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PDF to PDF/A
PDF to Archive prepares a document for long-term storage: it removes encryption flags, normalises the title, producer and creator metadata, and re-saves with object streams that archival tools can still parse years from now. It is archive preparation, and it says so rather than claiming a certified PDF/A conversion.
How to use PDF to PDF/A
- Upload the document you want archived.
- Run the preparation pass; encryption restrictions are cleared and metadata is normalised.
- Download the archive copy and store it alongside your records.
Where PDF to PDF/A is useful
- Preparing records for a long-term document store that rejects encrypted files.
- Cleaning up producer metadata before a formal archive ingest.
- Producing an open, readable copy of a document exported by legacy software.
Formats, algorithms and limits
The tool strips restriction flags, sets clean document information entries and writes the file with compressed object streams. A certified PDF/A file additionally requires embedded fonts, an XMP conformance record and a validated colour profile, so a formal validator may still report differences — which is why the result is labelled archive preparation rather than a conformity claim.
Troubleshooting and honest limits
- Keep the original file; the archive copy is re-saved and the metadata differs.
- Run this before uploading to a records system that refuses password-protected PDFs.
- If your archive demands strict PDF/A, validate the output with your records system and re-process if it objects.
Frequently asked questions
Is the output certified PDF/A?
No. It is preparation for archiving: encryption removed, metadata normalised, streams written for long-term readability. A formal validator may still require embedded fonts or XMP conformance data.
Does it change how the document looks?
No. Page content is not re-rendered, so the visible document is unchanged.
Why does it remove encryption?
Archive systems generally cannot guarantee future access to encrypted files, so the restrictions are cleared in the archive copy.
Can I still edit the archive copy?
Yes, and that is deliberate — archived documents are often re-exported, so the copy is left unrestricted.
Related tools
Page written and reviewed by the FreeConvertio engineering team on 2026-10-14. PDF to PDF/A runs entirely in your browser — no uploads, no account and no daily limits.