Getting Started with OnlyDocs: Complete Beginner's Guide (2025)

You've heard about OnlyDocs. You know it can edit, sign, and annotate PDFs online. But where do you actually start?

This guide will take you from complete beginner to confident PDF editor in under 15 minutes—no technical expertise required.

What is OnlyDocs? (30-Second Overview)

OnlyDocs is a browser-based PDF editor that lets you:

• ✅ Edit text and images in PDFs
• ✅ Add digital signatures
• ✅ Annotate with comments and highlights
• ✅ Merge, split, and compress PDFs
• ✅ Fill out forms

The best part? No software installation. No account required for basic use. No credit card.

Just visit OnlyDocs.net and start editing.

Your First 5 Minutes: The Quick Start

Step 1: Access OnlyDocs (10 seconds)

1. Open your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge—all work)
2. Go to OnlyDocs.net
3. You're ready to go

That's it. No sign-up screen, no download prompts, no complexity.

Step 2: Upload Your First PDF (15 seconds)

You have three options:

Option A: Drag and drop

• Find a PDF on your computer
• Drag it into the OnlyDocs window
• Release to upload

Option B: Click to browse

• Click "Upload PDF" button
• Navigate to your file
• Select and open

Option C: Use a test document

• Click "Try with sample document"
• Get instant PDF to practice with

Supported file types: PDF (obviously), but also Word docs, images (JPG, PNG), Excel files—OnlyDocs converts them to PDF automatically.

Step 3: Make Your First Edit (30 seconds)

Let's try editing text:

1. Click the "Edit Text" tool (looks like a pencil icon)
2. Click on any text in the PDF
3. Type your changes (it's just like editing a Word document)
4. Click outside the text box to apply changes

Done! You've edited your first PDF.

Step 4: Download Your Edited PDF (10 seconds)

1. Click "Download" button (top-right corner)
2. Choose where to save on your computer
3. Open the file to verify changes

Your edited PDF is ready to share, print, or upload wherever you need it.

Total time: 65 seconds from zero to edited PDF.

Core Features Deep Dive

Now that you've got the basics, let's explore what OnlyDocs can really do.

Feature 1: Text Editing

What you can do:

• Change words, sentences, paragraphs
• Correct typos
• Update dates, names, numbers
• Add new text anywhere

How to use it:

1. Select "Edit Text" tool
2. Click text to modify
3. Type changes
4. Adjust font, size, color if needed (options appear when text is selected)

Pro tip: Use the zoom tool to get precise edits in small text areas.

Common uses:

• Updating contract dates
• Correcting invoice details
• Personalizing form letters
• Fixing resume typos

Feature 2: Digital Signatures

What you can do:

• Sign documents electronically
• Add initials
• Date signatures
• Create legally binding agreements

How to use it:

1. Click "Sign" tool
2. Choose signature method:
   • Type: Enter your name, choose style
   • Draw: Use mouse/trackpad to sign
   • Upload: Use image of your signature
3. Position signature on document
4. Resize if needed
5. Download signed PDF

Pro tip: Save your signature after creating it once—OnlyDocs remembers it for future documents.

Legal validity: OnlyDocs signatures are legally binding under ESIGN Act (US), eIDAS (EU), and similar laws worldwide.

Common uses:

• Signing contracts
• Approving invoices
• Executing agreements
• Authorizing forms

Feature 3: Annotations & Comments

What you can do:

• Highlight important sections (multiple colors)
• Add sticky note comments
• Draw shapes (circles, arrows, boxes)
• Cross out text
• Add text stamps ("APPROVED", "REVIEWED", etc.)

How to use it:

1. Click "Annotate" tool
2. Choose annotation type (highlight, comment, draw, etc.)
3. Select area or add note
4. Type comment if applicable
5. Repeat as needed

Pro tip: Use different highlight colors for different purposes (yellow = important, green = action items, red = issues).

