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Tool Guide

How to Edit a PDF: Add Text, Highlights and Fill a Form (Free, Online)

SnapPDF Team·

Sometimes you only need to write on a PDF: type your name on a form, highlight the important lines, draw a box around a figure, or add a short note before sending the file on. You can do all of that in your browser without installing anything.

What you can add

ToolWhat it does
TextType text anywhere on the page, in the size, colour, bold or italic you choose
HighlightColour over words, drawn behind the text so it stays readable
BoxA rectangle outline, or filled
LineA straight line, for underlining or crossing out
White-outA white box that covers what is underneath

How to edit a PDF

  1. Open the Edit PDF tool and add your file.
  2. Pick what to add: Text, Highlight, Box, Line or White-out.
  3. Click or drag on the page where it should go. For text, click where the text should start and type it in the side panel.
  4. Move or resize anything by dragging it, and change the size, colour, bold and italic in the side panel.
  5. Use the page arrows to move to other pages.
  6. Press the Edit PDF button and download your edited PDF.

Filling in a flat form

Many forms are just a picture of a form with no fillable fields. Here the approach is simple:

  1. Add a Text element where each answer should go.
  2. Type the answer, and set the size so it fits the line.
  3. Check each page before saving.

If your form has real interactive fields (you can click into boxes in a PDF viewer), use PDF Forms instead. It lists the fields, fills them in, and can flatten the values so they cannot be changed.

What editing cannot do

  • It does not change the original text. Everything you add sits on top of the page. To rewrite the document itself, convert it with PDF to Word, edit it, and save it as a PDF again (see our guide).
  • White-out only covers. The text underneath is still in the file, and someone could select and copy it. If the words contain private information, use Redact PDF, which removes them for good.
  • Limited fonts. The built-in fonts cover Western European characters. Urdu, Arabic and Chinese cannot be drawn and will be refused.

Tips

  • Zoom in on the page so you can place text exactly on the line.
  • Keep text boxes large enough for what you type, so nothing is cut off.
  • Sign the document afterwards with Sign PDF if it needs a signature.
  • Make the result smaller with Compress PDF if you need to email it.

Is my file safe?

Your file is encrypted in transit and at rest and deleted automatically, by default within 2 hours. See the privacy page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I change the existing text of a PDF?

This tool adds new text and shapes on top of the page. To change the original words, convert the PDF to Word, edit it, and save it as a PDF again.

Does white-out remove the text underneath?

No. It only covers it visually, and anyone could still select the hidden text. Use Redact PDF when words must be gone for good.

Which fonts can I use?

The built-in fonts cover Western European characters. Urdu, Arabic and Chinese text cannot be drawn and will be refused.

What is the difference between Edit PDF and PDF Forms?

Edit PDF types onto any page, even a flat form. PDF Forms fills the real interactive fields of a form and can flatten them.