C2PA PDF Checker
Check C2PA Content Credentials in a PDF without uploading it. Review the manifest, signature context, trust state, and validation evidence in your browser.
Drop a file here
or choose a file
Your media file is inspected locally and is not uploaded for inspection.
Manifest tree preview
This outline shows the inspector view. Load the sample or inspect a file to read its actual manifest.
Try the bundled PDF example
The example contains a C2PA manifest signed with a development certificate. It is expected to display “Valid — Untrusted Signer”, not “Verified & Trusted”.
How to read the result
Verified & Trusted
The exposed credential and applicable checks passed, and the signer is trusted by this reader.
Valid — Untrusted Signer
The exposed credential and applicable integrity checks passed, but the signer is not recognized by this reader.
Verification failed
A credential was found, but one or more applicable checks failed. This is not automatically proof of malicious editing.
Verification unavailable
A credential was found, but the reader could not determine a complete verification result.
No Content Credentials found
No readable C2PA manifest was found in this PDF. This does not mean the PDF is fake, altered, or AI-generated.
What does the PDF Checker inspect?
C2PA Lab reads the C2PA manifest store exposed by the browser SDK and reports the active manifest, claim generator, actions, ingredients, signature context, and validation results when present. PDFs can embed provenance in PDF-compatible structures, and binding can depend on how the producer created the file. C2PA Lab reports what the SDK exposes rather than inferring an outcome from the file name or content. official C2PA specifications.
PDF boundaries
- C2PA Lab is not a PDF validator. It inspects C2PA provenance evidence; it does not certify PDF syntax, accessibility, or document integrity.
- A result is tied to the inspected PDF bytes and the manifest store exposed to this reader. Keep and inspect the original file when possible.
- Missing Content Credentials do not prove that a PDF was edited, generated by AI, or untrustworthy.
- A signed or valid credential does not prove that every statement in the PDF is true.
PDF inspection stays local
Your PDF is parsed in this browser and is not uploaded to C2PA Lab for inspection. Limited, non-sensitive usage analytics may be sent separately.
Read the privacy policyRelated tools and guides
PDF Checker FAQ
How is C2PA embedded in a PDF?
C2PA provenance data is stored in a dedicated PDF-compatible dictionary (a C2PA manifest store). It is cryptographically bound to the document bytes according to the C2PA specification.
Does a valid signature certify the written contents of the PDF?
No. A valid signature confirms the integrity of the manifest and its binding to the file. It does not certify that the written text, legal assertions, or contracts inside the document are true.
Why does the bundled demonstration PDF show “Valid — Untrusted Signer”?
The demonstration PDF is signed with a C2PA development certificate. Integrity checks pass, but test certificates are not part of standard production trust lists.
Can any PDF reader check C2PA Content Credentials?
Only PDF viewers and tools with dedicated C2PA reader support can inspect Content Credentials. Standard PDF viewers without C2PA integration will simply display the PDF pages.