Watermarks on PDFs can be frustrating, but removing them doesn’t necessarily require using expensive PDF editing software. This article introduces a list of free tools capable of eliminating watermarks from your files.
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1. Google Docs
The first tool you might want to try to remove a watermark from a PDF is Google Docs. It’s a popular tool and if you have a Google account, you can get instant access to it. However, for best results, you will first have to convert the PDF into DOCX. You can do so by using one of these tools that can help with all kinds of PDF conversions.
Save the resulting file to your device and then open Google Docs. Press on the folder-looking icon in the upper right corner.
Switch to the Upload tab in the new window and press the Browse button to add your file.
Wait until Google Docs uploads your document. If the watermark has not been automatically removed, click on it and press Delete on your keyboard.
Go to File -> Download -> PDF Document to redownload the clean document to your device.
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2. Canva
If you don’t want to have to convert your PDF into a DOCX, you can try another tool such as Canva.
To use Canva to remove the watermark from your PDF, you’ll need to sign up for a free account (it doesn’t require you to input your card details). Once you are logged into your account, click on Projects on the left side of the display.
Drag and drop the PDF into the Recent designs section to upload your document. Or you can press the Add new -> Upload button on the right.
Once the PDF has been uploaded, click the watermark and then press the trashcan icon to remove it from view.
Now you can download the clean PDF by pressing Share -> Download and selecting the PDF option.
3. LightPDF
Another great online tool that allows you to remove watermark from PDF for free is LightPDF which is a AI-powered solution.
To get started, go to the specific watermark removal tool offered by LightPDF. Tap the Select files button to upload your PDF to the site. You can also drag and drop the files, if that is easier for you. Note that you can remove watermarks from multiple files at a time with this tool.
Wait until the tool uploads your file. Press the Remove Watermark button to continue. You’ll have to sign up with an account to be able to actually download the result. Fortunately, it’s free and you can use your Google credentials to do so too.
Finally, click Download PDF File to get the clean document on your machine.
FYI: in case you need to add a watermark to your photos, here’s how you can do so on your Android phone.
4. WatermarkRemover.io
WatermarkRemover is a straightforward tool that will help you get rid of any unwanted watermarks on your PDFs.
Access the WatermarkRemover page and press the Upload PDF button to add your file. You can also paste a URL.
Wait until the tool processes your document. The clean version will appear underneath and you can press the Download button to save it to your device.
You can also easily switch between the original version and the watermark-less one. In addition, WatermarkRemover.io has an Android app so you can remove watermarks directly from your mobile device.
5. Microsoft Word
Suprisingly, Microsoft’s Word can also help you remove watermarks from PDFs. This can a great solution for many, since Windows users will probably already have this program installed on their device. Nevertheless, you’ll need to convert the PDF to DOCX first, just like we did in the Google Docs method.
Once you have the document, open it. Then press Enable Editing at the top.
Click on the watermark in the document. Word should now allow you to edit it. Go ahead and delete it by pressing the Delete key on your keyboard.
Once that’s done, press Ctrl + S to save the clean document.
If you need the document in PDF form, you can save it as PDF directly from Word.
Related: need to create a fillable form? You can do so with Microsoft Word!
Once you’ve removed the watermark from your PDF files, it might be time to sit down and read them. With that in mind, check the best free PDF readers for Windows. On the other hand, if you ever need to delete select pages from a PDF files, you have these free tools at your disposal to turn to.
All images & screenshots by Alexandra Arici