step 2 — Select Low, Medium, or High compression
Step 3 — Click "Compress PDF"
Step 4 — Download your smaller file

💡 Pro Tip: PDFs that contain scanned images (like marksheets or Aadhaar cards) compress significantly more than text-only PDFs. If you need to get below 300KB for a government portal, use the High compression setting.

Common Questions

Will compression make my text blurry or hard to read?No. Text in PDFs remains sharp regardless of compression. Only embedded images may see a slight quality reduction at High compression.

Will the layout or formatting of my document change?No. The page layout, fonts, margins, and structure remain exactly the same. Only the internal file size is reduced.

How much smaller will my file get?It depends on the content. Image-heavy PDFs can reduce by 50–80%. Text-only PDFs may reduce by 10–30% since they are already efficient.

Is it safe to compress official government documents here?Yes. Files are processed in your browser only and never sent to any server. Your Aadhaar, PAN, or marksheets stay completely private.

🔒 Your privacy is protected. Compression happens entirely in your browser. Files are never uploaded, stored, or shared.

Split PDF Free

Break a large PDF into smaller files or extract specific pages. Useful when you only need to share part of a document, or when a portal only accepts files within a certain page count.

✂️

Drop a PDF here

One file at a time

Splitting...0%

✅

Split complete!

What is Split PDF?

The Split PDF tool lets you break a large PDF into smaller, more manageable files — or extract only the specific pages you need. Instead of sharing an entire 30-page document when the recipient only needs page 5, you can extract just that one page and share it on its own.

You can split every page into its own file, extract a custom range of pages (like pages 3 to 7), or divide the document into chunks of equal size (for example, every 2 pages).

🎯

When to Use It

Extracting just one certificate page from a multi-page document
Sharing only one chapter of a large report
Separating forms that were scanned together
Reducing file size by removing unneeded pages before compressing
Splitting a large PDF to meet portal upload page limits

📋

How to Use It

Step 1 — Upload your PDF file
Step 2 — Choose a split mode: All Pages, Custom Range, or Every N Pages
Step 3 — Enter the page range if needed (e.g. 2-5, 8)
Step 4 — Click "Split PDF" and download the resulting files

💡 Pro Tip: Use "Custom Range" to extract exactly the pages a government portal or employer asks for. For example, if an application asks for only your 10th and 12th marksheets and they're both in one PDF, extract just those pages.

Common Questions

Will the original PDF be modified or deleted?No. Your original file is never changed. The split tool creates brand new files from the pages you select. Your original stays exactly as it was.

Can I split the same PDF multiple times?Yes, you can split as many times as you like. Simply upload the file again and choose a different page range each time. There are no usage limits.

What does "Every N Pages" mode do?It divides your PDF into equal chunks. For example, if you enter 2, a 10-page PDF will be split into five 2-page files. Useful for splitting booklets or batched forms.

Are the extracted pages stored anywhere?No. All processing happens in your browser. The files are available only in your current session and are cleared when you close the tab.

🔒 Your privacy is protected. Your PDF is split entirely within your browser. No page content is ever sent to a server.

PDF to JPG Free

Convert each page of your PDF into a high-quality JPG image. Ideal when you need to share a document as an image, insert a PDF page into a presentation, or post it on social media.

🖼️

Drop a PDF here

Each page becomes a separate JPG image

Converting...0%

✅

Conversion complete!

What is PDF to JPG?

The PDF to JPG tool converts each page of your PDF document into a separate, high-quality JPG image. This is useful when you need to share a document as an image rather than a PDF — for example, when uploading to a portal that only accepts image files, or when you want to preview or display a document page visually.

Each page is rendered at high resolution (2x scale) so the text and graphics remain clear and crisp in the resulting images.