Common uses:

• Reviewing contracts
• Grading papers
• Providing feedback on proposals
• Marking up design mockups

Feature 4: Form Filling

What you can do:

• Fill in blank PDF forms
• Add checkboxes
• Select radio buttons
• Sign filled forms

How to use it:

1. Open PDF form in OnlyDocs
2. Click "Fill Form" tool
3. Click in form fields to type
4. Check boxes and select options
5. Add signature if required
6. Download completed form

Pro tip: OnlyDocs auto-detects form fields in most PDFs, making filling super easy.

Common uses:

• Job applications
• Tax forms
• Rental applications
• Registration forms

Feature 5: PDF Manipulation

What you can do:

• Merge multiple PDFs into one
• Split PDFs into separate files
• Reorder pages
• Delete unwanted pages
• Rotate pages
• Compress large PDFs

How to use merge:

1. Click "Merge PDFs" tool
2. Upload all PDFs to combine
3. Drag to reorder if needed
4. Click "Merge"
5. Download combined file

How to split:

1. Open PDF to split
2. Click "Split PDF" tool
3. Choose split points (by page, by range, etc.)
4. Click "Split"
5. Download individual files

Common uses:

• Combining contracts and attachments
• Extracting specific pages from reports
• Reordering presentation slides
• Reducing file size for email

Feature 6: Image Editing

What you can do:

• Add images to PDFs
• Replace existing images
• Resize and reposition images
• Delete images

How to use it:

1. Click "Add Image" tool
2. Upload image from computer
3. Position on PDF
4. Resize by dragging corners
5. Rotate if needed

Common uses:

• Adding logos to documents
• Inserting photos in reports
• Replacing outdated graphics
• Adding signature images

Interface Tour: Where Everything Is

Let's demystify the OnlyDocs interface:

Top Toolbar

• File operations: Upload, Download, Save, Print
• Undo/Redo: Fix mistakes instantly
• Zoom: Fit page, zoom in/out
• Page navigation: Previous/next, jump to page

Left Sidebar

• Page thumbnails: See and navigate all pages
• Drag to reorder: Change page sequence
• Delete pages: Right-click and remove

Right Toolbar (Main Tools)

• Edit: Text and image editing
• Annotate: Highlights, comments, shapes
• Sign: Digital signatures
• Forms: Fill out form fields
• Tools: Merge, split, compress, protect

Bottom Bar

• Page count: Current page / total pages
• View mode: Single page, continuous scroll
• Rotation: Rotate current page

Navigation tip: Everything you need is one click away from the main document view.

Creating an Account (Optional but Recommended)

While you can use OnlyDocs without an account, creating one adds benefits:

Free account perks:

• Save documents to OnlyDocs cloud (access anywhere)
• Sync across devices
• Saved signatures and templates
• Recent documents list
• Basic collaboration features

How to create account (1 minute):

1. Click "Sign Up" (top-right)
2. Enter email address
3. Create password
4. Verify email
5. Done

Premium account benefits ($9.99/month):

• Unlimited document storage
• Cloud storage integration (Google Drive, Dropbox)
• Saved signatures and templates
• Priority processing
• Advanced editing tools
• Premium support

Free trial: Try premium free for 14 days, no credit card required.

Common Beginner Scenarios

Scenario 1: "I need to sign this contract my boss sent"

Solution (1 minute):

1. Save email attachment
2. Upload to OnlyDocs
3. Click "Sign" tool
4. Add your signature
5. Download
6. Email back to boss

Scenario 2: "There's a typo in this PDF I need to fix"

Solution (30 seconds):

1. Upload PDF to OnlyDocs
2. Click "Edit Text"
3. Click on typo
4. Fix it
5. Download corrected version

Scenario 3: "I need to fill out this job application PDF"

Solution (3 minutes):

1. Upload application form
2. Click "Fill Form"
3. Click in each field and type
4. Add signature at bottom
5. Download completed application

Scenario 4: "I need to combine 5 PDFs into one"

Solution (1 minute):

1. Click "Merge PDFs"
2. Upload all 5 files
3. Arrange in desired order
4. Click "Merge"
5. Download combined PDF

Scenario 5: "This PDF is too large to email"

Solution (30 seconds):

1. Upload large PDF
2. Click "Compress"
3. Choose compression level
4. Download smaller file

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue: "My edits don't look right"

