Is Your PDF Font Size Changing When Converting? 5 Common Issues and How to Fix Them

PDF font size not changing can come from forms, scans, or reader settings, but you can usually fix it in minutes with the right workflow.

If you’re trying to make a contract easier to read, fill out a form with tiny fields, or keep fonts consistent after converting to PDF, the same problem shows up again and again. Your PDF won’t let you change font size, or it changes in one viewer and looks different somewhere else.

The fastest fix depends on what you’re editing.

If your PDF has real, selectable text, you can adjust font size directly. If it’s scanned or image-based, you’ll need OCR first to turn the picture text into editable text.

Quick Answers: PDF Font Size FAQs

How do I change font size in a PDF without Adobe?

Use Smallpdf’s free online PDF Editor. It lets you select text and adjust font size from a formatting bar.

Can I change font size in a scanned PDF?

Yes, but you’ll need to run OCR first to convert the image to editable text. Our Edit PDF includes OCR functionality for scanned documents.

Why won’t my PDF font size change?

The PDF may have restricted permissions or embedded fonts. Try unlocking it first, or check if the text is actually an image that needs OCR.

How do I check the current font size in my PDF?

Select the text with any PDF editor. The font size appears in the formatting toolbar. Most editors show the point size (like 12pt or 14pt) when text is selected.

Can I change font size in password-protected PDFs?

Unlock the PDF first using the password, then edit normally. You can use our Unlock PDF to remove password protection.

How To Change PDF Font Size Online With Smallpdf

This is the cleanest path when your PDF is editable, and the text is selectable.

Step 1: Open Smallpdf Edit PDF and Upload Your File

Open Smallpdf Edit PDF, then click “Choose Files” or drag and drop your PDF. You can also upload from Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. You’ll see a page preview load in the editor area.

Step 2: Click Into the Text You Want To Adjust

Click the text or text field you want to change. Look for the blinking cursor or an active field outline. If you can’t place a cursor, the text might be flattened or scanned.

Step 3: Change the Font Size in the Formatting Bar

Select the text, then use the font size control in the formatting bar to increase or decrease the point size. You should see the change live on the page, so you can stop as soon as it fits your layout.

Step 4: Check Spacing and Line Wrap Before Saving

After resizing, scan the full line for weird breaks and cramped spacing. If the text wraps in a way you don’t want, lower the size slightly or adjust the field content.

Step 5: Download Your Updated PDF

Click “Download” to save the updated file. If you see a “Finish” option, follow it to download or share your file after processing.

Issue 1: The PDF Text Is an Image, So Font Size Can’t Change

This is the most common reason the PDF font size won’t change. If the PDF came from a scanner, photo, or fax, the text is baked into an image layer.

You’ll usually notice:

• You can’t highlight individual words.
• Copy and paste doesn’t work.
• The cursor never appears inside the text.

Run OCR first to extract the text layer, then edit font size on the OCR’d version. Smallpdf PDF OCR is designed for this exact problem.

If you want a deeper cleanup after OCR, convert the file with Smallpdf PDF to Word, fix fonts and spacing in Word, then export back to PDF. That approach is also useful when you need consistent formatting across many pages.

Issue 2: Form Fields Have Fixed Font Rules

PDF forms can be tricky. Some fields are set to a fixed font size, and others are set to auto-size. If the form creator locked those settings, your viewer may not let you change anything.

Auto-size has its own quirks, too. What you can try:

• Type less text so the field doesn’t shrink the font.
• Use shorter wording, then add details outside the field if allowed.
• Convert the PDF to Word, adjust font sizes there, then export back to PDF for a cleaner final layout.

If your goal is text inside tight form boxes, our guide on shrinking text to fit PDF forms walks through realistic workarounds.

Issue 3: Your PDF Reader Is Changing the Displayed Size

Sometimes the PDF is fine, but the viewer makes it look wrong.

A real example is Microsoft Edge, where form field text can appear normal while typing, then “jump” in size or weight after you click away from the field. That’s a viewer rendering issue, not a true font change in the file.

Quick fixes that often help:

• Open the same PDF in another reader.
• Re-download the PDF and reopen it, so you’re not seeing a cached version.
• If the PDF is a form, try printing to PDF from a stable reader, then re-open the flattened copy.

Issue 4: Printing or Converting Is Rescaling the Page

If your font size changes right after conversion or printing, the culprit is often scaling.

Common symptoms:

• Text looks smaller after printing.
• Margins look different between preview and paper.
• The PDF prints cropped, even after you change scaling.

Chrome-specific printing issues show up in support threads, including cases where scaling changes text size but still prints cropped.

What to check before you blame the font:

• In the print dialog, switch between “Actual size” and “Fit to page.”
• Confirm the paper size matches the PDF page size.
• If Chrome acts up, print from another browser or a dedicated PDF reader.

Issue 5: Embedded Fonts and Restrictions Block Edits

Some PDFs use embedded fonts that don’t behave well in basic editors. Others are restricted, so editing options are disabled.

If the file is protected, unlock it first, then edit. If the font itself is the issue, convert the PDF to Word, swap to a standard font, then export back to PDF.

This also helps when you need consistent fonts across systems that don’t share the same font library.

Troubleshooting Checklist for Stubborn Font Size Problems

If you’re stuck, run this quick sequence. 1. Try selecting the text. If you can’t, run OCR. 2. If it’s a form field, assume it has field rules. Test with shorter text. 3. Open the PDF in a different reader to rule out display glitches. 4. If printing looks wrong, fix scaling and paper size first. 5. If edits won’t save, re-download and edit the local copy, then download again.

Fix PDF Font Size Issues With Smallpdf

If PDF font size not changing is slowing you down, keep it simple. Use Smallpdf Edit PDF for selectable text, and run OCR first when your file is scanned.

If a form field fights you, convert to Word, adjust fonts with full control, then export back to PDF for a clean final version.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change font size in a PDF without Adobe?

Use our Edit PDF, which lets you select text and adjust font size from a formatting bar. If your PDF is scanned, run OCR first, so the text becomes editable.

Can I change font size in a scanned PDF?

Not directly. Scanned PDFs store text as images, so you’ll need OCR to create a real text layer before font size edits will work.

Why won’t my PDF font size change in a fillable form?

Many form fields use locked font settings or auto-size rules set by the creator. Some fields also behave inconsistently across readers, so testing in another viewer can help.

Why does my font look different after I print the PDF?

Print scaling and paper size mismatches can make the same PDF look smaller or larger on paper. Check “Actual size” versus “Fit to page,” and confirm the paper size matches the PDF.

How do I stop font size changes when converting to PDF?

Convert using a consistent workflow, then review the PDF in more than one reader. If the issue appears only in one viewer, it’s usually a rendering or scaling setting, not a true font change in the file.