Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about converting PDF to Markdown with pdf2md.pro.
Is pdf2md.pro really free?
Yes. The converter is free to use without creating an account. Conversion runs on your own device, so we do not charge by page or file. Browser memory and device performance still impose practical limits on unusually large documents.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. Your files are processed entirely in your browser using PDF.js. Nothing is uploaded to any server. Your documents never leave your device.
What is the maximum file size?
Each file can be up to 100MB. You can convert up to 50 files at once. For very large files, processing time depends on your device's performance.
Does it work with scanned PDFs?
No, pdf2md.pro works with text-based PDFs only. Scanned PDFs (images of text) require OCR, which is not currently supported. We recommend using a dedicated OCR tool first.
What Markdown elements are supported?
Headings (h1-h3), paragraphs, bold text, italic text, bullet lists, numbered lists, links, and page breaks. Headings are detected by analyzing font sizes relative to body text.
Can I convert multiple PDFs at once?
Yes! You can drag and drop up to 50 PDF files at once. Each file is converted independently, and you can download them individually or as a ZIP archive.
Does it work offline?
Yes. After the page loads initially, the converter works without an internet connection. This makes it ideal for working with sensitive or confidential documents.
What browsers are supported?
pdf2md.pro works in all modern browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. We recommend using the latest version of your preferred browser for the best experience.
Are tables converted to Markdown?
We attempt best-effort table conversion by analyzing text positioning. Simple tables usually convert well, but complex multi-column layouts may lose their structure.
Can I use this for commercial purposes?
Yes. There are no restrictions on how you use the converted Markdown output. Use it for personal, educational, or commercial projects.
How can I tell whether a PDF has a usable text layer?
Open the PDF in your browser and try to select an individual sentence. If you can highlight and copy recognizable text, the document probably has a usable text layer. If dragging selects only one large image, or copied text is empty or garbled, the file is probably a scan and needs OCR before conversion.
Why do words sometimes appear in the wrong order?
PDF stores text at page coordinates rather than as semantic paragraphs. Multi-column pages, sidebars, headers, and floating captions can therefore be read in an unexpected order. Review the live preview before downloading. For a difficult page, convert it separately or use a layout-aware extraction tool such as Marker or MinerU.
Why are some lines broken in the middle of a sentence?
Many PDFs encode every visual line as a separate text run. The converter joins lines when their spacing and position suggest one paragraph, but narrow columns, justified text, and unusual fonts can defeat that heuristic. Search the result for short lines and hyphenated line endings before publishing the Markdown.
What happens to images, charts, and diagrams?
The converter focuses on the document text layer and does not extract embedded images. Captions may appear as text, but the related image will not be copied into the Markdown. Export important figures separately and add descriptive alt text when inserting them into the final document.
How should I handle formulas and footnotes?
Simple inline symbols may survive as text, but complex equations are often stored as positioned glyphs and may lose their structure. Footnote markers can also become detached from their notes. For math-heavy academic papers, use a specialized parser and compare the output with the original page before relying on it.
Is the 100MB limit a guarantee that every file will convert?
No. It is an input limit, not a performance guarantee. Because processing happens in your browser, available memory, page count, font complexity, and the number of simultaneous files all matter. If a large batch becomes slow, reduce the batch size and close memory-heavy tabs.
What should I check before using converted Markdown in production?
Compare several pages against the source, verify heading levels and link targets, inspect tables and lists, search for broken hyphenation, and confirm that confidential metadata was not copied into the result. Keep the original PDF until the Markdown has passed this review.
When should I use OCR instead?
Use OCR when pages are photographs or scans, when text cannot be selected, or when the text layer contains unusable characters. OCR introduces recognition errors, so choose a tool appropriate for the document language and layout, then proofread names, numbers, dates, and table cells carefully.