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Make a PDF form non-editable

You've filled in a PDF form and no longer want anyone to be able to change the answers when they open it? Flatten it: the fields disappear, the answers remain.

or drag it here

Processed on your device, nothing is uploaded

How do I make a PDF form non-editable?

  1. Choose your PDF form: its fields are shown as a list.
  2. Complete or check the answers, then tick “Flatten the form”.
  3. Press “Save form”, and keep an unflattened copy too.

In a PDF form, each answer is an editable box: anyone can change it by opening the file. Flattening the form turns these fields into fixed text, drawn on the page. The document keeps its appearance, but there is no longer any box to fill in or answer to change in a PDF reader.

This is useful for the final version of an application, a certificate or a purchase order, and some organizations ask for a flattened form. Once drawn on the page, the answers are displayed like the rest of the text, in all PDF readers, including on phones.

Let's be precise: flattening is not locking. With PDF editing software, someone can still add text on top or hide an area. Keep the original and send the flattened PDF from your usual address; to stop third parties from reading it, add a password with the Protect tool. The form is filled in and flattened on your device: nothing is uploaded.

Frequently asked questions

Can I edit a form after flattening it?

Not in its fields: they no longer exist. Keep an unflattened copy if you think you may need to correct an answer, then flatten it again.

My PDF has no fields to fill in, what should I do?

Then there is nothing to flatten: its text is already fixed. To write on it, use the Edit tool; to sign it, the Sign tool.

Can a flattened PDF be forged?

Like any PDF, it can be altered with specialist software: flattening mainly prevents easy changes in a PDF reader. To guarantee that a document has not changed, you need an advanced or qualified electronic signature.

Are my answers uploaded?

No. The form is filled in and flattened in your browser; nothing is uploaded or stored.

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