🎯

When to Use It

Uploading a document to a portal that only accepts image formats
Inserting a PDF page into a PowerPoint presentation
Sharing a document preview on WhatsApp or social media
Creating thumbnails or previews of your documents
Attaching a document visually in a chat or message

📋

How to Use It

Step 1 — Upload your PDF file
Step 2 — Click "Convert to JPG"
Step 3 — Wait while each page is converted
Step 4 — Download individual page images or all at once

💡 Pro Tip: If your PDF has many pages and you only need a specific one, use the Split PDF tool first to extract just that page, then convert it to JPG. This saves time and gives you exactly the image you need.

Common Questions

Will the images keep the original layout and quality?Yes. Each page is rendered at 2x resolution, which means the resulting JPG images are sharp and clear, preserving the original fonts, graphics, and layout.

How many images will I get?You will get one JPG image per page. A 5-page PDF will produce 5 separate JPG files, each downloadable individually.

Can I convert only one page instead of the whole document?Currently the tool converts all pages. To convert only one specific page, use the Split PDF tool to extract that page first, then convert the single-page PDF to JPG.

Are my files stored after conversion?No. The images are generated inside your browser and are not stored anywhere. They are cleared automatically when you close or refresh the page.

🔒 Your privacy is protected. All conversion happens in your browser using your device's processing power. Nothing is sent to any server.

PDF to Word Free

Extract the text content from your PDF into a plain text file you can open and edit in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or any text editor. Works best on text-based PDFs — not scanned image PDFs.

ℹ️ This tool extracts readable text from your PDF and saves it as a .txt file. Open it with Word, Notepad, or Google Docs. For scanned PDFs, the results may be limited.

📝

Drop a PDF here

Text will be extracted and saved as a file

Extracting text...0%

✅

Extraction complete!

What is PDF to Word?

The PDF to Word tool extracts all readable text from your PDF and saves it into a plain text file (.txt) that you can open and edit in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Notepad, or any text editor. This is helpful when you need to copy, modify, or reuse the content of a PDF without retyping everything manually.

This tool works best on PDFs that were created digitally — for example, a typed contract, a downloaded form, or a digitally generated invoice. For scanned image PDFs (like photos of physical documents), the text extraction may be limited since the content is stored as an image, not as selectable text.

🎯

When to Use It

Editing or updating a contract or agreement
Copying content from a PDF report into a new document
Updating an old resume saved in PDF format
Extracting text for translation or summarisation
Repurposing content from a downloaded PDF guide or brochure

📋

How to Use It

Step 1 — Upload your PDF file
Step 2 — Click "Extract Text"
Step 3 — Wait while the text is extracted page by page
Step 4 — Download the .txt file and open it in Word or Google Docs

💡 Pro Tip: After downloading the .txt file, open it in Microsoft Word and use "Format → Paragraph Styles" to quickly clean up the formatting and restore headings, bullet points, and spacing to match your original document.

Common Questions

Will the formatting (bold, tables, headings) be preserved?Plain text files do not support formatting like bold or tables. The text content will be extracted accurately, but you will need to reapply formatting manually in Word or Google Docs.

Why is my extracted text showing garbled characters?This usually means the PDF contains scanned images rather than selectable text. Scanned PDFs need OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software to extract text, which is a more advanced process.

Can I edit the file directly after downloading?Yes. Open the downloaded .txt file in Microsoft Word or Google Docs and edit it freely. You can then save it as a .docx or .pdf file once done.

Is my PDF content kept private?Absolutely. Text extraction happens entirely in your browser. The content of your PDF never leaves your device and is never seen by anyone at PDF Vault.

🔒 Your privacy is protected. Text extraction is performed locally in your browser. Your document content is never transmitted or stored.

Add Watermark Free

Stamp a custom text watermark on every page of your PDF. Use it to mark documents as "CONFIDENTIAL", "DRAFT", or "DO NOT COPY". You can control the opacity and choose between a centred or diagonal style.

💧

Drop a PDF here

The watermark will be added to every page

Adding watermark...0%

✅

Watermark added!

What is Add Watermark?

