Flatten PDF Online
Flatten PDF online to make a filled-in form final. Flattening turns form fields, notes and highlights into part of the page itself, so they can no longer be edited, clicked or removed. Everything happens in your browser, so your file is never uploaded.
- Free, no sign-up
- Files never leave your device
- Up to 100 MB per file
Drop a PDF file here
or
Up to 100 MB per file. Your files stay on your device.
Your file stays on your device. Nothing is uploaded.
What next
- Open the flattened file and click where the fields were, to confirm nothing can be typed in any more.
- Sending it to an office? Check they did not ask for the fillable version: some systems read the fields automatically.
- Sign PDFDraw, type or upload your signature.
- Header and footerAdd a line at the top or bottom of each page.
- Merge PDFCombine several PDFs into one file.
- Edit PDFReally delete or change existing text.
Step-by-step guide: How to Fill Out a PDF Form That Has No Fillable Fields
How to flatten a PDF form
- 1
Click “Choose a PDF file” or drag your PDF into the box.
- 2
Decide whether notes and highlights should be made permanent too, and whether links stay clickable.
- 3
Press “Flatten PDF”.
- 4
Download your file. It now looks the same to everyone, in every reader.
When you would use it
Sending a filled-in form on so the answers cannot be changed by accident on the way.
Archiving a signed or stamped document as one flat file that looks the same in every reader.
Making sure a form prints as it looks on screen, since some readers print empty boxes instead of the answers.
Handing a marked-up document to someone whose reader hides annotations.
What to expect
Flattening stops fields and notes being edited in a PDF reader. It is not security: anyone with a PDF editor can still change the page, and it is not a password or a lock.
It cannot be undone. Keep the original if you might need the fields, or the notes, back.
The answers become part of the page, so their text can still be selected and copied. They are drawn into the page, not hidden.
Arabic answers keep their shaping when they are flattened, which is where some tools break the letters apart or reverse the line.
To fill a form before flattening it, use Fill a form; to add notes first, Annotate PDF.
Frequently asked questions
Can I flatten a PDF form for free?
Yes. No sign-up, no daily limit, and no watermark on your file.
Is my file uploaded?
No. The file is flattened inside your browser, on your device, and never sent to us or anyone else.
What does flattening actually do?
A filled-in form keeps the answers in a separate layer that a reader draws on top of the page. Flattening draws them into the page for good, so the file looks the same everywhere and nobody can change the answers or clear the form.
Will my Arabic answers survive?
Yes. The drawing your program made when you filled the form is kept exactly as it is, rather than being redrawn with another font. That is what keeps Arabic letters joined and in the right order.
What happens to comments and highlights?
If you leave that box ticked they are drawn into the page, so they print everywhere and can no longer be clicked, edited or deleted. Untick it to leave them as real notes.
Do links still work?
Yes, unless you untick “Keep links clickable”. A link is not something drawn on the page, so flattening it would only remove the link and change nothing you can see.
Can I undo it?
No. Flattening only goes one way, which is the point of it. Keep your original file if you may need to change the answers later.
Does flattening protect the file?
It stops the form being edited or cleared, but it is not a password or a lock. Anyone can still edit the page itself with the right tools.