---
title: "Editor basics: open, save, version history and download"
description: "How the PDFBetter editor saves your work automatically, how to restore an earlier version, and how to download, print or convert the finished PDF."
url: https://help.pdfbetter.com/getting-started/editor-basics-save-download/
collection: "Getting started"
section: "The editor"
updated: 2026-10-18
publisher: "PDFBetter (AI Generated Inc.)"
---

# Editor basics: open, save, version history and download

> Open a document from **My documents** (or **Open in editor** in its menu). The editor saves automatically; the status next to the name shows **Saved**. Restore earlier states from **Version history**, and get the finished file from **Done** → **Download**.

- Counts toward: Edited-document downloads

## Open a document

Click a document in **My documents** or on the dashboard, or choose **Open in editor** from its menu. The top bar has three modes: **Edit & fill** (fill fields, add text, marks and signatures, or switch to **Edit PDF** to change the document's own text), **Invite to sign** (place fields for other people) and **Create form** (build fillable fields). The yellow ✨ **AI assistant** button at the top right opens the [AI assistant](https://help.pdfbetter.com/ai/ai-assistant-overview/) panel in any mode.

## Saving is automatic

There's no Save button. A moment after you stop typing, the status next to the document name changes from **Unsaved** to **Saving…** to **Saved**. If you try to leave with unsaved changes, your browser asks first.

| Status | What it means |
| --- | --- |
| **Saved** | Everything is stored. |
| **Offline — will retry** | Your changes are kept in this tab and save when the connection is back. Don't close the tab. |
| **Saving failed, retrying…** | A problem on our side; it retries automatically. Click **Retry now** to try at once. |
| **Changed elsewhere** | The document was edited in another tab or device. Choose **Reload latest** or **Keep my version**. |

## Version history

Click the history (clock) icon in the top bar, or open **More** (**⋯**) → **Version history**, and click **Restore** on any version. Restoring creates a new version, so nothing is erased and you can switch back. Details are in [Undo changes and restore an earlier version](https://help.pdfbetter.com/editing/undo-and-version-history/).

Versions are kept for 7 days on Free, 90 on Pro and 365 on Business. For quick fixes, `⌘` `Z` undoes and `⇧` `⌘` `Z` redoes.

## Download, print or convert

1. **Open the Done menu**: Click **Done** in the top right.
2. **Choose Download**: Pick **Keep fillable** or **Flatten**, decide whether to **Include comments and sticky notes**, and set the **File name**. **Only what I added** prints just your text and signatures, for filling a pre-printed paper form.
3. **Click Download**: Your edits are rendered into a new PDF; the original upload is never changed.

The same menu has **Print**, **Share**, **Request signatures**, **Publish as form**, **Fax**, **Save as template** and **Other formats…** for Word, Excel, PowerPoint and images.

> **Note:** Each new download of changed content counts as one edited-document download (3 a month on Free, unlimited on Pro and Business). Downloading the same unchanged document again is free. Guests need a free account to download. Every option is explained in [Download your edited PDF](https://help.pdfbetter.com/editing/download-edited-pdf/).

## Related articles

- [Quick start: fill and sign your first PDF in 5 minutes](https://help.pdfbetter.com/getting-started/quick-start-fill-and-sign-pdf.md): Open the PDF, click each field and type (Tab moves to the next), click Sign → Add signature, place it, then Done → Download. Without an account you can do everything except the download, which asks you to create a free account first.
- [Undo changes and restore an earlier version](https://help.pdfbetter.com/editing/undo-and-version-history.md): Press ⌘/Ctrl Z to undo and ⇧ ⌘/Ctrl Z (or Ctrl Y) to redo. Your work saves automatically; to go further back, open More (⋯) → Version history and click Restore on any version. Restoring never erases the current state.
- [Download your edited PDF, fillable or flattened](https://help.pdfbetter.com/editing/download-edited-pdf.md): Click Done → Download, choose Keep fillable or Flatten, decide whether to Include comments and sticky notes, and click Download. Downloading needs a free account; Free includes 3 edited-document downloads a month, and Pro is unlimited.
- [Keyboard shortcuts](https://help.pdfbetter.com/getting-started/keyboard-shortcuts.md): Press ? anywhere in the dashboard or the editor to see the shortcuts for that screen. The essentials: ⌘ K to search, U to upload, T for text, S to sign, ⌘ Z to undo and Tab to move between form fields.
- [Supported browsers and fixing saving or loading problems](https://help.pdfbetter.com/troubleshooting/browser-support-saving-problems.md): Use a current version of Chrome, Safari, Edge or Firefox with JavaScript on. If the editor shows Offline — will retry, keep the tab open; it saves when you reconnect. Changed elsewhere means another tab edited the document: choose Reload latest or Keep my version.

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Source: https://help.pdfbetter.com/getting-started/editor-basics-save-download/ · PDFBetter Help Center · Last checked against the product 2026-10-18. Questions: support@pdfbetter.com