Flatten PDF
Flatten PDF forms so the answers are locked into the page and nobody can edit them. Two modes cover filled forms and marked-up files.
How to flatten PDF
Drop your PDF into the box.
Choose a mode: Forms or Full.
Run it and download the flattened PDF.
What does flatten PDF mean?
Flattening turns interactive parts of a PDF into plain page content. A filled form stops being a form: the values stay visible but can no longer be changed.
This is useful before you send a signed application or archive a completed form. For a walkthrough, read how to flatten a PDF.
Forms mode or Full mode
Forms flattens fillable fields only. Text stays selectable and searchable.
Full renders each page as an image, so annotations, comments and fields are all baked in. The trade-off is that text is no longer selectable. Use Full when a file prints with missing markup, then compress it if it grows.
Flatten a filled PDF form before you send it
Anyone who receives a filled PDF form can still change the answers. Flatten it in Forms mode and the values become part of the page. The file looks the same and its text can still be searched.
Still need to fill the form? Fill PDF Form lists every field so you can type your answers, then save the result flattened or bring it here.
Flatten, then lock the file
Flattening stops fields working as fields. It does not stop someone with a PDF editor changing the page itself. If the file must stay as sent, add a password that restricts editing once it is flattened.
Hiding a detail is a different job. Redact PDF removes sensitive text for good, so do that before you flatten and protect.
Guides
Frequently asked questions
How do I flatten a PDF?
Drop the PDF here, pick Forms or Full, and run it. You download a flattened copy.
Should I flatten a PDF for printing?
It helps when form values or comments do not show up in print. Full mode bakes everything into the page image, so what you see is what prints.
Will I still be able to select text?
In Forms mode, yes. Full mode turns each page into an image, so text can no longer be selected or searched.
Can a flattened PDF be edited?
Form values can no longer be changed as fields. For stronger control, add a password that restricts editing.
Is flattening the same as signing?
No. Flattening only locks content. To place a signature, use Sign PDF, then flatten if you want it fixed in the page.
Does flattening a PDF make the file bigger?
Forms mode barely changes the size. Full mode turns every page into an image, which often makes the file larger, so run Compress PDF afterwards if size matters.
Is it safe to flatten a PDF online?
Yes. The PDF is flattened inside your browser and never uploaded, so the details in a filled form stay on your device.