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Remove a Watermark from a PDF
Marked your own document DRAFT and now need the clean version, or lost the original before the watermark was added? Drop the PDF in. The tool looks for watermark objects that can be removed cleanly, shows you a before/after preview, and saves a copy without the ones you pick.
What the scanner checks
- Tagged watermarks: content that the program which added it marked as a watermark (Acrobat does this).
- Watermark annotations: a dedicated PDF object type for watermarks.
- Layers: optional-content layers, often named “Watermark”.
- Repeated overlays: the same drawing stamped on most pages.
- See-through overlays: semi-transparent text or images drawn on top of the page.
If the PDF is password-protected, unlock it first with Unlock PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can it remove any watermark?
No, and any tool that promises that is overselling. A watermark can be removed cleanly only when it's a separate object: a watermark annotation, a layer, a block tagged as a watermark, or an overlay stamped identically on every page. If the watermark is part of a scanned image, or was merged into the page when it was created, there's nothing separate to take out. The tool tells you when that's the case.
Which watermarks does it usually work on?
Watermarks you (or a colleague) added with Adobe Acrobat, other PDF editors, online watermark tools, or this site's Add Watermark tool, such as DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL or a logo. These are drawn as a separate layer or a block repeated on every page, which is exactly what the scanner looks for.
Why does it list a header or logo as a possible watermark?
Anything drawn identically on most pages looks the same to the scanner, whether it's a watermark, a letterhead or a page border. That's why those items aren't pre-ticked and there's a before/after preview: tick only what you want gone.
Is it legal to remove a watermark?
Remove watermarks only from documents you own or have permission to change, for example your own draft marked DRAFT, or a file you watermarked and now need clean. Removing a watermark to pass off someone else's copyrighted work or a sample as the paid version may break copyright law and the terms you agreed to.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. Scanning and removal happen in your browser and the file stays on your device.