Opening a PDF
How do I open a PDF?
Click
📂 Open in the toolbar, or simply drag and drop a PDF file anywhere onto the app window. The file opens immediately — nothing is uploaded anywhere, it stays on your computer.
💡 Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + O
Can I open multiple PDFs at once?
Yes, but not within a single tab — each tab shows one PDF at a time. You can open HawkPDF in
several browser tabs (or windows) and load a different PDF in each — they run completely independently, so you can view and annotate them side by side.
To do this: open a new browser tab, go to the same HawkPDF page, and drop in a different PDF. Repeat for as many documents as you want open at once.
Each tab's autosave is also kept separate (Pro feature) — every document gets its own save slot based on its content, so having multiple tabs open never overwrites another tab's file, and closing/reopening a tab restores the right document rather than whichever was saved most recently elsewhere. Activating a Pro licence in one tab instantly unlocks it in every other open tab too — no refresh needed.
💡 Tip: use your browser's "duplicate tab" or middle-click a bookmark to open HawkPDF in a new tab quickly.
What PDF types does it support?
Standard .pdf files. Most PDFs work — including scanned documents, forms, and multi-page reports. Very large files (500+ pages) may be slower to render depending on your computer.
Other supported formats (converted to PDF on open):
• Vector images — SVG. Rendered at high resolution so it stays crisp at normal zoom levels.
• Images — PNG, JPG/JPEG, WebP, GIF, BMP. Each image becomes one PDF page sized to fit.
• Plain text — .txt files are word-wrapped and paginated onto A4 pages automatically.
Not supported: Word/Excel/PowerPoint, EPS, Illustrator (.ai), HEIC photos, and archive files can't be opened directly — these all require rendering engines browsers don't have. Drop one in and HawkPDF will tell you exactly how to convert it first (usually a "Save As PDF" in the original app).
Navigating the app
How do I move around a multi-page PDF?
Scroll up and down in the main viewer — all pages are displayed continuously. The page thumbnail strip on the left lets you jump directly to any page by clicking its thumbnail.
How do I zoom in and out?
Use the
− and
+ buttons in the toolbar, or
Fit to make the page fill the window.
💡 Shortcuts: Ctrl+= zoom in · Ctrl+− zoom out · Ctrl+0 fit to window
How do I search for text in the PDF?
Click 🔍 Search in the toolbar or press Ctrl+F. Type your search term and press Enter to jump between matches. Matches are highlighted in amber, the current one in orange. Press Shift+Enter to go backwards.
Working with annotations
How do I move an annotation?
Select it first (click with the Select tool), then — for text and ticks — delete and re-place it. For signatures, drag the box directly. Freehand strokes cannot be moved after drawing.
How do I delete an annotation?
Click the annotation with the Select tool to select it (blue glow), then press Delete or Backspace. You can also right-click any annotation and choose 🗑 Delete from the menu.
Can I edit text after I have placed it?
Yes — double-click any text annotation with the Select tool active. The inline editor opens and you can change the text. Press Enter to confirm.
How do I deselect an annotation?
Click on an empty area of the page, or right-click and choose ✕ Deselect.
Why can't I click on text in the PDF?
HawkPDF renders the PDF as a visual layer — the underlying PDF text is not directly clickable for selection. Use the 🔍 Search tool to find and jump to text. To copy text from a PDF, you would need to save it and open it in a full PDF reader.
How do I rotate a page?
Click ↻ Rotate in the toolbar or sidebar. This rotates the currently visible page 90° clockwise. The rotation is saved when you export the PDF.
Setting up your signature
How do I create a signature?
Click
✍️ Signature in the left sidebar. A panel opens with two options:
Draw — use your mouse or trackpad to sign in the drawing area. Click
Apply when done.
Upload / Drop Image — drag a PNG, JPG, or SVG of your signature into the drop area, or click to browse. A transparent PNG works best.
💡 For the cleanest result, sign on white paper with a dark pen, photograph it, and remove the white background with a free tool like remove.bg before uploading.
How do I place the signature on the page?
After applying your signature, click ✍️ Signature in the sidebar again — your saved signature is now loaded. Click anywhere on the PDF page to place it. It appears as a resizable box.
How do I resize or move the signature?