The Add Watermark tool stamps a custom text label across every page of your PDF. A watermark is a semi-transparent text overlay — typically words like "CONFIDENTIAL", "DRAFT", "SAMPLE", or "DO NOT COPY" — that signals the document's status or ownership to anyone who views it.

Watermarks are widely used by businesses, lawyers, government offices, and educators to protect documents, indicate their status, or prevent misuse. You can choose the watermark text, adjust its transparency, and apply it either centred on the page or diagonally across it.

🎯

When to Use It

Marking draft documents before final approval
Labelling sensitive reports as "CONFIDENTIAL"
Stamping sample documents shared for review
Adding "DO NOT COPY" to shared certificates or notes
Branding documents with your company or personal name

📋

How to Use It

Step 1 — Upload your PDF file
Step 2 — Type your watermark text (e.g. CONFIDENTIAL)
Step 3 — Adjust opacity and choose Centred or Diagonal style
Step 4 — Click "Add Watermark" and download

💡 Pro Tip: For a professional look, set opacity between 20–35%. Too high and it covers your content; too low and it becomes invisible on screen. Diagonal watermarks are harder to crop out and are better for security purposes.

Common Questions

Can I remove the watermark later?Watermarks added by this tool are embedded directly into the PDF pages. They cannot be easily removed without specialised software. Always keep a copy of the original unwatermarked file.

Will the watermark appear on every page?Yes. The watermark is automatically applied to every page in the document. There is currently no option to apply it to selected pages only.

Can I use my company name or logo as a watermark?You can use any text as a watermark, including your company name. Image watermarks (logos) are not currently supported — text only.

Does adding a watermark change the file size?The file size may increase slightly since new text data is added to each page, but the increase is minimal — usually just a few kilobytes.

🔒 Your privacy is protected. Watermarking is done entirely in your browser. Your document is never uploaded or shared.

Add Page Numbers Free

Automatically add page numbers to every page of your PDF. Choose where the numbers appear (bottom centre, bottom right, or top centre), select a format, and set which number to start from.

🔢

Drop a PDF here

Page numbers will be added to every page

Adding numbers...0%

✅

Page numbers added!

What is Add Page Numbers?

The Add Page Numbers tool automatically inserts page numbers onto every page of your PDF. This is useful for long documents like reports, theses, project submissions, legal documents, and manuals — where readers need to navigate easily and reference specific pages.

You can choose where numbers appear on the page (bottom centre, bottom right, or top centre), select a format (plain numbers, "Page 1", or "1 of 10"), and even choose which number to start from — helpful if the document is part of a larger set.

🎯

When to Use It

Adding page numbers to a thesis or research paper
Numbering project reports before submission
Preparing legal documents that reference specific pages
Organising compiled study material or notes
Numbering a multi-page invoice or proposal

📋

How to Use It

Step 1 — Upload your PDF file
Step 2 — Choose position, format, and starting number
Step 3 — Click "Add Page Numbers"
Step 4 — Download the numbered PDF

💡 Pro Tip: Use the "1 of N" format for documents like reports and proposals — it tells the reader exactly how many pages there are, which is professional and reassuring for official submissions.

Common Questions

Can I choose where on the page the numbers appear?Yes. You can place numbers at the Bottom Centre, Bottom Right, or Top Centre of each page. These are the standard positions used in professional documents.

Can I start numbering from a number other than 1?Yes. Use the "Start from number" field to set any starting page number. For example, if your document continues from another file that ends at page 12, set the start to 13.

Will the numbers cover any existing content on the page?The numbers are placed in standard margin areas (top or bottom) with adequate spacing. In most cases they appear in the margin without overlapping content, but this can vary for documents with very narrow margins.

Can I remove or change the page numbers after adding them?Numbers are embedded into the PDF. Always keep a copy of your original file so you can re-apply numbers with different settings if needed.

🔒 Your privacy is protected. Page numbering happens entirely inside your browser without any server involvement.

