Fill in a PDF Form

How to fill in a form

1. Open the form.
2. Press + to zoom in, so the lines are easy to hit.
3. Press Add Text and type the answer. The box appears near the top left of the page.
4. Drag the blue handle of the box onto the line, and repeat for each answer.
5. Press Download PDF and check the result.

• Text is placed on top: the editor does not detect or click into interactive form fields. You put text where the fields are.
• Checkboxes: there is no tick tool. Add a text box with an X, or use Draw to make a tick, and drag it onto the box.
• Size and colour: choose them before you add text, so the boxes fit the lines.
• Private: forms hold personal details, and nothing is uploaded.

More PDF editor options

• Edit or Create PDF (main tool)
• Add text to a PDF
• Sign a PDF
• Draw on a PDF
• Create a PDF from scratch
• Add, move and delete PDF pages
• Change text in a PDF
• Edit PDF on Android and iPhone

Why edit a PDF in your browser?

Most people only need small changes: write a name in a blank field, add a date, sign with a quick drawing, or remove a page that should not be there. Installing a heavy desktop program for that is overkill, and many online editors add a watermark or ask you to create an account before you can download.

This editor opens right away and runs on your own device. That is also better for privacy, because forms, contracts and ID copies often hold personal details you would rather not send to a stranger's server.

What you can do with this PDF editor

• Add text. Place a text box anywhere on the page, then choose its size and color. Click it to type, drag the blue handle to move it, and use the red × to remove it.
• Draw. Use the brush to sign, circle something or underline a line. You can change the brush width and color.
• Manage pages. Add a blank page after the current one, move pages up or down in the thumbnail list, or delete the ones you do not need.
• Start from nothing. New PDF gives you a blank A4 page, so you can write a short letter, note or checklist and download it as a PDF.
• Undo mistakes. Press Undo, or Ctrl+Z (Cmd+Z on Mac), to step back.

What this editor cannot do

It is a lightweight editor, so it is worth knowing the limits before you start:

• It does not rewrite existing text. Text that is already in the PDF stays as it is. You can only add new text and drawings on top of a page.
• Added text uses Helvetica. It supports Latin characters. Other scripts, such as Arabic or Chinese, are replaced with a question mark in the downloaded file.
• Rotated pages can be tricky. If a page is rotated inside the PDF, your edits may land in the wrong spot, so check the result before you send it.

If you need to change the original text in a document, convert it to an editable format first with PDF to Word, edit it there, then turn it back into a PDF with Word to PDF.

Tips for better results

• Set size and color before you add text. It is quicker than fixing each box afterwards.
• Zoom in for small fields. Use the + button to place text exactly on a form line.
• Do page work first. Delete and reorder pages before you add text, so you do not have to move things around later.
• Check the downloaded file. Open it once before you upload or email it, especially if the original had rotated pages.
• Keep a copy of the original. Downloading creates a new file, so your first PDF is never changed.

Finished editing? Use Compress PDF to make the file smaller for email or form uploads, Merge PDF to join it with other documents, or Split PDF to send only certain pages.