Back to all guides
Tool Guides

Master PDF Editing: Your Complete Guide to Privacy-First PDF Tools

Everything you need to know about editing, merging, splitting, and securing PDFs without compromising your privacy. No uploads, no tracking.

10 min read
Free Guide

The PDF Privacy Problem Nobody Talks About

Every time you upload a PDF to an online editor, you're making a leap of faith. That contract, that financial report, that manuscript - it's now sitting on someone else's server. Sure, they promise to delete it. But do they? When? And who had access in the meantime?

Unwrite's PDF Editor takes a radically different approach. Using cutting-edge WebAssembly technology, we've brought professional PDF editing capabilities directly into your browser. No uploads, no cloud processing, no trust required. Your documents never leave your device, yet you get the same powerful features as desktop software.

What Can You Do with Our PDF Editor?

Our browser-based PDF editor isn't just a viewer with a few tricks. It's a comprehensive suite of tools designed for real work:

Document Management

  • Merge PDFs: Combine multiple documents into one cohesive file
  • Split PDFs: Extract specific pages or divide documents at custom points
  • Reorder Pages: Drag and drop to rearrange your document structure
  • Delete Pages: Remove unwanted content cleanly
  • Rotate Pages: Fix orientation issues with single-click rotation

Advanced Editing

  • Extract Images: Pull out embedded images in original quality
  • Compress PDFs: Reduce file size without visible quality loss
  • Sanitise PDFs: Remove risky elements (scripts, embedded files) after a security scan
  • Edit Metadata: Update document properties and information
  • Repair Corrupted PDFs: Fix damaged files that won't open elsewhere

Getting Started: Your First Edit

Step 1: Open the Editor

Navigate to unwrite.com/pdf-tools. The editor loads instantly - no downloads, no plugins, no Java. Just modern web technology that works in any current browser.

Step 2: Load Your PDF

Click "Select PDF" or drag and drop your file directly onto the page. The PDF loads into your browser's memory - watch the network tab if you want proof that nothing gets uploaded. Even multi-hundred-page documents load quickly because there's no upload time.

Step 3: Choose Your Action

The toolbar presents all available actions clearly:

  • Use the page sidebar to select, reorder, or delete pages
  • Access tools from the top toolbar for merging, splitting, and more

Step 4: Make Your Edits

Every action provides immediate visual feedback. Reorder pages by dragging, see compression results in real-time, preview splits before committing. It feels like desktop software because it essentially is - just running in your browser.

Step 5: Save Your Work

Click "Download" to save your edited PDF. The file generates locally and downloads directly - no server roundtrip, no temporary cloud storage. Your edited document is ready to use immediately.

Deep Dive: Key Features

Merging PDFs Like a Pro

Need to combine multiple documents? Our merger handles it elegantly:

  1. 1Load your first PDF
  2. 2Click "Add More PDFs" to select additional files
  3. 3Drag thumbnails to reorder entire documents or individual pages
  4. 4Preview the combined result before saving
  5. 5Download your merged PDF with preserved formatting and bookmarks

The merger intelligently handles different page sizes, orientations, and formats. Even complex documents with forms and annotations merge cleanly.

Surgical PDF Splitting

Sometimes you need just specific pages from a larger document. Our splitter offers multiple approaches:

  • Extract Pages: Select specific pages to create a new PDF
  • Split at Page: Divide a document at specific page numbers
  • Remove Pages: Delete unwanted pages and save the rest
  • Separate All: Create individual PDFs for each page

Intelligent Compression

Our compression algorithm balances file size with quality:

  • Smart Mode: Automatically optimises based on content type
  • Custom Settings: Fine-tune compression for your specific needs
  • Preview: See exactly how compression affects quality before saving
  • Selective: Compress images while preserving text quality

Security scanning and sanitisation

Use the built-in security scan to detect risky content in PDFs, then sanitise to remove it. This helps strip malicious scripts or embedded files whilst keeping your document usable - and it all happens locally in your browser.

Understanding Browser-Based PDF Editing

How Is This Possible?

WebAssembly (WASM) changed everything. This technology lets us run compiled code at near-native speed in browsers. We've compiled professional PDF libraries to WASM, bringing desktop-class PDF manipulation to the web without plugins or downloads.

