How to Remove Watermark from PDF in 2025: 5 Effective Methods

Category: Edit PDF

May 9, 2025 1 min read

Are you tired of dealing with distracting watermarks that ruin the appearance of your important PDF documents? Whether you're preparing a professional report, editing a presentation, or simply trying to clean up a personal file, watermarks can often get in the way. But in 2025, there are easier and faster ways to remove these watermarks—without losing the quality of your document.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through 5 effective methods to eliminate watermarks from your PDFs, whether you're using a paid tool, free online options, or advanced solutions for batch editing. Say goodbye to those intrusive marks and hello to a clean, polished document in just a few steps!

PDFacademy is a comprehensive PDF editing tool that offers a range of features, including the ability to merge, split, convert, and edit PDFs. One of its standout features is the one-click watermark removal, which allows you to effortlessly eliminate unwanted watermarks without compromising the document’s layout or quality. With just a few simple steps, you can quickly remove watermarks and enhance your PDF's professional appearance.

Step 1 Open Your PDF File

Launch the PDFacademy software on your computer. Click on the “Open File” button or drag and drop your PDF into the workspace. This will load your document for editing.

Step 2 Navigate to the Watermark Menu

Once your PDF is open, go to the top toolbar and click on the “Edit” tab. From the dropdown menu, select “Watermark”. This will open a submenu with options to add, update, or remove a watermark.

Step 3 Click “Remove”

In the Watermark submenu, click the “Remove” option. PDFacademy will instantly detect and delete the watermark from every page of your document. No manual adjustments needed!

Pros

• Fast and Effortless: PDFacademy removes watermarks in seconds, providing a quick and hassle-free solution.
• User-Friendly Interface: Its intuitive design makes it easy for anyone to remove watermarks, regardless of technical experience.
• Preserves Document Integrity: The original layout and formatting of your PDF are preserved after watermark removal.
• All-in-One PDF Management Tool: PDFacademy offers a complete range of PDF tools like merging, splitting, and editing, all in one platform.
• Reliable and Secure: Your documents are handled securely, ensuring privacy and integrity throughout the process.

Cons

• PDF-Specific: The watermark removal feature only works with PDF files.
• Subscription for Advanced Features: Some advanced features of PDFacademy are only available with a subscription.

Watermarks in PDFs can often be a distraction, whether for business, personal use, or professional presentations. If you're looking for more options beyond the standard removal tools, we've got you covered. Here are 4 additional methods to help you efficiently remove watermarks from your PDFs and get a clean, polished document every time.

Method 1: Using Google Drive and Google Docs

If you’re looking for a free and simple method to remove watermarks from PDFs, Google Drive and Google Docs offer a great solution, especially for text-based watermarks.

Step 1：Upload Your PDF to Google Drive

Begin by uploading the PDF containing the watermark to your Google Drive account. You can either drag and drop the file into your Drive or use the "New" button to select "File Upload" and choose the PDF.

Step 2：Open the PDF in Google Docs

Once the file is uploaded, right-click on it and select Open with > Google Docs. Google Docs will convert the PDF into an editable format, allowing you to edit its contents, including the watermark.

Step 3：Remove the Watermark

With the document open in Google Docs, locate the watermark, which might appear as either text or an image. Click on the watermark and press Delete or Backspace to remove it.

Step 4：Save as a New PDF

After the watermark has been deleted, save the document as a new PDF. Go to File > Download > PDF Document (.pdf), and the watermark-free PDF will be saved to your computer.

Pros

• Free and easily accessible for anyone with a Google account.
• Straightforward process for text-based watermarks.
• No software installation required.

Cons

• Limited to simple, text-based PDFs; more complex watermarks (like images) may not be as easily removed.
• Formatting may change during conversion, so check the document layout after removal.

Method 2: Using Microsoft Word (for Text-based Watermarks)

If your PDF contains a text-based watermark, Microsoft Word offers an easy solution by converting the PDF into an editable format, allowing you to remove the watermark.

