How to Convert PDF To PDF/A? The Ultimate Free Methods

PDF/A is a format that is suitable for archiving documents. Different from PDF, PDF/A can help you keep the original appearance whenever and wherever you open this file. That is why so many people are looking for ways to convert PDF to PDF/A. However, what are the best methods to finish this task? To help you pick up the best one, we will show you offline and online methods with step-by-step guides.

How to Convert PDF to PDF/A on Windows? (Free)

To convert PDF to PDF/A on Windows, UPDF is the best tool to use. The tool is easy to use. You know how to convert PDF to PDF/A even if you are a beginner at this tool. The best part is that it is free to convert 2 files per day. If you have small tasks, you can use it for free. And if you need to upgrade to the pro version, the price is very low. You can check the price here if you are preparing to upgrade to UPDF Pro. You can download it for a free trial.

Moreover, UPDF has many other features like converting PDF from or to popular formats, creating PDF, editing PDF, compressing PDF, batch process on PDF, summarizing PDF, translating PDF, and more.

To learn how to convert PDF to PDF/A on Windows with UPDF, you can follow the below steps.

Step 1. Open the PDF Document

Open the PDF files for conversion by clicking the "Open File" button or just drag and drop them into the interface.

Step 2. Select the "Save as Other" Option

On the right toolbar, you need to click the "Save as Other" button.

Step 3. Convert PDF to PDF/A

Tap the "Save as PDF/A..." button in the new pop-up window.

Select the destination folder for the PDF/A file and start the conversion.

Video Tutorial on How to Convert PDF to PDF/A on Windows

It is super easy to use UPDF, why still wait? Download UPDF and convert PDF to PDF/A with UPDF now!

How to Convert PDF to PDF/A Format on Mac? (Free)

UPDF also works on Mac. So if you are a Mac user, you can use this tool to convert PDF to PDF/A for free if you only have 2 files per day.

Step 1. Open Your PDF and Enable the "Export" Option

First, you need to open your PDF file with UPDF. You can do this by dragging and dropping the file directly into UPDF's interface, and you can also do it by clicking the "Open File" button.

Step 2. Export PDF to PDF/A on Mac

With your PDF file opened in UPDF, tap "Save as other" on the right panel, and then you will see that there is a "Save as PDF/A" icon. Click on it.

Then the save as window will pop up, and you can rename the file and select a folder for the PDF/A file. Click "Save" to save PDF as PDF/A on Mac.

If you still do not have UPDF on your computer, you can click the below button to convert PDF to PDF/A free.

How to Convert PDF to PDF/A Online for Free

Except for UPDF, there are also online tools to convert PDF to PDF/A. One of the online PDF to PDF/A converters is AvePDF. It is also easy to use AVEPDF to convert PDF to PDF/A. Here are the steps.

Step 1. To convert PDF to PDF/a with AvePDF you should start by visiting AvePDF online PDF to PDF/A converter. Click on the "Choose File" to upload the PDF that you want to convert to PDF/A. Please note: The maximum file size to convert is 128 MB.

Step 2. Choose the PDF/A format you need, then, click on the "Convert" to convert PDF to PDF/A.

Step 3. When the process is done, you can click on the "Download" button to download the converted PDF/A format to your computer.

How to Batch Convert PDF to PDF/A for Free?

If you have multiple PDF files and want to convert them to PDF/A in bulk, you can use PDF24Tools. It is also free to use. Just follow the below guide to learn how to batch convert PDF to PDF/A for free.

Step 1. Visit the PDF24Tools PDF to PDF/A Converter, click on "Choose Files", hold on to "Ctrl", and click to select all PDF files that you want to convert to PDF/A.

Step 2. When all your PDF files are uploaded, you can click on the "Convert" to convert all PDF files to PDF/A.

Step 3. When the process is done, you can click on the "Download" button to download all PDF/A Files.

What is PDF/A

The PDF/A or Portable Document Format Archival is a format that is usually created as a preservation format of digital records, particularly files. However, the format can also be used for scanned files. It is usually a subset of the PDF format. The great thing about PDF/A is that they are open standards, used worldwide. They are designed to record both machine-readable text and images in a single document.

The format can be used to store different types of records. It is more valuable for storing long-term copies such as Microsoft Word documents. When a file is converted to PDF/A the converted document has the feel and look of the original file. Each page of the original file appears as one page in the preservation file. Similar fonts are used in the two files and it is also possible to search the text of the PDF/A like in the original. All the features of the original files are retained, making PDF/A a great option where the appearance of the file is of great importance to understand and integrate.

Pros

• All digital files can be converted to PDF/A
• It is not dependent on any platform
• Easy to read and use
• It is an open-file format
• Extensible

Why Do You Need to Convert PDF to PDF/A?

Several reasons highlight the need to convert PDF files to PDF/A. When you have to keep your PDF documents for longer instances, the best way to contain them is in PDF/A format. To know more about the reasons, we will review some points as follows:

• The exact details of the PDF document are contained in the PDF/A format. You can store your files for more extended periods without compromising their quality during data transfer and several other instances.
• The metadata of the PDF file is embedded into the document, which makes it permanently accessible and contained for readers.
• Many documents kept and shared in the market are converted to PDF/A format. As this is an international standard, it truly holds and maintains the data.

Conclusion

This article has featured a comprehensive discussion of how to convert your PDF to PDF/A with suitable methods. Using the appropriate techniques for the perfect conversion is an essential requirement. UPDF provides an excellent conversion tool for ideal conversion that maintains the document's quality during the process. Download UPDF for free today and convert your PDF files into PDF/A format.