Click the signature box to select it (border turns red). Then:
· Move — drag the box itself
· Resize — drag any of the 8 white handles around the border
· Delete — press Delete or right-click → Delete
Can I use a different signature on different pages?
HawkPDF stores one signature at a time. To use a different one, click ✍️ Signature, draw or upload a new one, and Apply. This replaces the stored signature for future placements — it does not affect ones already placed on the page.
Do I have to redraw my signature every time I open HawkPDF?
Not if you save it once. Your drawn or uploaded signature stays loaded for as long as your current browser tab is open, so you can place it on as many pages or spots as you need without redrawing.
To reuse it next time, two options — both entirely local, never sent anywhere:
· Tick "Remember this signature on this device" before clicking Apply. Next time you open ✍️ Signature on this same browser, it'll offer to load it back in with one click. Not recommended on a shared or public computer — use "Forget" to remove it any time.
· Or click 💾 Download to save it as a PNG yourself. Works on any device — next time, use Upload / Drop Image and select that file.
Will the signature appear when I save the PDF?
Yes — when you click 💾 Save, all signatures are flattened into the PDF permanently. The saved file can be opened in any PDF reader and the signatures will be visible.
Saving your work
How do I save my annotated PDF?
Click 💾 Save in the toolbar or press Ctrl+S. Your browser will download a new copy of the PDF with all annotations baked in. The original file on your computer is not overwritten.
What is autosave?
With a Pro licence, HawkPDF automatically saves your work to your browser's local storage every few seconds. The amber ● Saved badge in the toolbar confirms this. If you close the tab or browser accidentally, your work is preserved and offered for restore next time you open the app. Pro feature.
How does session restore work?
When you reopen HawkPDF after closing it, a blue banner appears at the top offering to restore your most recently saved document. Click ↩ Restore Session to reload exactly where you left off — same PDF, same annotations, same zoom level. Since each document is saved separately, this works correctly even if you had several PDFs open in different tabs. Pro feature.
How do I merge two PDFs together?
Click ⊕ Merge in the toolbar or sidebar. Select one or more additional PDF files. They are appended to the end of your current PDF. Save the result with 💾 Save. Pro feature.
How do I export a page as an image?
Click 📤 Export in the toolbar or sidebar. Choose PNG or JPG, then either the current page or all pages (downloaded together as a .zip). Every export includes your annotations — text, ticks, highlights, drawings, signatures, and sticky notes — rendered at high resolution. Pro feature.
How do I clear everything and start fresh?
Click 🗑 Clear in the toolbar. This wipes the saved session from local storage. It does not delete any files from your computer — just clears the app's memory.
Settings
What can I change in Settings?
Click ⚙ Settings to adjust:
· Default zoom — the zoom level used when a PDF first opens
· Autosave interval — how often work is auto-saved (in seconds)
· Default tool — which tool is active when a PDF opens
Common issues
The PDF looks blurry or low quality
Try zooming in — the rendering sharpens at higher zoom levels. If it is still blurry at 150%+, the original PDF may have been created at low resolution. HawkPDF renders at whatever quality is in the source file.
Some pages are blank or show an error
This can happen with PDFs that use uncommon fonts or encryption. Try saving a fresh copy of the PDF from its source application (e.g. print to PDF from Word) and opening that instead.
My annotations disappeared after closing the browser
Annotations are stored in your browser's local storage — they can be cleared if your browser is set to wipe data on close, or if you used private/incognito mode. Always use 💾 Save to download the annotated PDF to your computer before closing. The autosave / restore feature (Pro) also protects against this.
The signature tool / draw tool shows a lock icon
These are Pro features. Click 🔑 Free in the toolbar to see what is included and how to unlock them with a licence key.
The app is slow with a large PDF
HawkPDF renders all pages in sequence. For PDFs over ~100 pages, try reducing the zoom level — lower zoom means less rendering work. Closing other browser tabs can also help free up memory.
Ctrl+S is not saving / the shortcut does not work
Make sure the app window is focused (click anywhere on the PDF first). Some browsers intercept Ctrl+S — if so, use the 💾 Save button in the toolbar instead.
The search tool says "No results" but I can see the text
Some PDFs — particularly scanned documents — store text as images rather than actual characters, so they are not searchable. If the PDF was created by scanning a physical document, the text layer may not exist.
💡 Still stuck? The page at the bottom of the payment page has a contact email — reach out and we will help.
