Guides
Plain-language explanations of the document and image problems people bring to Fileixa: what is really happening to the file, the mistakes to avoid, and the steps that work. Written and kept up to date by the Fileixa team.
iLovePDF alternatives for PDF editing: choosing Fileixa tools
Looking for an iLovePDF alternative? Compare PDF editing, conversion, forms and watermark removal, then choose the Fileixa tool that fits your task.
Updated October 13, 2026 · 6 min read
How to edit a PDF online: text, images, forms and signatures
Choose the right PDF editing workflow: add text or images, fill form fields, place a signature, or convert existing paragraphs to Word for revision.
Updated October 11, 2026 · 6 min read
Merge and compress PDFs for email or an upload form
Combine documents in the right order, remove unnecessary pages, then reduce the final PDF size without assuming that merging automatically compresses it.
Updated October 11, 2026 · 4 min read
PDF to Word: why scanned documents need a different workflow
Learn how to recognize a scanned PDF, choose conversion or OCR, and review text, tables and formatting before sharing an editable Word document.
Updated October 11, 2026 · 4 min read
How to get a PDF under an upload limit (100 KB–2 MB)
Why PDFs get large, what compression can and cannot do, and how to meet strict job, visa and university portal size limits while keeping the file readable.
Updated September 25, 2026 · 7 min read
How to redact a PDF properly (and why black boxes fail)
A black box over text usually leaves it in the file. How real redaction works, why "redacted" documents leak, and a checklist to use before sharing.
Updated September 25, 2026 · 6 min read
HEIC vs JPG: why iPhone photos won’t open (and the fix)
What HEIC is, why Windows and many websites reject it, whether converting loses quality, and how to make your phone take photos that open everywhere.
Updated September 25, 2026 · 5 min read
PDF/A explained: when you need it and what it changes
PDF/A in plain language: what PDF/A-1, -2 and -3 and the "a"/"b" levels mean, who requires it, and how to check that a file really conforms.
Updated September 25, 2026 · 6 min read
OCR tips: how to get accurate text from scanned documents
Why OCR makes mistakes and how to prevent them: scan resolution, lighting, rotation, contrast and file preparation that dramatically improve text recognition.
Updated September 25, 2026 · 5 min read
Password-protecting a PDF: what actually keeps it safe
User vs owner passwords, what AES-256 encryption protects, why "restrictions" are weak, and how to choose and share a PDF password safely.
Updated September 25, 2026 · 5 min read