Unlock PDF Free

Remove password protection from a PDF file that belongs to you. Once unlocked, you can open and share the file freely without needing to enter a password each time. You must know the password to use this tool.

🔐 Important: You must already know the correct password. This tool does not crack or guess unknown passwords. It simply removes the password so you don't need to enter it every time.

🔓

Drop a password-protected PDF here

You must know the correct password

Unlocking...0%

✅

PDF unlocked!

What is Unlock PDF?

The Unlock PDF tool removes password protection from a PDF file that you own and have the password for. Once unlocked, you can open, print, copy, and share the file freely without needing to enter a password every time.

Many PDFs sent by banks, government agencies, HR departments, and financial institutions are password-protected — often using your date of birth or PAN number as the password. This tool lets you create an unlocked copy so you can use it more conveniently, compress it for uploads, or merge it with other documents.

🎯

When to Use It

Unlocking bank statements that require your date of birth as a password
Removing password from salary slips or Form 16
Unlocking a PDF before compressing or merging it
Making a government-issued document easier to share
Removing password from your own secured documents

📋

How to Use It

Step 1 — Upload your password-protected PDF
Step 2 — Enter the correct password in the field provided
Step 3 — Click "Unlock PDF"
Step 4 — Download the unlocked file

💡 Pro Tip: Many bank-issued PDFs in India use a standard password format — your date of birth in DDMMYYYY format (e.g. 15031995) or the first four letters of your name in capitals followed by your birth year. Try these if you can't remember the password.

Common Questions

Can this tool crack or guess an unknown password?No. This tool can only remove a password that you already know. It does not attempt to guess, brute-force, or crack passwords. It is intended only for your own documents.

Is it legal to unlock a PDF?Yes, if the PDF belongs to you and you know the password. Unlocking your own documents for personal convenience is perfectly legal. Never use this tool to bypass security on documents you do not own or have permission to access.

I entered the correct password but it still says wrong — why?Some PDFs use owner-level restrictions rather than open passwords. These may not respond to this tool. Also check for extra spaces and ensure you're entering the exact case-sensitive password.

Will my password be stored or seen by anyone?No. The password is used only inside your browser to unlock the file. It is never sent to any server and is completely private to your session.

🔒 Your privacy is protected. Both your PDF and your password are handled entirely in your browser. Nothing is transmitted or stored externally.

Why PDF Vault

Built for real people, not corporations

We started PDF Vault because we were frustrated with complicated, expensive PDF software. Here's what makes us different.

🔒

Privacy First

Your files are processed entirely inside your own browser. Nothing is uploaded to our servers. We literally cannot see your files — and that's by design.

⚡

Instant Processing

Because everything runs locally on your device, there's no waiting for uploads or server queues. Most operations finish in under 10 seconds.

💸

Genuinely Free

All 8 tools are completely free with no hidden limits, no trial periods, and no credit card required. We're supported by non-intrusive advertising.

📱

Works Everywhere

Whether you're on a laptop, Android phone, or iPhone — PDF Vault works in any modern browser. No app download, no installation needed.

🧑‍💻

No Sign-Up

We don't ask for your email, phone number, or any personal information. Just open the site and start using the tools immediately.

🇮🇳

Made for India

Designed with Indian users in mind — students, job seekers, government form filers, and office workers who deal with PDFs every day.

How It Works

Three simple steps

No learning curve. No tutorials. Just follow these three steps and you're done.

1

Upload Your File

Click on the tool you need, then drag and drop your PDF into the upload area — or click "Choose File" to browse from your device or phone.

2

Adjust Settings

Depending on the tool, you may be able to choose options like compression level, watermark text, page range, or number format. All settings are simple and clear.

3

Download Your File

Click the action button and your processed file is ready instantly. Download it to your device — no email, no waiting, no sign-in required.

Security & Privacy

Your documents stay yours — always

We take document privacy seriously. Here's exactly how your files are handled when you use PDF Vault.

