How to translate a PDF while keeping its formatting

A quote in Italian, a manual in German or a report in Spanish? Translate the text while keeping the original page as the visual foundation, instead of rebuilding the document from scratch.

Step by step

1. 1. Open Translate PDF and select your file

   Choose Translate PDF on PDF Feel and upload the document from your device. Start with a clear PDF: straight, readable pages help when the document is a scan.

2. 2. Choose the target language

   Select the language you want for the translated document. When a page has no selectable text, the tool automatically runs OCR in your browser to recognize the words.

3. 3. Start the translation

   Press Start translation. The tool extracts text, sends it to Google Translate or MyMemory and rebuilds the translated text over a high-quality rendering of the original page. Photos, graphics, colors and table borders remain part of that page background.

4. 4. Open and review the translated pages

   When processing finishes, press Open the translated PDF to view it in the editor. Check names, numbers, table cells and longer passages. Text uses nearby free space or wraps; continuation pages may be added. Read any warnings: sections that cannot fit safely may remain in their original language.

5. 5. Download the translated PDF

   Use the editor’s download controls to save the result to your device, then review the saved file before sharing it. Keep the original PDF too, especially for contracts, technical instructions or documents requiring professional review.

When the translated text needs more space

A short label can become a longer phrase in another language. PDF Feel tries to use safe free space before wrapping the translation, without shrinking or squashing the letters to force them into the original box. Very dense pages can still require additional pages.

Machine translation is a reading aid, not a certified translation. For legal, medical or safety-critical documents, have the wording checked by a qualified professional.

Frequently asked questions

Will the formatting be exactly the same?

The tool aims to preserve the page layout, photos and graphics rather than return a plain-text translation. It is not a pixel-identical copy: translated words have different lengths, font matching can differ and longer text may wrap or continue on additional pages. Some sections may remain in their original language when a safe fit is not possible. Dense tables and complex layouts need a careful review.

Can I translate a scanned PDF?

Yes. If a page has no selectable text, OCR runs automatically in your browser. A sharp scan with straight pages gives better results than a blurred photo. Check the recognized text, names and numbers in the result because OCR can make mistakes.

Can I translate a PDF from English to Italian?

Yes. Choose Italian as the target language; the same workflow applies to other available language pairs. Review specialist terms and important wording before using the translation professionally.

Is the entire PDF sent to a translation service?

For translation, only extracted text is sent to Google Translate or MyMemory, not the entire PDF file. Extraction, OCR and page reconstruction run in your browser. The text still leaves your device, so translation is not fully offline. Saving a PDF to the cloud is a separate, optional action.

Can I translate a PDF for free?

Yes. Without an account you get 3 free processings on this device. A free account gives you 5 per month, for files up to 15 MB. All tools are available at every plan level; Premium increases usage and file-size limits and adds cloud storage.

Will the translated PDF remain fully selectable and editable?

Do not assume it will behave like the original text-based PDF. The original pages are rendered as high-quality images and the translated text is placed over them. This approach prioritizes their visual appearance, not preservation of every original text object or Word-style editing.