---
title: "Translate PDF files"
description: "Translate text-based PDFs up to 25 MB and get a PDF back on the same pages, with images, graphics and page size untouched. Includes what is refused and example instructions."
canonical: "https://ai-glot.com/docs/formats/pdf"
updated: "2026-10-12"
---

# Translate PDF files

PDF files (`.pdf`) are accepted up to **25 MB**. AI Glot reads the text on each page and rewrites it in place, so you get a PDF back with the same pages, images, graphics, colours and page size. There is no detour through Word, and Arabic, Hebrew, Japanese and other scripts are written correctly.

> **Tip: Try it free**
>
> Drop a PDF of up to 2 MB on the free [PDF translator](https://ai-glot.com/file-formats/pdf-translation) to try it with no account, five files a day. The app, the API and the CLI take PDFs up to 25 MB.

## What is translated, and what is left alone

| Translated                                                                       | Left as it was                            |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| Headings, paragraphs and list items                                              | Images, graphics, backgrounds and colours |
| Table cells and short labels in charts and figures                               | Page size and page order                  |
| Headers and footers                                                              | Text inside photos and images             |
| Text in several styles on one line, with each part keeping its colour and weight | Form field values                         |

The original font is reused when it holds the letters needed. Otherwise a matching font is embedded, so the text displays correctly on any device.

## What you can ask

**Whole report**

Translates everything and protects the name of the company.

Translate this report into German. Keep the company name and product names in English.

**Right-to-left language**

The text is written right to left with joined letters, on the same layout.

Translate the document into Arabic. Keep numbers and units as they are.

**Tables and captions only**

Scopes the plan to table cells and figure labels.

Translate only the text in tables and chart labels into French. Leave the running paragraphs in English.

**Compact wording**

Asks for shorter phrasing, which helps dense pages.

Translate into Spanish. Prefer short, compact phrasing so the text fits the original page layout, and leave product codes unchanged.

**Skip the legal pages**

Excludes part of the document from the plan.

Translate into Italian, but skip the legal notice and the last page of terms.

## Good to know

- **The PDF must contain real text.** A scanned PDF is a picture of a page and AI Glot does not run OCR, so it is refused. Text inside photos and images is not translated either.
- **Refused files.** Password-protected or encrypted PDFs, PDFs whose permissions forbid editing, digitally signed PDFs (translating would break the signature) and XFA forms. The upload tells you which one it is. Export a fresh copy without the protection and upload that.
- **One target language per upload.** If you ask for two, the plan translates one and says so. Run the file once per language: your [glossary](/docs/platform/glossaries) carries over.
- **Longer translations.** German or French often runs 20 to 30% longer than English. The lines are tightened first, then the text is set slightly smaller within its block. Nothing is cut off. Skim dense pages, such as tables, before you send the file.
- **Ceiling.** 25 MB. Output filter: not available, the whole PDF comes back.
- **If a language cannot be written yet**, the job stops before anything is charged.

## Related

- [InDesign](/docs/formats/indesign) and [Word](/docs/formats/word) when you still have the source file: they keep the layout editable.
- [Files and formats](/docs/platform/files-and-formats#not-supported) for every refused case.
- [All file formats](/docs/formats)