> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.draftable.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Draftable Clean Frequently Asked Questions

> Quick answers to common Draftable Clean questions — file types, local processing, the Outlook add-in, deployment, DMS integrations, cleaning profiles, and licensing. For a more in-depth view, follow the link in each answer.

This FAQ covers the questions customers and sales teams ask most often about Draftable Clean. Each answer is short on purpose — follow the link when you need the full article.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What file types does Draftable Clean support?">
    Draftable Clean scans and cleans:

    * **Word** — `.docx` and `.doc`
    * **Excel** — `.xlsx`
    * **PowerPoint** — `.pptx`
    * **PDF** — `.pdf`
    * **Images** — `.jpg`, `.jpeg`, `.png`, `.tiff`, `.gif`, `.bmp`
    * **ZIP** archives — `.zip`

    Legacy Excel (`.xls`) and PowerPoint (`.ppt`) files are not supported. Password-protected Word and PDF files can be unlocked in the application.

    See [Supported file types](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/Supported-file-types).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do my files leave my machine when I clean them?">
    No. All scanning and cleaning happens **locally on your computer**. Files never leave your machine during cleaning.

    License checks, updates, and optional telemetry use the network. Those connections do not upload the documents you are cleaning.

    See [What is Draftable Clean?](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/What-is-Draftable-Clean) and [Network requirements](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/Network-Requirements).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What is the difference between the desktop application and the Outlook add-in?">
    |                         | Desktop application                                                           | Outlook add-in                                     |
    | ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
    | **Where it runs**       | Standalone Windows application                                                | Panel inside Outlook                               |
    | **Best for**            | Bulk cleaning, reviewing metadata in detail, saving or emailing cleaned files | Cleaning attachments as you compose an email       |
    | **How cleaning starts** | You load files and click **Clean**                                            | Attachments are cleaned automatically as you write |

    You can use both. The add-in is deployed separately by a Microsoft 365 administrator.

    See [What is Draftable Clean?](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/What-is-Draftable-Clean), [Using the desktop application](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/Using-the-Desktop-Application), and [Using the Outlook add-in](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/Using-the-Outlook-Add-in).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does the Outlook add-in require the desktop application?">
    Yes. The add-in talks to the Draftable Clean desktop application on your machine over `localhost`. The desktop application must be installed and licensed. If it is not already open, the add-in tries to launch it in the background.

    Corporate security tools must allow `localhost` network calls, or the add-in cannot clean files.

    See [Installing Draftable Clean Outlook Add-in](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/Installing-Draftable-Clean-Outlook-Add-in) and [Network requirements](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/Network-Requirements).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I run Draftable Clean on a Mac?">
    No. Draftable Clean is a **Windows** application. It requires Windows 10 or later. There is no Mac or Linux application.

    It does run on Windows on ARM devices, including Snapdragon and Copilot+ PCs, under Windows' built-in x64 emulation.

    See [System requirements](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/System-Requirements).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I start a free trial?">
    You can start a **5-day trial** from the application on first launch, without contacting sales. You can also start a trial from the [Draftable Clean product page](https://www.draftable.com/draftable-clean).

    On first launch you will be asked to acknowledge the terms and conditions and your telemetry preferences before the trial begins.

    See [Single-user Installation](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/Single-user-Installation).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I deploy Draftable Clean across my organisation?">
    There are two installers:

    * **Default installer (`.exe`)** — per-user, no administrator rights, automatic background updates. Best for individual users and small teams. Download [DraftableCleanSetup.exe](https://dl.draftable.com/clean/DraftableCleanSetup.exe).
    * **Machine-wide MSI** — system-wide, administrator rights required, no automatic updates. Use this for Citrix, RDS, and enterprise rollouts. Download [DraftableCleanSystem.msi](https://dl.draftable.com/clean/DraftableCleanSystem.msi).

