Editing a PDF Online and Offline: Quick & Simple Methods

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Edit and enhance your PDFs with this guide
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Do you have a PDF that you want to fill out? Luckily, there are many options for you that either include downloading additional software, like LibreOffice, or using online tools that don't require any additional download, like Adobe online or Sejda. Read on to learn more.

Easily Edit PDF Files

  • Do simple edits for free with Adobe Online, Canva, or Sejda.
  • If you want to use LibreOffice Draw , you’ll need to download the entire LibreOffice suite.
  • You’ll need an Adobe Acrobat Pro DC subscription to edit PDFs using Adobe’s software.
  • If you want to convert a PDF file to a Word document, you can open a PDF file in Microsoft Word to edit it.
Method 1
Method 1 of 7:

Using Adobe Online

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  1. 1
    Go to Adobe's Free online PDF editor in your web browser. You can make changes like adding text or comments, or filling out forms for free with this online tool. You can do this at home on your computer or on the go from your Android, iPhone, or iPad.
    • Use this method to quickly fill out a PDF form. However, if you want to edit the existing document at all, your best free option is using Sejda or LibreOffice Draw .
  2. 2
    Click Select a file and double-click the PDF you want to edit. Double-clicking it will open it. You'll see the progress bar as Adobe opens the file.
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  3. 3
    Sign in or create a free account. You'll see a preview of the PDF you want to edit on the right side of the screen, but you'll need to sign in before you can do anything to it.
    • The account is free, and you won't need a credit card.
  4. 4
    Edit the PDF. Basic editing functions (like adding text, highlighting text, and filling out forms) are free, but you have to upgrade to a subscription to do anything complex, like editing or formatting existing text.
  5. 5
    Click Download when you're done. You can save the file as a PDF or a compressed PDF, or in any other file format (like .docx,.pptx, or .jpeg).
    • Click Download as to save the file to your computer.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 7:

Using Canva

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  1. 1
    Go to Canva's PDF editor in a web browser. You can make quick alterations to PDF files or integrate them in your visual presentations!
    • Log in or create a free account to continue.
  2. 2
    Click Upload your PDF . It's a purple icon in the middle of your screen.
  3. 3
    Edit the document. You can move items, change or add text, highlight, bold, or format existing text, and more. There's a lot you can do to edit the PDF!
    • If you see a crown icon next to an option, like "Brand," you need to upgrade to Canva Pro to use that feature.
  4. 4
    Click Download when you're done. This is at the top of the browser page next to "Share." Click "Share" to send the PDF through Canva to other people. However, you can also download the PDF to your local storage as a PDF or another format.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 7:

Using Sejda

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  1. Go to Sejda's PDF Editor in a web browser. This is the website for a free online PDF editor called Sejda. You can edit 3 files per hour using Sejda. Files can be up to 200 pages or 50 MBs. The files you upload to edit are automatically deleted after 2 hours.
    • If 2 hours isn't enough time to finish editing your document, you may consider using LibreOffice Draw as another free program that can edit PDFs. You can also use some of the features available in Sejda to edit your PDF and then open it in LibreOffice Draw to finish it.
    • This allows you to edit the text in-line, so the PDF doesn't look different when you save your changes.
  2. It's the green button in the center of the page.
  3. This uploads a PDF that you can edit using Sejda's online editor.
  4. To add text to your PDF, click the icon that says Text at the top of the page and then click where you want to add text. Then start typing. [1]
  5. Unlike a lot of other free PDF editors, Sejda allows you to edit the existing text within a PDF as well as add new text to your PDF. To edit text, simply click the text you want to edit and start typing. You can add more text or delete text. Use the icons above the text box to change the text format. Your options to change the text format are as follows:
    • Click B to add bold to the text.
    • Click I to add italics to the text.
    • Click the icon that resembles a "T" with an arrow next to it and use the slider bar to change the size of the font.
    • Click Font to select a new font from the drop-down menu.
    • Click Color to select a color for your text
    • Click the icon that resembles a trash can to delete the entire text box.
  6. A link allows you to provide a URL to an external website. Use the following steps to add a link to your PDF:
    • Click Link at the top of the screen.
    • Click and drag over the area where you want to add a link.
    • Copy and paste the URL you want to link to in the field that says "Link to external URL."
    • Click Apply Changes .
  7. Click Forms at the top of the page to see a drop-down menu with form elements you can add to your PDF. These include interactive and non-interactive form elements. Click one of the form elements in the drop-down menu and then click where you want it to go in the PDF. The form elements in the drop-down menu are as follows:
    • Click the "X" icon to add an X to your PDF.
    • Click the checkmark icon to add a checkmark to your PDF.
    • Click the dot to add a dot/bullet point to your PDF.
    • Click the box that says "ABCD" to add a single-line text field to your PDF.
    • Click the small box that says "ABCD" to add a multi-line text field to your PDF.
    • Click the icon that resembles a circle with a dot to add a radio option to your PDF.
    • Click the icon with a checkbox to add a checkbox option to your PDF.
    • Click the icon that resembles a drop-down menu to add a drop-down menu to your PDF.
  8. Use the following steps to add an image to your PDF: [2]
    • Click Image at the top of the page.
    • Click New Image .
    • Select the image you want to add and click Open to upload it.
    • Click where you want the image to go.
  9. Use the following steps to add a signature to your PDF: [3]
    • Click Sign at the top of the page.
    • Click New Signature .
    • Type your name in the text field at the top.
    • Click a signature style.
    • Click Save
    • Click where you want the signature to go.
  10. Use the following steps to add Highlight, strikethrough, or underline to text in your PDF:
    • Click Annotate at the top of the page.
    • Click one of the colored circles next to "Highlight", "Strike out", or "Underline".
    • Click and drag over the text you want to highlight, or add strike-out or underline to.
  11. To add a shape to the PDF, click Shapes at the top of the page and click Ellipse or Rectangle . Then click and drag over the location you want to add the shape. Use the following options above the shape to edit it: [4]
    • Click the icon with a line to select the border thickness of the shape.
    • Click the icon that resembles a square to select the border color of the shape.
    • Click the icon that resembles a circle to select the shape color.
    • Click the icon that resembles two overlapping squares to duplicate the shape.
    • Click the trashcan icon to delete the shape.
  12. Use the following steps to draw on your PDF:
    • Click Annotate .
    • Click one of the color circles next to Draw .
    • Click and drag to draw freely on your PDF.
  13. This button is at the top and bottom of each page. Click the button at the top of the page to add a new page before the current page. Click the button at the bottom of the page to add a new page after the current page.
  14. Use the following steps to undo a mistake:
    • Click More at the top of the page.
    • Click Undo .
    • Click the checkbox next to the step you want to revert to.
    • Click Revert selected .
  15. It's the green button at the bottom of the page. Click this button when you are finished editing your PDF. The website will start processing your PDF.
  16. It's the green button at the top of the page. This downloads the edited document to your computer.
    • Alternatively, you can click one of the icons to save the document to Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive, rename the document, or print the document.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 7:

Using LibreOffice Draw

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  1. LibreOffice is a free alternative to Microsoft Office. The Draw program has the ability to create and edit PDFs. To download and install LibreOffice, go to the download page and click Download under "Download LibreOffice, Ideal for home users, students, and non-profits." Open the installed file and follow the instructions to install the software.
    • You must download the entire suite to use LibreOffice Draw.
  2. 2
    Open LibreOffice Draw. LibreOffice Draw has a yellow icon with a triangle, circle, and square. You can open it in two ways:
    • Press the Win key (Windows) or click the Spotlight Search icon (Mac) and search LibreOffice Draw . Click the app search result to open it directly, OR
    • Double-click the LibreOffice icon on your desktop (if you opted to create one during the install), then click "Draw Drawing."
  3. The PDF may look different than originally intended. Use the following steps to open a PDF in LibreOffice Draw:
    • Click File
    • Click Open .
    • Select the PDF you want to open.
    • Click Open .
  4. To add new text to a document, click the icon with an "A" next to a series of lines at the top of the page. Click where you want to add text and start typing. Click and drag to create a text box of a defined size. Use the format options in the menu bar to the right to edit the text format.
  5. To edit existing text in a PDF, click the text and start typing. You can delete text, add new text, highlight text, or change the text format using the menu options in the menu bar to the right. The menu options are as follows:
    • Use the drop-down menu below "Character" to select a font.
    • Use the drop-down menu next to the font menu to select the font size.
    • Click B to bold text.
    • Click I to italicize text.
    • Click U to underline the text.
    • Click S to strike through the text.
    • Click A to add a shadow to the text.
    • Click the icons with 4 lines below "Paragraph" to align the text to the left, right, center, or fully justified.
    • Use the spaces below "Spacing" to specify the line spacing before and after a paragraph, as well as for indentations.
    • Click the icon with dots next to lines below "Lists" to add a bullet point.
    • Click the icon with numbers next to lines below "Lists" to add a numbered list.
  6. Use the following steps to add an image to the document:
    • Click the icon that resembles a picture of mountains at the top of the page.
    • Select the image you want to add.
    • Click Open .
    • Click and drag to place the image where you want it to go.
    • Click and drag the square dots around the image to change the image size.
  7. Use the following steps to add a shape to your PDF.
    • Click the icon with shapes overlapping at the top of the page.
    • Click a shape in the menu bar to the left.
    • Click and drag to draw the shape.
    • Click the box next to "Color" in the menu bar to the right.
    • Select a color for the shape.
  8. Use the following steps to rotate and object: [5]
    • Click the icon that resembles a square with a circular arrow at the top of the page.
    • Click the object you want to rotate.
    • Click and drag the yellow dots in the corners around the object.
  9. Use the following steps to save your work:
    • Click File .
    • Click Save .
  10. Use the following steps to export the document in PDF format:
    • Click File .
    • Click Export as .
    • Click Export as PDF .
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Method 5
Method 5 of 7:

Using Preview (Mac Only)

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  1. 1
    Open your PDF in Preview. If you have a Mac, Preview is the default reader and editor for PDF files. You can do a lot of basic editing and markup in Preview. This app is completely free and comes with your Mac.
    • To open your PDF, launch Preview, then select File > Open . Browse for the PDF you want to edit, then click Open .
    • In addition to edits like adding text and shapes to your PDF, you can also use Preview to merge PDFs .
  2. 2
    Click theMarkup button. It looks like a pen tip inside a circle.
  3. 3
    Use the markup tools to edit your PDF. You’ll see several tools in the toolbar at the top of the PDF window. Hover over each tool with your cursor to see its name:
    • Text Selection: This tool allows you to select text, which you can then copy and paste within the document (or another document).
    • Rectangular Selection: Create a selection around a section of the document. If you press Command-C, your selection will be copied as an image that you can paste anywhere.
    • Redact: This tool allows you to permanently hide selected parts of the document.
    • Sketch: This is a freehand drawing tool that you can use to add drawings to your document.
    • Shapes: Add a shape to your document. You can move or edit the shape.
    • Text: Add a text box to your document. You can move or edit the text box.
    • Sign: Add a signature to your document.
    • Note: Add a yellow “sticky note” to your document.
    • Shape Style: Change the border style and thickness of any shapes you’ve added to your document.
    • Border Color: Change the color of a shape’s border.
    • Fill Color: Add or change a shape’s fill color.
    • Text Style: Edit things like the font, size, color, and alignment of text you’ve added to the PDF. You can also add bold, italics, or an underline.
    • You can also access several of these options ( Text Selection , Rectangular Selection , Redact , Sign , and Text ) from the Form Filling Toolbar , which you can activate in the menu bar at the top of the window. Use Highlights and Notes to add highlights or strikethrough or underline text. The Highlights and Notes tool is in the toolbar at the top of the window. It looks like a pencil above a horizontal line. Click the dropdown menu to select a highlighter color or another option, such as Underline or Strikethrough .
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Method 6
Method 6 of 7:

Using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

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  1. Do so by clicking the white Adobe Acrobat app with the stylized, red A icon.
  2. You can open a file by clicking Open on the Adobe Acrobat Pro title screen menu and selecting a file, or use the following steps to open a PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro: [8]
    • Click File in the menu bar at the top.
    • Click Open .
    • Select a PDF file you want to edit.
    • Click Open .
  3. It's the icon with pink boxes in the menu bar to the right. This displays an outline around all text boxes and objects in the PDF. [9]
  4. To edit the text in the PDF document, click the text in a text box and start typing. You can delete or add new text, highlight text, or use the FORMAT menu to the right to change the text format.
  5. To add new text to a PDF, click Add Text in the bar at the top. Then click where you want to add text and start typing. Click and drag to define the height and width of the text box you wish to add. [10]
  6. The Format tools are in the sidebar menu to the right. Highlight the text you wish to edit and use the following tools to edit the text format: [11]
    • Click the drop-down menu below "FORMAT" to change the font.
    • Click the size drop-down menu below the font to change the text size.
    • Click the square color swatch next to the font size drop-down menu to change the text color.
    • Click the icons with the capital "T" in various styles to add bold, italics, underline, subscript, or superscript to your text.
    • Click the drop-down menu next to the icon with three lines and three dots to create a bullet-point list.
    • Click the drop-down menu next to the icon with three numbered lines to create a numbered list.
    • Click the icons with 4 lines that resemble text to align the text left, center, right, or fully justified alignment.
    • Click the drop-down with the icon with a vertical arrow next to three lines to increase or decrease the space between lines of text
    • Click the drop-down menu next to the icon with an arrow next to two sets of lines grouped to increase or decrease the space between (after) paragraphs.
    • Click the "Horizontal scaling" drop-down to increase or decrease the width (percentage) of the highlighted characters
    • Click the drop-down menu with a horizontal arrow below an "A" and a "V" to increase or decrease the space between individual text characters
    • Not all elements of a PDF may be editable.
  7. Use the following steps to add an image to the PDF:
    • Click Add Image at the top of the page.
    • Select the image you want to add.
    • Click Open .
    • Click where you want the image to go or click and drag to specify the image size.
    • Click and drag the blue dots in the corners of the box around the image to change the image size.
  8. Select the object you wish to edit and use the following tools to edit an object: [12]
    • Click the icon with two triangles pointing right to invert the object up or down along a horizontal axis.
    • Click the icon with two triangles pointing up to flip the object from one side or another along a vertical axis.
    • Click the drop-down next to an icon with two boxes next to a line to arrange multiple objects on the page with one another.
    • Click the icon with a circular arrow pointing counterclockwise to rotate the object to the left.
    • Click the icon with a circular arrow pointing clockwise to rotate the object to the right.
    • Click the icon that resembles a stack of images to replace an image with another.
    • Click the icon that resembles a stack of squares to change the object's page layer in relation to other text and objects.
    • Not all elements of a PDF may be editable.
  9. Click Fill & Sign to add a signature to the PDF. It's next to the purple icon that resembles a pencil in the menu bar to the right. Use the tools at the top of the page to type your signature, add a checkmark icon, or click Sign to create or add an existing signature. [13]
  10. Use the following steps to save your PDF: [14]
    • Click File .
    • Click Save .
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Method 7
Method 7 of 7:

Using Microsoft Word

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  1. 1
    Open the PDF you want to edit in Microsoft Word. It's best to edit PDFs that are mostly text, like book chapters. If there's a lot of formatting, like drop-down options or tables, formatting may not convert properly in Word. In that case, use other options, like Sejda .
    • To open your PDF in Word, right-click it in your file manager and select Open with > Word .
    • Alternatively, open Word, then go to File > Open , select your PDF, then click Open .
    • Word will give you a pop-up notice that it's making a copy of the original document and converting that so Word can display it. All this means is that your original document won't be changed at all. Press OK to continue.
  2. You can change the layout , add or delete text, change the text style , and anything you'd be able to do with a regular Word document . [15]
    • As with any PDF conversion, the converted document may look different from the original, and some manual adjustments may be necessary.
  3. 3
    Save the file. After you've made the edits, go to File > Save as to save it as a PDF again.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What program can I use to edit a PDF?
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Adobe programs will be the most reliable and easiest for you to work with.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 0
  • Question
    Can l download another PDF editor while Adobe Reader X is on my PC?
    Community Answer
    Yes. This may change your default program associated with PDF files, but the programs can coexist.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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  • Question
    How do I edit an image in a PDF?
    Community Answer
    Start by going into your PDF viewer and tag the image, and then copy and paste into Paint or another editing program.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.sejda.com/pdf-editor
      2. ↑ https://www.sejda.com/pdf-editor
      3. ↑ https://www.sejda.com/pdf-editor
      4. ↑ https://www.sejda.com/pdf-editor
      5. ↑ https://help.libreoffice.org/latest/en-US/text/sdraw/guide/rotate_object.html?&DbPAR=SHARED&System=WIN
      6. ↑ Luigi Oppido. Computer & Tech Specialist. Expert Interview. 31 July 2019.
      7. ↑ Stan Kats. Cybersecurity Expert. Expert Interview. 27 October 2021.
      8. ↑ https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/how-to/pdf-editor-pdf-files.html
      9. ↑ https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/how-to/pdf-editor-pdf-files.html
      1. ↑ https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/edit-text-pdfs.html
      2. ↑ https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/edit-text-pdfs.html
      3. ↑ https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/edit-images-or-objects-pdf.html
      4. ↑ https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/fill-and-sign.html
      5. ↑ https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/saving-pdfs.html
      6. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/edit-a-pdf-b2d1d729-6b79-499a-bcdb-233379c2f63a

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open a PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.
      2. Click Add Text at the top of the page.
      3. Click anywhere in the document and start typing to add a new text box.
      4. Click an existing text box and start typing to edit an existing text box.
      5. Use the menu options below "FORMAT" in the menu to the right to edit the format of the text.
      6. Click Add Image at the top fo the page and select an image you want to add.
      7. Click and drag to place the image.
      8. Use the options below "Object" in the menu to the right to rotate and flip an object.
      9. Click Fill & Sign in the menu to the right to add a signature.
      10. Save your document in the File menu.
      To learn more, like how to edit a PDF file using Microsoft Word or Preview on Mac, scroll down!

      Did this summary help you?
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