People say "edit a PDF" and mean three different things: fill in blanks, mark up a page, or change the words that are already there. The right tool depends on which one you want.
What Edit PDF can do
Edit PDF lets you add these on top of a page:
- Text, with your choice of colour and size
- Rectangles, circles and lines
- Highlights and underlines
- Notes
Everything you add sits on top of the original content. The tool does not reflow or rewrite text that is already in the document, and edits are placed on the first page of the file.
How to use it
- Open Edit PDF and upload your file (up to 50 MB).
- Choose a tool (text, shape, highlight) and place it on the page.
- Adjust the size and colour, then apply.
- Download the edited PDF and open it to check every addition.
Which route for which job
| You want to... | Best option |
|---|---|
| Fill in a blank, add a date or a short note on page 1 | Edit PDF |
| Highlight, underline or comment | Annotate PDF |
| Add your signature | Sign PDF |
| Change existing paragraphs | Convert with PDF to Word, edit, then convert back with Word to PDF |
| Hide sensitive text | Redact PDF, then follow the safe redaction steps |
| Stamp text across every page | Add Watermark |
If the text needs changing
For real rewriting, go through Word. Convert the PDF, edit it there and export a fresh PDF. The result depends on how complex the original is, so see how to convert without losing formatting. If the PDF is a scan, run OCR PDF first.
Editing pages that are not first
Because additions go on page one, for later pages you can extract the page with Extract Pages, edit it, then rebuild the document with Merge PDF and Reorder Pages.
Good habits
- Work on a copy of the original.
- Keep text short and inside the margins.
- After editing, Flatten PDF if you want the additions fixed into the page, and check the result.
- For a final version that must not be changed, add a password with Protect PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the words that are already in the PDF?
Not with this tool. Convert to Word, edit, and convert back.
Can I edit a scanned PDF?
Add text on top of it, or run OCR first if you need to work with the text.
Are my edits permanent?
They are saved into the new file you download. Your original is unchanged.
Can I add images?
The editor's tools cover text, shapes, highlights and notes. For photos and logos, place them in Word first and convert.