# Convert a PDF toward PDF/A

> A partial move toward archival format: sets clean metadata and re-saves a tidy copy. Not a validated PDF/A.

Open the tool: https://yourbrowsercandoit.com/pdf-a

Clean archival copy. Not certified PDF/A. Free, no signup. Runs entirely in your browser; files are never uploaded.

## How it works

Honest framing: true PDF/A compliance requires every font embedded with the right subsetting, ICC color profiles attached, no JavaScript, no encryption, and a validator pass that browsers can't fully perform. What this tool does: sets clean metadata (your title and author if provided, plus producer and creation/modification dates), and re-saves a clean copy. For many archival uses (internal records, low-stakes long-term storage), this is enough. For legal or regulatory archives that demand PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b, or PDF/A-3b compliance, run the output through a real validator (Acrobat, veraPDF) before relying on it. Output filename has -pdfa appended. Built on pdf-lib. Password-protected PDFs need Remove password first, since PDF/A forbids encryption.

## How to use it

1. **Drop your PDF.** Drag the PDF you want to prepare for archiving.
2. **Set title and author.** Optionally fill in the metadata fields written into the output.
3. **Convert.** Clean metadata is written and the file re-saved, all locally.
4. **Validate if it matters.** For legal or regulatory archives, run the output through a real validator like veraPDF.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is this a real PDF/A converter?

It's a partial conversion. It cleans metadata and re-saves, but doesn't embed fonts or attach ICC profiles, which true PDF/A requires.

### Can I use this for legal archives?

Only if you verify the output with a PDF/A validator. The conversion gets you closer to compliance but doesn't certify it.

### What changes about my PDF?

Metadata is set or cleaned, the producer field is rewritten, and creation and modification dates are set to now. Pages and text are unchanged.

### Does this upload my PDF?

No. Everything runs locally via pdf-lib.

## Related tools

- [Merge PDFs](https://yourbrowsercandoit.com/merge-pdf): Combine multiple PDFs into one file.
- [Split PDF](https://yourbrowsercandoit.com/split-pdf): Click between pages to cut, split every N pages, or pull pages out.
- [Compress PDF](https://yourbrowsercandoit.com/compress-pdf): Shrink a PDF or fit it under a size limit, and compare before saving.
- [Rotate pages](https://yourbrowsercandoit.com/rotate-pdf): Turn pages the right way up. Sideways pages are found for you.
- [Extract pages](https://yourbrowsercandoit.com/extract-pages): Pull pages out as a new PDF.
- [Watermark PDF](https://yourbrowsercandoit.com/watermark-pdf): Add text or a logo, placed and previewed on the real page.