Performance Considerations

While our editor handles most PDFs brilliantly, extremely large files (1000+ pages) might challenge your browser's memory limits. For these edge cases:

  • Work with sections rather than entire documents
  • Close other browser tabs to free memory
  • Use a modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) for best performance

Feature limitations

Our privacy-first approach means some features are intentionally not included:

  • No cloud storage integration (by design)
  • No collaborative editing (documents stay on your device)
  • No built-in OCR yet (scanned PDFs remain images unless processed elsewhere)

Real-World Use Cases

Legal Document Preparation

Lawyers use our editor to prepare case documents without client data touching cloud servers. Merge exhibits, extract relevant pages from lengthy documents, add password protection for sensitive materials - all while maintaining client confidentiality.

Academic Publishing

Researchers combine multiple papers, extract specific chapters, and prepare submissions without worrying about unpublished work leaking. The metadata editor helps ensure proper document properties for journal submissions.

Business Proposals

Sales teams merge product sheets, case studies, and custom content into polished proposals. The compression feature ensures email-friendly file sizes without sacrificing quality graphics.

Personal Document Management

Organise tax documents, merge bank statements, extract pages from bills - all without uploading personal financial information to third-party servers. Perfect for maintaining privacy while staying organised.

Advanced Techniques

Batch Processing

While we don't offer traditional batch processing, you can efficiently handle multiple files:

  1. 1Open multiple browser tabs with our editor
  2. 2Load different PDFs in each tab
  3. 3Apply operations in parallel
  4. 4Download all results when complete

Workflow Integration

Our editor fits seamlessly into existing workflows:

  • Download edited PDFs directly to your preferred folder
  • No account means no ecosystem lock-in
  • Compatible with all PDF readers and editors
  • Preserves all standard PDF features and compatibility

Quality Preservation

Our algorithms preserve document quality through operations:

  • Vector graphics remain sharp at any zoom level
  • Text stays selectable and searchable
  • Image compression uses intelligent algorithms
  • Fonts embed properly for consistent display

Privacy Deep Dive

What Happens to Your PDFs?

When you load a PDF in our editor:

  1. 1The file transfers from your disk to your browser's memory
  2. 2JavaScript and WebAssembly process it entirely locally
  3. 3Edited versions exist only in your browser's memory
  4. 4Downloads save directly from memory to your disk
  5. 5Closing the tab erases everything from memory

Verification Methods

Don't trust - verify our privacy claims:

  • Open browser developer tools -> Network tab
  • Load and edit a PDF
  • Observe zero network requests after initial page load
  • Your PDF data never transmits anywhere

Compliance Benefits

For organisations with strict data handling requirements:

  • GDPR compliant by architecture - no data to protect
  • HIPAA suitable - patient data never leaves your control
  • Legal privilege maintained - documents stay in your possession
  • No data processing agreements needed - we never see your data

Power tips

Optimal File Preparation

For best results:

  • Scan documents at 300 DPI for clarity
  • Use PDF/A format for long-term archival
  • Flatten forms before merging if editing isn't needed
  • Compress images before creating PDFs to start smaller

Troubleshooting Common Issues

  • Slow loading: Check file size and browser memory usage
  • Font issues: Ensure fonts are embedded in source PDFs
  • Can't select text: Original might be scanned - OCR needed
  • Large file warning: Split into smaller sections first

Comparing to Desktop Software

Our browser-based editor matches most desktop PDF software features while adding unique benefits:

Advantages Over Desktop Apps

  • No installation or updates required
  • Works on any device with a browser
  • No license fees or subscriptions
  • Guaranteed privacy - no telemetry or cloud features
  • Always use the latest version

When Desktop Still Wins

  • Editing PDF text content directly
  • Complex form creation
  • Massive files (2GB+)
  • Advanced prepress features

Start Editing PDFs Privately

Ready to edit PDFs without compromising privacy? Visit our PDF Editor and experience professional-grade PDF manipulation that respects your privacy. No accounts, no uploads, no tracking - just powerful PDF editing that works entirely in your browser.

Whether you're handling sensitive business documents, personal financial records, or creative projects, our editor provides the features you need with the privacy you deserve. Because your documents should remain under your control, always.