Cause: PDF uses embedded fonts OnlyDocs doesn't have Solution:

• Use "Add Text Box" instead of "Edit Text" for new content
• Choose common fonts (Arial, Times New Roman)
• Or keep original formatting and only make minimal changes

Issue: "I can't edit certain parts of the PDF"

Cause: PDF is either image-based (scanned) or has editing restrictions Solution:

• For scanned PDFs: Use OCR (premium feature) to make text editable
• For restricted PDFs: You'll need password/permission from document owner

Issue: "The file won't upload"

Cause: File too large or unsupported format Solution:

• OnlyDocs supports files up to 100MB
• Compress large files first, or upgrade to premium (1GB limit)
• Check file format (should be PDF, DOCX, JPG, PNG, or similar)

Issue: "My signature looks pixelated"

Cause: Low-resolution signature image Solution:

• Use "Draw" instead of "Upload" for cleaner signatures
• Or upload higher-resolution image (at least 300 DPI)

Issue: "Changes aren't saving"

Cause: Browser issue or network interruption Solution:

• Try refreshing page (OnlyDocs auto-saves)
• Use "Download" to save locally
• Check internet connection
• Try different browser

Keyboard Shortcuts (Power User Tips)

Speed up your workflow with these shortcuts:

• Ctrl/Cmd + Z: Undo
• Ctrl/Cmd + Y: Redo
• Ctrl/Cmd + +: Zoom in
• Ctrl/Cmd + -: Zoom out
• Ctrl/Cmd + 0: Fit to width
• Ctrl/Cmd + S: Save/Download
• Ctrl/Cmd + P: Print
• Arrow keys: Navigate pages
• Delete: Remove selected element

Mobile Usage: OnlyDocs on Your Phone

OnlyDocs works great on mobile browsers:

Mobile-optimized features:

• Touch-friendly interface
• Pinch to zoom
• Swipe to navigate pages
• Draw signatures with finger

Best mobile use cases:

• Signing documents on the go
• Quick form fills
• Viewing and annotating
• Emergency edits

Tip: For complex editing, desktop is better. For signing and quick annotations, mobile works perfectly.

Security Tips for Beginners

Keep your documents safe:

1. ✅ Always use HTTPS: Check for padlock icon in address bar
2. ✅ Don't use public WiFi for sensitive documents (or use VPN)
3. ✅ Use secure file transfer for sensitive PDFs after downloading
4. ✅ Clear browser cache after editing confidential documents
5. ✅ Log out when using shared computers

OnlyDocs automatically deletes your documents after processing, but these practices add extra security.

Next Steps: Level Up Your Skills

Now that you know the basics, explore advanced features:

Week 1: Master basic editing and signing Week 2: Learn annotation and commenting Week 3: Try PDF merging, splitting, compression Week 4: Explore collaboration features (if using account)

Resources:

• OnlyDocs Help Center (help.onlydocs.net)
• Video tutorials (YouTube: @OnlyDocs)
• Community forum for questions

Your Quick Reference Checklist

Print or save this for easy reference:

Basic Tasks:

• Upload a PDF
• Edit text
• Add a signature
• Highlight text
• Add a comment
• Download edited PDF

Intermediate Tasks:

• Fill a form
• Merge 2+ PDFs
• Split a PDF
• Compress a large file
• Add an image
• Save and secure a PDF

Advanced Tasks:

• Create annotation system with color codes
• Set up saved signature
• Use templates for recurring documents
• Collaborate with team members
• Use keyboard shortcuts efficiently

Check off each task as you master it!

The Bottom Line

OnlyDocs makes PDF editing simple:

• No installation
• No learning curve
• No expensive software
• Just fast, easy PDF editing in your browser

You've now learned: ✅ How to access and upload PDFs ✅ All core editing features ✅ How to navigate the interface ✅ Common use cases and solutions ✅ Troubleshooting basics

Ready to become a PDF editing pro?

Head to OnlyDocs.net right now and try editing your first PDF. In 5 minutes, you'll wonder why you ever paid for Adobe Acrobat.

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