    Administrators can also set preferences with [Group Policy](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/Configuring-preferences-with-Group-Policy-Draftable-Clean) or [Microsoft Intune](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/Configuring-preferences-with-Microsoft-Intune-Draftable-Clean). The Outlook add-in is deployed separately from the [Microsoft 365 admin center](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/Installing-Draftable-Clean-Outlook-Add-in).

    See [Enterprise deployment](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/Deployment-options).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I open files from iManage, NetDocuments, or SharePoint?">
    Yes, from the desktop application toolbar:

    * **iManage** — enable it in **Settings > Integrations** and set your server URL.
    * **NetDocuments** — appears automatically when **ndOffice** is installed and running.
    * **SharePoint** (including OneDrive for Business) — enable it in **Settings > Integrations** and sign in with a Microsoft work or school account.

    You can also **save cleaned files back** to the same systems. iManage Work can include a **Clean with Draftable** right-click action once your iManage administrator deploys the Clean integration package.

    See [Using the desktop application](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/Using-the-Desktop-Application) and [Troubleshooting: DMS integrations](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/Troubleshooting-DMS-Integrations).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What cleaning profiles are available?">
    Draftable Clean ships with three built-in profiles:

    * **Standard Clean** — for files going externally. Cleans all metadata except OLE objects, structured document tags, obfuscated text, and bookmarks.
    * **Clean Share** — same as Standard Clean, and also preserves tracked changes.
    * **Clean Draft** — for internal or trusted recipients. Same as Standard Clean, plus tracked changes and comments.

    You can create custom profiles, override the profile for a single file, and — if you are an administrator — lock or enforce profiles with Group Policy.

    See [Metadata cleaning profiles](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/Metadata-Cleaning-Profiles).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I combine cleaned files into a single PDF or ZIP?">
    Yes. Select the files and use **Bundle** in the toolbar:

    * **Create PDF bundle** — combines the files into one PDF, with an optional index page, per-file bookmarks, and continuous page numbers. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files are converted to PDF as part of the process.
    * **Create ZIP bundle** — packs the selected files into one ZIP archive.

    If any selected file cannot be added, no bundle is created and Draftable Clean names the files that caused the problem.

    See [Using the desktop application](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/Using-the-Desktop-Application#bundling-files-into-a-single-pdf-or-zip).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why can't I clean a digitally signed PDF?">
    If the PDF has a **cryptographic digital signature**, Draftable Clean skips cleaning. Removing or changing metadata would invalidate the signature. To clean the file, the signature must be removed first, outside Draftable Clean.

    This does **not** apply to visual signatures or annotations created with tools like Adobe Fill & Sign. Those are ordinary document content and do not block cleaning.

    See [Supported file types](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/Supported-file-types#cryptographically-signed-pdf-files) and [Troubleshooting: Cleaning issues](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/Troubleshooting-Cleaning-Issues#cryptographically-signed-pdf-files-cannot-be-cleaned).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I move my license to a new machine?">
    Open **Settings > License** and click **Deactivate License**. That removes the product key from this machine.

    Deactivating in the application does **not** by itself free up an activation on your license. To reuse the key on another machine, or if you need extra activations, contact [support@draftable.com](mailto:support@draftable.com).

    See [How to deactivate your Draftable Clean license](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/How-to-deactivate-your-Draftable-Clean-license).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How long does the Outlook add-in take to appear after it is deployed?">
    After a Microsoft 365 administrator deploys the add-in, it can take **up to 72 hours** to appear for users. Restarting Outlook and signing in with an organisational account usually speeds this up.

    Users cannot install the add-in themselves. It must be deployed from the Microsoft 365 admin center.

    See [Installing Draftable Clean Outlook Add-in](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/Installing-Draftable-Clean-Outlook-Add-in) and [Troubleshooting: Outlook add-in](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/Troubleshooting-Outlook-Add-in).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

If you cannot find what you need, start from [Troubleshooting](/hc/en-us/Draftable-Clean-articles/Troubleshooting) or contact [support@draftable.com](mailto:support@draftable.com).