How to Annotate a PDF on Mac

If you want to circle key points, sketch ideas, or add quick notes on a PDF, you need more than a simple viewer.

On MacBook, you can draw on PDFs, highlight text, and leave comments for free using Apple’s built-in Preview or Smallpdf’s online PDF Annotator.

We’ll walk you through both options step by step so you can pick the one that fits how you work.

(If you’re using a Windows machine, we suggest you jump over to this article for how to annotate a PDF on Windows.)

To annotate a PDF on Mac using the built-in Preview app, follow these steps. If you use a Mac (which presumably you do since you’re here), you’ve already got a basic PDF annotator right there on your computer.

1. Open Your PDF in Preview

1. Find your PDF in Finder.

2. Double-click the file, or right-click and choose “Open With” > “Preview.”

3. Wait for the document to open in a new window.

2. Show the Markup Toolbar

To see the drawing tools, you need the Markup toolbar.

1. In the menu bar, click “View” > “Show Markup Toolbar.”

2. Or press “Shift+Command+A” as a shortcut.

3. A new row of icons appears, including highlight, text, shapes, and a sketch tool.

This is where you’ll find everything you need to draw on your PDF.

3. Draw and Highlight on the Page

Once the Markup toolbar is visible, you can start drawing and annotating.

• Click the “highlight tool” to mark important text.

• Click the “T” icon to add text boxes for notes.

• Click the “shapes” icon to add arrows, rectangles, and circles.

• Click the “sketch” icon to draw freehand lines, underlines, or quick diagrams.

• If you have a trackpad or tablet, you can write or sketch more smoothly.

Click and drag on the page to apply your annotations where you want them.

4. Save or Export Your Marked Up PDF

When you are done:

1. Click “File” > “Save” to overwrite the original file.

2. Or choose “File” > “Export as PDF” to save a new copy.

Saving a new copy is often safer if you want to keep the original document clean.

Preview is perfect for quick, simple drawings and highlights. If you want more control, better sharing, or easier page management, Smallpdf PDF Annotator gives you a bit more space to work.

Smallpdf’s PDF Annotator runs in your browser, so it works on any MacBook that has internet access. You don’t need to install anything.

1. Open the Smallpdf PDF Annotator

1. Open your browser on your MacBook.

2. Go to the PDF Annotator on Smallpdf.

3. Drag and drop your PDF into the upload area, or click “Choose File.”

4. You can also open a file from Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive.

Quick start: Use the annotator below to upload or drag-and-drop your PDF and start annotating on your Mac.

2. Use the Draw Tool on MacBook

Once your PDF loads, you will see a toolbar with drawing and annotation options.

• Select the “draw” or “pen” tool to sketch on the page.

• Adjust “line thickness” using the size slider.

• Pick a “color” to match your markup style, such as red for edits or green for approvals.

• Use the “eraser” to remove strokes that you no longer want.

Click and drag with your trackpad or mouse to draw directly on the PDF, just like you would on paper.

3. Add Text, Highlights, Shapes, and Signatures

You aren’t limited to drawing lines.

You can also:

• Use the “text tool” to place comments anywhere on the page.

• Highlight important sentences by selecting the text and choosing a “highlight” color.

• Add “shapes” like arrows, circles, and rectangles to call out key areas.

• Place an eSignature if you need to sign the PDF at the same time.

You can move, resize, or delete these elements whenever you need, so your PDF stays tidy.

4. Save, Share, or Keep Editing

When you are finished drawing:

1. Click “Download” to save the annotated PDF to your MacBook.

2. Or send it straight to Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive.

3. You can also generate a secure link to share your marked-up PDF with others.

Smallpdf automatically deletes uploaded files after a short time, so your documents do not stay on our servers longer than needed.

Both tools let you draw on PDF MacBook, but they are useful in different situations.

In short, Preview is ideal for quick, offline markups. Smallpdf is better if you often share PDFs, need more control over pages, or want a smoother web based experience.

If drawing on PDF MacBook does not work as expected, these checks often help.

1. You Cannot Draw on the PDF

If you cannot draw or annotate:

• Make sure you opened the file in Preview or Smallpdf, not just a simple browser viewer.

• Check if the PDF is protected, and remove restrictions only if you have permission.

• In Preview, confirm that the “Markup toolbar” is visible.

If the document is scanned, annotations still work, but you won’t be able to select text unless you run OCR.

2. Your Drawing Doesn’t Save

If your drawings disappear:

• In Preview, confirm that you clicked “File” > “Save” or exported a new PDF.

• Make sure the PDF is not set to “read only” in Finder.

• If you use a cloud folder, check that sync is complete before closing the file.

With Smallpdf, always download the final version after you finish editing.

3. Drawing Looks Jagged or Hard To Control

If your lines do not look smooth:

• Try slowing down your strokes on the trackpad or mouse.

• Zoom in on the document while drawing to get better control.

• If you have an external tablet or stylus, use that for more precise input.

You can always undo and redraw until the result looks right.

Annotating and drawing on PDFs does not have to feel complicated or slow. With Preview for quick offline edits and Smallpdf PDF Annotator for smoother online workflows, you can mark up documents, sketch ideas, and share polished PDFs in minutes.

If you want extra features like OCR, batch tools, or advanced editing, you can unlock them anytime with a Smallpdf Pro trial. For everyday markup, the free version is more than enough to help you work faster and stay organized on your MacBook.