🖥️

Processed Locally

All PDF operations — merging, compressing, splitting — happen inside your browser using JavaScript. Your files never travel over the internet to reach us.

🗑️

Automatically Cleared

The moment you close or refresh the page, all file data is permanently removed from memory. There is no database, no storage, nothing left behind.

👁️

Zero Human Access

Because files never reach our servers, no employee or engineer can ever view, access, or interact with your documents. That's a guarantee, not just a promise.

🔐

No Account Required

We don't create user profiles or link your file activity to any identity. Every session is completely anonymous and independent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Got questions? We've got answers.

Is PDF Vault really free? Are there any hidden charges? ▼

Yes, PDF Vault is completely free to use. All 8 tools are available without any payment, subscription, or credit card. We keep the lights on through Google AdSense advertising, which means you might see some ads — but the tools themselves will always be free.

Are my PDF files safe? Who can see them? ▼

Your files are 100% safe. All processing happens directly in your browser — your files are never uploaded to any server, never stored in a database, and can never be seen by anyone at PDF Vault. When you close or refresh the page, the file data is completely gone from your browser's memory as well.

Do I need to create an account or sign up? ▼

No account or sign-up is needed whatsoever. You don't even need to provide an email address. Just open the website, choose your tool, and start working immediately. We believe PDF tools should be as simple as picking up a pen.

Does PDF Vault work on mobile phones? ▼

Yes! PDF Vault is fully mobile-responsive and works on Android and iPhone browsers including Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. You don't need to download any app. Just visit pdf-vault.com in your phone's browser and use any tool as you would on a computer.

Is there a file size limit? ▼

Since all processing happens in your browser, the practical limit depends on your device's available memory (RAM). Most modern phones and computers can easily handle PDFs up to 50–100MB. For very large files (500MB+), processing may be slower or your browser may struggle.

Why is my compressed PDF not smaller? ▼

The amount of compression depends on what's inside your PDF. A text-only PDF is already very efficient and may not compress much further. PDFs with large embedded images compress much more. If you need a very small file, try the "High" compression option and consider also splitting the document to reduce page count.

Can I use PDF Vault for official government documents? ▼

Yes — many users in India use PDF Vault specifically for compressing documents for UPSC, SSC, passport, college admission, and other government portals. Since files never leave your device, it is completely safe to use with sensitive official documents. Always keep a backup of your original file before processing.

What browsers are supported? ▼

PDF Vault works on all modern browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari (iPhone/Mac), and Opera. We recommend keeping your browser updated to the latest version for the best experience. Internet Explorer is not supported.

Legal

Privacy Policy

Last updated: January 1, 2025

🔒 The short version: We do not store, read, collect, or share your files. All PDF processing happens directly inside your browser. Your documents never leave your device. This Privacy Policy explains everything in full detail.

1. Who We Are

PDF Vault ("we", "us", or "our") is a free online PDF tools service available at pdf-vault.com. We provide browser-based tools that allow users to merge, compress, split, convert, watermark, and process PDF files entirely within their own web browser.

PDF Vault is an independent project created and operated by a small team. We are not affiliated with Adobe, Google, Microsoft, or any other major technology company.

2. Your Files and Documents

We understand that your PDF files may contain sensitive personal, financial, medical, legal, or official information. Here is exactly what happens to your files when you use PDF Vault:

All PDF processing (merging, compressing, splitting, converting, etc.) happens entirely within your browser using JavaScript libraries
Your files are never uploaded to our web servers or any third-party server
Your files are never stored in any database, cloud storage, or file system accessible to us
Your files are never read, analysed, or shared by us or any third party
File data is held in your browser's temporary memory only for the duration of your session
When you close the browser tab, refresh the page, or navigate away, all file data is permanently removed from your browser's memory

In simple terms: we have no technical ability to see, access, or retrieve your files. The processing is entirely client-side.

