When you need to write or type on a PDF online, Smallpdf has got you covered—whether you’re using a PC, laptop, or mobile device.
Even though PDFs are one of the world’s most popular file types, you may find it surprisingly challenging to edit PDF files. For example, adding a fillable text box to a PDF might sound simple, but this can be tricky in programs like Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Fortunately, Smallpdf’s free PDF editor and PDF converter are perfect for this task. When you use our tools to add new text to one of your files, you can edit PDFs on any device with internet access. That includes both Windows and Mac computers, as well as mobile devices like an iPhone/iPad or an Android phone.
Smallpdf offers two PDF markup solutions; in this article, we’ll walk you through both of these approaches to the task at hand. Our first how-to explains the simplest way to type or write on PDFs. Meanwhile, the second one covers a more in-depth solution.
How to Write on a PDF
Open our PDF editor.
Upload your PDF file.
Type, highlight, add images, or draw freehand with your cursor. (If you have a Smallpdf Pro subscription, you can also edit existing text.)
Select the “Export” button in the top-right corner to save and download your file.
Job done!
How to write on a PDF with the Smallpdf Edit tool
How to Make Changes to a PDF
Alternatively, you may need to edit your document before filling it out or typing on it. If you have to make changes like reordering sections or adding new material to your document, you’ll want to follow our PDF converter workflow:
- Drag your PDF into the converter to turn it into a Microsoft Word document (or a document in any other Microsoft Office file format).
- Download your new Office file.
- Open your ex-PDF file, make your edits, and save.
- Use the appropriate Office-to-PDF converter to turn the Word, PPT, or Excel file back to PDF.
- Receive an edited PDF at the end!
How to convert a PDF with our PDF converter
How Should You Add Text to PDFs?
There are plenty of times you might find yourself in need of our Edit PDF tool. For example, you might have to fill in a form on a PDF for work, or you may need to add PDF text to share notes with a student or coworker. If you need to fill in PDF forms in a hurry for any reason, our PDF editor is just what you’re looking for.
On the other hand, using the longer process can give you more options if you need to make big changes. By going this route, you’ll have access to more tools to edit text, adjust font size, and add or remove text or images from your written documents.
Don’t Miss These Smallpdf Tools
While PDF annotation and conversion are popular use cases for Smallpdf, these are just two of the many capabilities our valued users can benefit from. At Smallpdf, we pride ourselves on being the go-to destination for PDF services; because of that, we offer dozens of tools to people using our site.
Other Smallpdf tools worth checking out before you finish working on your document include:
Merge PDF
Juggling multiple documents can certainly be an annoyance, but you can avoid this situation entirely with the help of our Merge PDF tool. This tool lets users take multiple PDF documents, combine them into one document, and save as a single file.
Redact PDF
Let’s say you have a PDF file you’d like to share with someone else, but it contains information that shouldn’t be made public. With the help of our online PDF redaction tool, you can permanently take sensitive information out of your PDF documents.
PDF Reader
Do you want to view or manage your PDF files online? If so, Smallpdf’s PDF Reader can give you an easy way to look at these files while browsing the web. (If you need to access PDF documents without an internet connection, our Windows and MacOS apps also provide this functionality.)
Watermark PDF
Watermarks are a great way to protect your PDF files from unauthorized use, but you might be unsure how to put these virtual stamps on your files. Thanks to our Watermark PDF tool, you can add watermarks to your documents with ease.
AI PDF Summarizer
In addition to our “traditional” PDF tools, Smallpdf has recently introduced several AI-powered features. One of these tools is AI PDF Summarizer, which gives our users a preview of their PDF files in the form of an AI-generated summary.
Write on Your PDF Files Online
Millions of monthly users and thousands of companies think Smallpdf offers the world’s best PDF editor, and it’s not hard to see why. Our markup tools are powerful, intuitive, and easy to access no matter where you are.
Along with that, we go the extra mile to protect our users. To that end, all files added to Smallpdf‘s servers (except for contracts and documents uploaded to our online storage) are deleted after one hour of processing. We also use secure TLS encryption to keep your documents safe.
Best of all, these benefits don’t come at an inflated price—or any price at all. Instead, you can use Smallpdf’s complete lineup of tools without paying for a subscription or creating an account. And if you want the best possible Smallpdf experience, subscribe to Smallpdf Pro to access extra features while avoiding download limits!
