How Do I Fill Out a PDF Form on My Computer?

How do I know if a PDF form actually has fields?

Open it and click near a blank line or box. If a highlighted field appears and lets you type, it's a real fillable form.

• Highlighted boxes: most readers shade fillable fields pale blue or grey so you can spot them.
• A toolbar hint: many apps show a bar saying the file has form fields when you open it.
• No reaction at all: if clicking does nothing, the form is just a picture of text and lines, with nothing built in to fill.

How do I fill in a form without Acrobat?

Upload it to PDF Forms, which reads the fields and lets you type, tick boxes and pick from dropdowns right in your browser.

• Upload the file: nothing to install, and the page works on Windows, Mac, Chromebooks and phones.
• Fill each field: text boxes, checkboxes, radio buttons and dropdowns all work the same way they would in paid software.
• Save a copy: download the filled file once every field is done, and keep the blank original in case you need to start over.
• Browsers can help too: Firefox and Chrome can open a PDF and let you type into basic fields, but they don't always save your answers reliably.

What if the form has no fields to click into?

Then it's a flat form, often a scan or an old paper form turned into a PDF, so you add your own text on top of it.

• Use Edit PDF: drop a text box wherever you need to write, then type your answer and move it into place.
• Match the spacing: line your text box up with the blank line underneath so it reads properly when printed.
• Checkboxes and circles: you can draw a small mark or an X the same way, as its own text box.
• Save often: a flat form takes more small edits than a real fillable one, so check your work as you go.

How do I sign a PDF form once it's filled in?

Add your signature with Sign PDF, which lets you draw it, type it or upload a photo of your real one.

• Draw it with your mouse or finger: the closest match to a pen signature on paper.
• Type your name: picks a script style font, quick but less personal.
• Upload a photo: sign on paper, photograph it and place the image on the line.
• Know the limit: this kind of signature proves intent, but it isn't the certificate based digital signature that some legal and government forms require.

How do I stop someone changing my answers after I send it?

Flatten the file with Flatten PDF, which turns every filled field and signature into part of the page itself.

• Fields become fixed: once flattened, nobody can click back into a field and change what you typed.
• It isn't the same as a password: flattening stops edits through the form fields, but it doesn't encrypt the file.
• Add a password too: for anything sensitive, lock the file afterwards so only the right person can open it.
• Keep the unflattened copy: save it before you flatten, in case you need to fix a mistake later.

Try the tools

Try it on your own file. The tools are free and you don't need an account.