3. Information We Collect

We collect minimal information to operate and improve our service. We do not collect personally identifiable information (PII) unless you voluntarily provide it through our contact form.

Automatically collected (anonymous):

Pages visited and time spent on pages
Browser type and version
Operating system
Country/region (not city or precise location)
Referring website (if you arrived via a link)

Voluntarily provided (contact form only):

Your name
Your email address
Your message content

We never collect payment information, government IDs, phone numbers, or file contents.

4. Cookies

We use cookies to operate the website and for analytics purposes. Cookies are small text files stored in your browser. We use the following types:

Essential cookies: Required for the website to function correctly
Analytics cookies: Used by Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our site (anonymous data only)
Advertising cookies: Used by Google AdSense to display relevant advertisements

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect site functionality.

5. Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use PDF Vault. This helps us improve the user experience and fix issues. Google Analytics collects anonymous usage data. We have enabled IP anonymisation so your full IP address is never stored. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

6. Google AdSense and Advertising

PDF Vault uses Google AdSense to display advertisements. This helps us keep the service free for all users. Google AdSense may use cookies and web beacons to personalise ads based on your browsing history. This is managed entirely by Google and is subject to Google's Privacy Policy.

You can opt out of personalised advertising by visiting Google Ad Settings or by using the Digital Advertising Alliance opt-out tool.

PDF Vault does not sell your personal data to advertisers. We do not share file content or document data with any advertising partner.

7. Cloudflare

Our website is hosted and protected by Cloudflare. Cloudflare provides DNS resolution, content delivery, and DDoS protection services. Cloudflare may process your IP address and other connection data to deliver our website to you securely and quickly. Please refer to Cloudflare's Privacy Policy for details.

8. Children's Privacy

PDF Vault is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has submitted personal information to us via the contact form, please contact us immediately and we will delete that information.

9. Data Retention

Since we do not store your files, there is no file data to retain or delete. Contact form submissions are retained for a reasonable period to respond to enquiries and are then deleted. Anonymous analytics data is retained as per Google Analytics' standard retention settings.

10. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have rights including: the right to access data we hold about you, the right to request deletion of your data, and the right to opt out of analytics and advertising. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact form on this website.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Your continued use of PDF Vault after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us using our contact form. We aim to respond within 48 hours.

Legal

Terms & Conditions

Last updated: January 1, 2025

📋 The short version: Use PDF Vault responsibly and only for lawful purposes. We provide the service in good faith but cannot guarantee it will always be available or error-free. Your files are never stored by us.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using PDF Vault at pdf-vault.com ("the Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions ("Terms"). If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, please do not use the Service.

These Terms apply to all visitors, users, and others who access or use the Service.

2. Description of Service

PDF Vault provides free, browser-based PDF processing tools. These tools allow users to merge, compress, split, convert, watermark, add page numbers to, and unlock PDF files. All processing occurs locally within the user's web browser. No files are transmitted to or stored on PDF Vault's servers.

3. User Responsibilities

By using PDF Vault, you agree to the following:

You will only upload and process files that you own or have explicit permission to process
You will not use the Service for any unlawful, fraudulent, or harmful purpose
You will not attempt to reverse engineer, copy, or scrape the Service
You will not use the Service to process files that contain malware, viruses, or harmful code
You will not attempt to overload or disrupt the Service in any way
You are solely responsible for the content of the files you process

4. Copyright and Intellectual Property

You confirm that you have the legal right to process any file you upload to PDF Vault. You must not use this Service to process, reproduce, or distribute copyrighted material that you do not own or have a licence to use.

The PDF Vault website, design, code, and content are the intellectual property of PDF Vault. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from any part of this Service without express written permission.

5. Prohibited Uses

You may not use PDF Vault to process files that contain or relate to:

Child sexual abuse material or any content that exploits minors
Material that promotes hatred, violence, or discrimination
Fraudulent documents, forged certificates, or fake government IDs
Pirated content or illegally obtained copyrighted material
Material that violates any applicable local, national, or international law

We reserve the right to terminate access to users who violate these provisions, to the extent technically possible.

