Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about privacy, supported formats, PDF encryption, browser behavior, and practical limits. For product philosophy and compliance-oriented detail, pair this page with Security & privacy.
Is File Utils really private? Are my files uploaded?
The conversion and PDF processing logic runs in your browser (client-side). Your documents are not sent to our servers for the core merge, split, reorder, compress, or typical image-format tasks described on this site. You still download the application from the web like any site. See the security & privacy page for nuances (hosting logs, HTTPS, optional rate limiting).
Do I need an account?
No account is required to use the tools in standard deployment.
Which browsers work best?
Latest Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari generally work. PDF previews inside the page use browser PDF rendering and can vary. If an iframe preview fails, download the file and open it in your system PDF viewer.
Why does SVG to PNG/WebP/JPG behave differently from raster images?
SVG is vector data. The app rasterizes SVGs for canvas-based export, using intrinsic size or a sensible default. Very complex SVGs or unusual fonts may look different than in a design tool. Always spot-check exports.
What is WebP and when should I use it?
WebP is a modern raster format from Google that typically yields smaller files than JPEG or PNG at similar visual quality, with optional transparency. Use it for websites and apps when CDNs and browsers support WebP (most do today).
What is ICO used for?
ICO files bundle multiple resolutions for favicons and Windows icons. This tool generates multi-size ICO data suitable for typical browser tabs and shortcuts.
Can I merge password-protected PDFs?
Encrypted PDFs must usually be unlocked first (you will need the password). The unlocked output may be image-based depending on the workflow. Verify quality before discarding originals.
What does “Protect PDF” add?
It applies standard PDF password protection (RC4 128-bit via our encryption helper) so readers must enter a password to open the file. Encrypted outputs cannot be previewed inline in the tool. Open the download in Acrobat, Edge, or another reader to test.
What are queue and page limits?
Practical limits (for example image queue length, PDF page counts in the editor, split maximum) keep browser memory stable. Exact numbers are shown in-tool. If you hit a limit, split your job into batches or use desktop software for huge documents.
Why did my PDF get bigger after “compress”?
The compressor re-encodes pages as JPEG images inside a new PDF. Scans that are already highly compressed might grow; illustration-heavy PDFs may shrink. Experiment with the quality slider.
Is this legal for contracts or government forms?
File Utils is a general-purpose utility. Whether altering or exporting a given document is legally permitted is your responsibility. When in doubt, consult counsel or your records department.
Can I run File Utils offline?
After the assets are cached, some actions may work offline in theory; reliable offline use usually requires self-hosting the built site in your environment. The PDF.js worker file must load successfully.
Where can I get step-by-step instructions?
See the full user guide.