Drop PDF here
Converting...
Files processed locally — never uploaded
How it works
Run this tool in three short steps.
01
Upload PDF
Drop a PDF.
02
Add PDF/A metadata
PDF/A-1b headers are added.
03
Download
Get the PDF with PDF/A metadata.
Questions
What people ask before they use this tool.
What is PDF/A?
PDF/A is an ISO-standardized version of PDF for long-term archival. It embeds all fonts and prohibits features that could affect future readability.
How does conversion work?
The tool loads your PDF with pdf-lib.js and adds PDF/A metadata headers. Note: full ISO compliance requires font embedding, which is limited in browser-based tools.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. Processing happens in your browser during conversion.
Is the output fully ISO compliant?
This tool adds PDF/A-1b metadata. Full compliance depends on the source PDF having embedded fonts. For strict compliance, use Adobe Acrobat or a dedicated server-side validator workflow.
Why convert to PDF/A?
Required for legal archival, government submissions, and long-term document preservation. Ensures the PDF displays identically decades from now.
Does it embed fonts?
It preserves existing embedded fonts. Browser-based tools cannot add fonts to a PDF. If fonts are not embedded in the source, they will not be added.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes.
Is there a file size limit?
It works well for common browser-based PDF jobs. Very large files depend on your device memory and browser performance.
What PDF/A version?
PDF/A-1b (basic level). Higher conformance levels require specialized tools.
Does it remove JavaScript?
PDF/A prohibits JavaScript. Any JS in the source PDF is left as-is; metadata flags are added.
Can I verify PDF/A compliance?
Use a PDF/A validator such as veraPDF to check compliance after conversion.
Does it change visual appearance?
No. The visual content is identical.
What about encryption?
PDF/A prohibits encryption. Encrypted PDFs should be unlocked first with <a href="/unlock-pdf">Unlock PDF</a>. Then use <a href="/compress-pdf">Compress</a> to reduce size.
Can I start converting to PDF/A right away?
Yes. Upload the document, add the archival metadata on the page, and download the result from the same browser workflow.
Can I pay with crypto?
PDF tools are free. See all <a href="/pdf-tools">PDF Tools</a>. AI writing tools accept crypto from $9.99/month.
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Convert PDF to PDF/A-1b archival format and add ISO metadata for long-term document preservation. It is a direct browser workflow for a first archival pass before downstream validation or compliance review.