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We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Service at any time without prior notice.

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Always keep a backup copy of your original files before processing. We are not responsible for any data loss that may occur during processing.

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These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of India.

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Our Story

About PDF Vault

A small independent project built for everyday PDF needs

💡 PDF Vault was built out of frustration with overpriced, complicated PDF software. Our goal is simple: give everyone access to professional PDF tools without charging a rupee or asking for a sign-up.

Why We Built This

Every day, millions of people in India face the same problem: they need to quickly merge a couple of documents, compress a PDF for a government portal, or extract a few pages — and they end up on cluttered websites full of pop-ups, file size limits, and demands to create an account just to do something simple.

We felt that was wrong. PDF tools should be as simple and accessible as a calculator. So we built PDF Vault — a clean, fast, and completely free alternative that respects your privacy and doesn't get in your way.

Our Mission

Our mission is to make professional-grade PDF tools available to everyone — students, job seekers, government form filers, teachers, small business owners, and anyone else who works with documents. No barriers, no subscriptions, no compromises on privacy.

How It Works (The Technical Bit)

PDF Vault uses modern browser technologies to run all PDF processing directly on your device. When you merge or compress a PDF, the work is done by JavaScript libraries running inside your browser tab — not on a server somewhere on the internet.

This approach means your files never travel over the internet to reach us, which makes PDF Vault one of the most private PDF tools available online. It also means processing is fast, because there's no upload/download cycle.

Who Made This

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Independent Developer

PDF Vault is an independent passion project created by a developer who believes that useful tools should be free and private. The project is self-funded and supported by non-intrusive advertising through Google AdSense.

🎯 Our Goal

To be the most trusted free PDF tool for Indian users — providing tools that work reliably, respect privacy, and require no technical knowledge to use.

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Have a question, found a bug, or want to suggest a new tool? We genuinely read every message and try to respond within 48 hours. Use our contact form to get in touch.

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⏱️ We typically respond within 24–48 hours on working days.

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Blog & Guides

PDF Tips for Everyday Users

Practical guides on using PDF tools in India — for students, job seekers, and professionals.

Guide · Government Forms

How to Compress PDF for Government Form Upload in India (2025)

Struggling to upload your documents to UPSC, SSC, or passport portals? Here's how to compress them to the right size — for free.

📅 January 2025 · ⏱️ 5 min read · 🇮🇳 India

Guide · Government Forms · India

How to Compress PDF for Government Form Upload in India (2025)

📅 January 2025⏱️ 5 min read🇮🇳 India Guide

If you've ever tried to upload a document to a government website in India and received a frustrating "file size too large" error — you're not alone. This guide walks you through exactly how to compress your PDF so it meets the size requirements for UPSC, SSC, Passport Seva, NEET, college applications, and more.

Why Do Government Portals Have File Size Limits?

Indian government portals typically serve crores of users simultaneously. To keep their servers running smoothly and ensure fast load times for everyone, they impose strict file size limits on uploaded documents. This is standard practice globally, but the limits on Indian government sites tend to be on the stricter side — often between 100KB and 1MB per file.

Unfortunately, documents scanned at home or on a printer often come out much larger than these limits — sometimes 5MB or more for a single page. That's where a PDF compressor comes in.

Common Government Portal File Size Limits in India

Portal / Exam	Max File Size	Recommended Compression
UPSC Online Application	300 KB	High
SSC CGL / CHSL	500 KB	Medium–High
Passport Seva Portal	1 MB	Medium
NEET Application (NTA)	500 KB	Medium–High
JEE Main Application	500 KB	Medium–High
DU / Central University Admissions	200 KB – 1 MB	Medium
PAN Card Application (NSDL)	300 KB	High
Income Tax e-Filing Portal	5 MB	Low

Step-by-Step: How to Compress Your PDF Using PDF Vault

1 Open the Compress Tool

Go to pdf-vault.com and click on the Compress tab in the tools section. You'll see a file upload area appear.

