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Flatten PDF

Flatten a PDF to draw its filled-in form fields, check boxes, highlights and handwriting into the page, so they can no longer be edited. The look stays the same as before. Signature fields are kept as they are, because flattening can invalidate a signature.

On-device・No uploadMobile friendlyWorks offline

Your files and input are processed only inside your browser on this device and are never uploaded to our servers.

Drop files here (multiple allowed)

or

PDFs are processed in this browser on your device and never uploaded.Accepts: PDFUp to 200 MB per filePaste (Ctrl+V) also works

How to use

  1. application.pdfFields, ticks, highlights

    Add PDFs (several at once)

  2. application.pdfLooks the same

    Draw fields and markup into the page

  3. application (flattened).pdf0 fields or notes left

    Save the flattened PDF

Flatten a PDF’s fields and markup, then save it as a locked copy

  1. Drop PDFs or click “Choose files” (several files are fine). The fields and annotations of the first file are counted.

  2. Under “Links”, choose whether to keep or remove links. Popups (comment text boxes) are removed.

  3. Click “Create flattened PDF”. The counts left in the file after flattening are shown.

  4. Download the result. The page after flattening is shown as a thumbnail to compare.

What it does

Fields drawn into the page

The look of text fields, check boxes, radio buttons and choice lists is drawn into the page, and the form fields are removed.

Annotations drawn too

Highlights, underlines, ink, shapes, text boxes and stamps are drawn as page content. Rotated pages keep their placement.

Counts before and after

The counts before and after flattening are shown, so you can see that form fields and annotations (other than links) are 0.

Several files at once

Apply the same settings to many PDFs. Download each file, or save them together as a ZIP.

Use cases

  • Lock a filled-in application form so the recipient cannot change it
  • Send a file with its highlights and handwriting drawn in, but without editable annotations
  • Save the typed-in values of a form with the same look as a printout
  • Lock the form fields and annotations of several PDFs at once

Supported formats

Input

PDF (.pdf)

Output

PDF (.pdf)

Capability matrix

FeatureSupportNotes
Flatten text fields, check boxes, radio buttons and choice listsSupported—
Flatten highlights, underlines, ink, shapes, text boxes and stampsSupportedAnnotations that have an appearance (their drawn look) are flattened
Keep or remove linksSupportedLinks cannot be drawn, so keeping them is the default
Flatten signature fieldsNot supportedSignature fields are kept as they are, because flattening can invalidate a signature
Flatten fields or annotations without an appearanceNot supportedThey are kept and counted
Keep popups (comment text)Not supportedRemoved
XFA (dynamic) formsNot supportedCannot be flattened. Convert them to an AcroForm first
Edit or undo after flatteningNot supportedThe original file stays unchanged; keep it if you may need to edit

Limits & notes

  • Up to 200 MB and 2,000 pages per file. Several files are processed one after another.
  • Password-protected PDFs cannot be opened. Remove the protection first.
  • XFA (dynamic) forms cannot be flattened.
  • Signature fields are kept. Flattening a signed PDF may make its signature fail validation.
  • Works on a phone too, but the screen is small, so checking the result on a PC is recommended.

Privacy & safety

Reading, flattening and saving all happen in your browser; your PDF is never sent to a server.

FAQ

What does flattening a PDF mean?
It draws a PDF’s form fields, check boxes and annotations into the page as plain page content and removes the fields and annotations. The look stays the same, but nothing can be typed in or moved any more.
How is this different from printing to PDF?
The look is nearly the same. Here, the text stays as text and links can be kept. A printout saved as PDF may turn text into images, so it can no longer be searched or selected.
Can I flatten a signed PDF?
Signature fields are kept as they are by default. Flattening after signing may make the signature fail validation, so keep the original and check the signature there.
How is this different from password protection?
A password limits opening or changing a file, and some passwords can be removed. Flattening removes fields and annotations so they can no longer be edited; it is not encryption.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. Everything is processed in your browser and never sent to a server.

PDF Redact

Black out a part of a PDF and remove the text and images under it. Redacted pages are turned into images and the file is rebuilt, so the text under the black box is not left on that page. After export, the file is checked automatically for leftover text and document data.

No upload

PDF Editor

Lay text (Japanese included), shapes, arrows, a highlighter, freehand drawing and images on top of a PDF, and fill in its form fields. Text, shapes, highlights and freehand strokes are written as PDF vectors and real text, never as pictures; an added image is embedded as an image. Rewriting the original text and true redaction are not possible.

No upload

PDF Password

Add a password to open your PDF and encrypt it with AES 256-bit. If you forget the password nobody can open the file, so note it down before saving. Neither the PDF nor the password ever leaves your browser.

No upload

Images to PDF

Drop images, put them in order and get one PDF. Choose page size, orientation and margins; phone photos are rotated correctly. Images are converted on your device and never uploaded.

No upload

Compress PDF

Drop a PDF to cut its size. Only photos and scans are recompressed, so text and graphics stay crisp. Your PDF is processed on your device and never uploaded.

No upload

PDF Extract

Take the text, images, links, attachments, form values and bookmarks embedded in a PDF, for the pages you choose. Images stay as embedded (JPEG untouched). Your PDF never leaves your device.

No upload

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