Frequently Asked Questions
What file types can I convert?
PDF, Word (.docx), PowerPoint (.pptx), Excel (.xlsx), images (PNG, JPG, TIFF, BMP, WebP), HTML, Markdown, and plain text. Scanned documents and photos of documents are OCR'd automatically.
What can I convert them into?
Word (.docx) in four modes, PDF, searchable PDF (your original pages with an invisible text layer), Markdown, HTML, plain text, and a structured JSON model.
Why are there four different Word modes?
Because "convert to Word" means different things for different documents:
- Reflow — clean, fully editable text; best for mostly-text documents.
- Editable reconstruction — editable text placed to match the original layout.
- Exact look — a pixel-faithful copy (each page as an image); not editable text.
- Preserve layout — fixed-layout conversion that keeps positioning; PDF sources only.
If you're unsure, try Reflow first for editing, or Exact look for sharing.
How accurate is the OCR?
Very good on clear scans and photos; lower on blurry, skewed, handwritten, or very small text. The app shows a confidence hint per document. Always proofread converted text before relying on it.
Is it really free?
Yes. No accounts, no watermarks, no trial limits. To keep it free for everyone there are fair-use limits: 25 MB per file, 120 pages per PDF, and per-minute/per-day upload caps that ordinary use never hits.
How private is this?
As private as we can make it without accounts: your documents live in a private workspace only your device knows about, are processed on our own server (never sent to third-party AI/OCR services), and are permanently deleted 24 hours after upload — no backups. See the Privacy Policy for the full picture.
Can anyone else see my documents?
No. Every request is scoped to your workspace ID; other users' requests can't list, view, convert, or delete your documents. We verify this isolation with automated tests on every deployment.
What happens after 24 hours?
The original, the extracted text, and every converted file are permanently deleted from the server. Download your results when they're ready — the app can't recover them later.
Why did my upload get rejected?
Usually one of the limits: file over 25 MB, PDF over 120 pages, an unsupported file type, or a file whose contents don't match its extension (a safety check). The error message says exactly which.
Why does it say "server busy"?
The service runs on modest hardware and processes documents one at a time to stay free. At busy moments new work is politely refused instead of silently queueing for hours — try again in a few minutes.
My conversion looks different from the original. Why?
Editable formats re-typeset your document, so fonts, spacing, and complex layouts (multi-column pages, intricate tables) can shift. For a faithful copy, use Exact look (Word) or Searchable PDF.
Where are the AI features (chat, search, summarize)?
Coming soon — they're being finished and tested. The current release focuses on doing one thing excellently: conversion. No dates promised; watch the Release Notes.
How much does it cost?
Nothing — the app is completely free. If ads are ever added to cover server costs, the product stays free and the privacy promise (no accounts, 24-hour deletion) stays intact.
How do I report a problem?
Email support@pdfretype.com with what you tried and what happened (please don't include sensitive documents — a description is enough).