Why does my PDF show as modified even though I didn’t edit it?

A PDF showing as “modified” doesn’t necessarily mean someone tampered with the content. Many legitimate actions create modifications that our PDF authenticity checker detects:

• Saving or exporting: Re-saving a PDF in any tool (even without changes) updates the modification date and metadata
• Format conversion: Converting from Word/Excel to PDF, or PDF to PDF/A, creates new metadata
• Adding signatures: Digitally signing a PDF creates incremental updates
• Printing to PDF: “Printing” a PDF to create a new PDF changes all metadata
• Auto-save features: Some PDF viewers auto-save which triggers modification timestamps
• Annotation or comments: Adding notes, highlights, or comments modifies the file structure

Our system detects any structural changes after the PDF was originally created. This is intentional—it helps you know the document’s complete history. A “modified” result doesn’t automatically mean fraud or tampering; it means the file has a history beyond its initial creation.

Review the detailed findings on the results page to understand what specific changes were detected and whether they align with your document’s known history.