Privacy Policy

Last updated: 2026-11-07

This policy explains what happens to your files and information when you use PDF-Files.com at https://pdf-files.com (the "site"). The short version: most of our tools process your files entirely inside your own web browser, so the files never reach us. Where a tool does need our server, it says so clearly on the page, uploads only after you choose to convert, and deletes your file as soon as the conversion is finished.

1. Files you process

Tools that run in your browser

The large majority of tools, including the PDF editor, merging, splitting, compression, password protection and unlocking, PDF to Word/Excel/PowerPoint/image conversions, OCR, and all image tools, are labelled "Processed in your browser". For these tools, the file you select is read into your browser's memory on your device, processed by code running in that browser tab, and returned to you as a download. The file is not transmitted to our servers or to any third party, and we cannot see it.

Passwords you enter to open or protect PDFs are also used only inside your browser and are never sent to us.

Tools that use our conversion server

Some document conversions need a full office suite that cannot run in a browser. These tools, currently Word, Excel and PowerPoint to PDF when you select server mode (and PowerPoint to PDF, which always uses the server), are labelled "Processed on our server" or offer a clearly marked server option. When you use them:

• your file is uploaded only after you click to convert, over an encrypted HTTPS connection;
• it is converted in a temporary location and both the uploaded file and the result are deleted as soon as the converted file has been returned to you;
• we do not store, read, share, sell or use your file for any other purpose, including training any models.

If the conversion server is not enabled for this site, these tools tell you before anything is uploaded.

2. Information stored on your device

We do not offer user accounts and do not ask you to register. The site stores a small amount of information in your browser so that it works properly:

• localStorage key consent.v1 remembers your cookie and advertising choice, if a consent banner is shown.
• IndexedDB database freepdf-local temporarily holds editor autosaves (so a refresh doesn't lose your work) and files you drop on the homepage while you choose a tool. This data stays on your device, is never sent to us, is deleted when you finish or clear an editor session, handed-off files are removed as soon as the tool picks them up, and old entries are cleared automatically.

You can delete this data at any time by clearing your browser's site data for this website. See our Cookie Policy for details.

3. Downloads of code, fonts and language data

To run tools in your browser, your browser downloads program code, fonts and, for some tools, additional data: for example OCR language data (from tessdata.projectnaptha.com and jsDelivr) and background-removal AI models (from Hugging Face and jsDelivr). These are ordinary static downloads. As with any web request, the server delivering them receives technical information such as your IP address and browser type, but your files are never sent to these services. Their own privacy policies apply to those requests.

4. Advertising

The site may display advertisements provided by Google AdSense. When advertising is enabled, Google and its partners may use cookies or similar identifiers to show ads, limit how often you see them, measure their performance and prevent fraud. Where required by law, we ask for your consent before personalised advertising is used; if you decline, Google may still show non-personalised ads, which rely on contextual information and may use cookies for frequency capping and fraud prevention.

Ads are never shown inside editing workspaces and no information about your files is shared with advertisers. You can learn how Google uses data at How Google uses information from sites that use its services, and manage personalised ads at Google Ad Settings or aboutads.info. You can change your choice on this site at any time with the "Cookie settings" link in the footer.

Website analytics

We use Cloudflare Web Analytics to understand how the site is used, for example which pages are visited most and how quickly they load. It is privacy-focused: it does not set cookies, does not use local storage, does not fingerprint your browser and does not track you across websites. It records aggregated information such as the page address, the referring site, your country and your browser and device type. It never receives the contents of your files. See Cloudflare Web Analytics and Cloudflare's privacy policy.

We do not use any other analytics or tracking scripts beyond the advertising described here.

5. Server logs

Like almost every website, the servers that deliver our pages and, where used, the conversion server automatically record technical request data such as IP address, date and time, requested address, browser type and response status. We use these logs only to operate the service, keep it secure and diagnose problems. Logs do not contain the contents of your files, are retained only for a limited period, and are not sold or shared except where required by law.

6. Email

If you contact us by email at feedback@pdf-files.com, we use your message and email address only to reply and to keep a record of the conversation. Please do not attach confidential documents.

7. Legal bases and your rights

Where data protection laws such as the EU GDPR or UK GDPR apply, we process the limited personal data described above on the basis of our legitimate interests in operating a secure website, your consent for personalised advertising, and, for emails, to respond to your request. Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete or restrict the use of your personal data, to object to processing, to data portability, and to withdraw consent at any time. California residents have rights under the CCPA/CPRA, including to know, delete and opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information; we do not sell your personal information, and you can opt out of personalised advertising through the footer's cookie settings and the Google tools listed above.

Because we do not keep your files or create accounts, we usually hold no personal data about you beyond short-lived server logs and any emails you send us. To exercise your rights, email us. You may also complain to your local data protection authority.

8. Children

The site is not directed at children under 13 (or the minimum age required in your country), and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them.

9. International use

Our servers and the services mentioned above may be located in different countries. Where personal data such as log data is transferred internationally, we rely on appropriate safeguards required by applicable law.

10. Security

The site is served over HTTPS. Local processing means your files are never exposed to our infrastructure in the first place. For server conversions, files travel over encrypted connections, are isolated in temporary storage and are deleted immediately after conversion. No method of transmission or storage is perfectly secure, but we design the service so that as little data as possible ever leaves your device.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when the site or the law changes. The date at the top shows the latest revision. Significant changes will be highlighted on the site.

12. Contact

Questions about privacy? Email feedback@pdf-files.com.