Step 1：Open the PDF in Microsoft Word

Launch Microsoft Word, then go to File > Open and select the PDF file you want to edit. Word will automatically convert the PDF into an editable document.

Step 2：Locate the Watermark

Once the document is open, locate the watermark, which may appear as text or an image. You may need to check the header or footer if the watermark is placed there.

Step 3：Remove the Watermark

Simply select the watermark (text or image) and press Delete or Backspace to remove it from the document.

Step 4：Save the Document as a PDF

After removing the watermark, go to File > Save As and select PDF as the file format to save the document as a new, watermark-free PDF.

Pros

• Convenient if you already have Microsoft Word as part of a paid subscription (Office 365 or Microsoft Office).
• Works well for text-based watermarks.

Cons

• Requires a paid version of Microsoft Word, which may not be free for everyone.
• Not suitable for image-based or complex watermarks.
• Some formatting may be altered during conversion.

Method 3: Using Preview on macOS

For Mac users, Preview is a built-in app that can help you remove watermarks from PDFs, especially if the watermark is text-based or simple. It’s an easy and free method for basic watermark removal.

Step 1：Open the PDF in Preview

Double-click on the PDF file to open it in Preview (the default PDF viewer on macOS).

Step 2：Use the Markup Tool

Click on the Markup toolbar (or Tools > Annotate > Text). You may also use the Selection tool to highlight the area where the watermark is located.

Step 3：Delete the Watermark

If the watermark is text-based or a simple image, use the Selection tool to highlight it. Once selected, press Delete or Backspace to remove it. For more complex watermarks, this method may not be as effective.

Step 4：Save the Edited PDF

After removing the watermark, go to File > Save or File > Export as PDF to save your document without the watermark.

Pros

• Convenient and easy for text-based or simple image watermarks.
• No need for additional software or subscriptions.

Cons

• May not be effective for complex, embedded watermarks.
• Limited editing options compared to advanced PDF editors.

Method 4: Using Online PDF Tools (e.g., ILovePDF, SmallPDF)

If you prefer an easy and quick way to remove watermarks from your PDFs without installing any software, online PDF tools like ILovePDF and SmallPDF provide simple solutions for watermark removal.

Step 1：Upload the PDF to the Online Tool

Visit the website of your chosen online PDF tool, such as ILovePDF or SmallPDF. Look for the Remove Watermark option, then upload your PDF file by clicking the Upload or Choose File button.

Step 2：Select the Watermark Removal Option

Once the PDF is uploaded, follow the on-screen instructions to remove the watermark. Some tools automatically detect watermarks and allow you to remove them with a single click. In other cases, you might need to manually select the watermark area.

Step 3：Download the Edited PDF

After the watermark is removed, click on the Download button to save the newly edited PDF file without the watermark.

Step 4：Review the Document

Open the downloaded file to ensure the watermark has been fully removed and that the document’s formatting has been preserved.

Pros

• Convenient and easy for text-based or simple image watermarks.
• No need for additional software or subscriptions.

Cons

• Quick and easy—no need to install any software.
• Accessible from any device with internet access.
• Supports a wide range of PDF operations (merge, split, compress, etc.).

Cons

• Limited features on free versions—some tools may require a subscription for full access.
• Privacy concerns when uploading sensitive documents to online platforms.
• May not be effective for complex watermarks, especially those embedded deeply into the content.

In 2025, removing watermarks from PDFs is easier than ever with a variety of methods available. While online tools and other software offer quick solutions, for the most reliable and efficient experience, PDFacademy stands out with its one-click watermark removal feature. This tool allows you to effortlessly remove watermarks while preserving the quality and layout of your documents.

For those who need more than just watermark removal, PDFacademy provides a comprehensive set of PDF editing tools, making it a go-to solution for all your PDF needs.

Download PDFacademy today and enjoy a fast, secure, and seamless way to manage and edit your PDFs.

Heather Marston

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