2 Upload Your PDF

Drag your PDF file into the upload area, or click "Choose File" to browse. You can also tap "Choose File" on a mobile phone to select from your gallery or files app.

3 Select a Compression Level

Choose how much to compress:

🟢 Low — Slight reduction, best quality. Use for portals with limits above 1MB.
🟡 Medium — Good balance of size and quality. Works for most portals.
🔴 High — Maximum compression. Use when you need under 300–500KB.

4 Download and Check

Click Compress PDF, wait a few seconds, then download your compressed file. Before uploading to any portal, open the file and verify the text is still readable and no pages are missing.

Try the Compress Tool — Free

No signup. No software download. Works on mobile.

🗜️ Compress PDF Free →

Tips for Specific Portals

UPSC Civil Services Application

UPSC typically requires all document uploads to be under 300KB. Use the High compression setting. If you're uploading a photograph, it should be a separate JPG file (not embedded in a PDF). For certificates and mark sheets, scan at 150 DPI instead of 300 DPI to get a smaller starting file.

SSC Online Forms

SSC portals generally accept files up to 500KB. Use Medium compression for most documents. Make sure the text in your certificates is still clearly readable after compression — the exam board needs to verify the information.

Passport Seva Portal

The Passport Seva portal accepts documents up to 1MB each, which is more lenient than most. Medium compression should be sufficient. Pay special attention to address proof documents — the full address must remain legible.

College Admissions (DU, JNU, State Universities)

University portals vary widely. Some accept up to 2MB, others only 200KB. When in doubt, compress to under 500KB to be safe — this works across almost all Indian university admission portals without sacrificing readability.

💡 Pro Tip: Always compress to a few KB below the limit, not right at it. For a 500KB limit, aim for 400–450KB. This prevents upload failures due to minor size calculation differences between browsers.

⚠️ Always keep a backup: Save your original uncompressed file in a separate folder before compressing. Only send the compressed version to government portals.

What If My PDF Is Still Too Large?

If your file is still over the limit after high compression, try these additional steps:

1. Split the document — Use the Split PDF tool to upload only the specific pages required by the portal, rather than the entire document.

2. Scan at lower DPI — If you're scanning a physical document, try 150 DPI instead of 300 DPI. The file will be significantly smaller with no noticeable quality difference for text documents.

3. Convert to JPG — Some portals accept JPG images instead of PDFs. Use the PDF to JPG tool to convert individual pages, which may be smaller in file size.

4. Remove blank pages — Use the Split PDF tool in "Custom Range" mode to create a new PDF that includes only the necessary pages, excluding any blank pages.

Is It Safe to Compress Official Documents Online?

Using PDF Vault is completely safe for official documents. Unlike many online tools that upload your files to their servers, PDF Vault processes everything locally in your browser. Your Aadhaar card, marksheets, certificates, and other sensitive documents never leave your device. There is no risk of your files being stored, accessed, or leaked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will compression make my document unreadable? ▼

Low and Medium compression levels maintain very good readability for text documents. Only High compression may slightly blur images within the PDF. We always recommend opening and checking the compressed file before submitting it anywhere.

Can I compress a scanned Aadhaar card or PAN card? ▼

Yes. Scanned identity documents are some of the most commonly compressed files. They usually start around 1–5MB and can be reduced to under 300KB using Medium or High compression while remaining clearly legible.

How long does compression take? ▼

Compression typically takes between 2–10 seconds for most PDFs, depending on the file size and your device's speed. Because everything runs in your browser, no internet upload time is involved.

Does this work on a mobile phone? ▼

Yes, fully. PDF Vault is mobile-optimised and works on Chrome and Safari on both Android and iPhone. You can select files directly from your phone's storage or Google Drive.

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