Flatten PDF

Flatten PDF turns the parts of a PDF that sit on top of the page into part of the page itself. Typed answers in form boxes, ticks, drop-down choices, sticky notes, highlights, drawings and stamps are drawn into the page, and the editable versions are removed. The result looks the same but can no longer be changed, cleared or re-filled.

Before you flatten anything, the tool shows you what it found: how many form fields of each kind, how many comments and marks, and how many links. You choose whether to flatten the fields, the comments, or both.

There are two methods. “Keep text” draws each field and mark in using the appearance already saved in the PDF, so the page’s own text stays sharp and searchable and links keep working. “Everything as images” turns each page into a picture of exactly what your browser shows, which also catches unusual marks that have no saved appearance. Flatten before sending a signed form, a contract you have annotated, or a form that looks different in other apps. It all happens in your browser, so the file is never uploaded.

1. Tap “Choose a PDF” and pick your file. The panel lists the form fields, comments and links it found.
2. Tick “Form fields”, “Comments and marks”, or both.
3. Pick a method: “Keep text” (recommended) or “Everything as images”, with a picture quality of 150, 200 or 300 dpi.
4. Press “Flatten and save”. The result tells you how many fields and marks are left in the new file.
5. Press “Download flattened PDF”.

• Shows what’s inside first: form fields by kind (text boxes, tick boxes, option groups, drop-downs) and comments by kind.
• Flattens form fields, comments and marks, or just one of the two.
• “Keep text” places each saved appearance exactly where readers show it, so nothing shifts.
• Hidden fields and marks are removed rather than drawn.
• Links keep working with “Keep text”.
• “Everything as images” flattens anything at all, at 150, 200 or 300 dpi.
• Reads the new file back and reports what is left.
• Runs in your browser: no upload, no sign-up, no watermark.

• If a mark has no saved appearance, the tool says so up front; “Keep text” leaves it in place and “Everything as images” bakes it in.
• Fields filled in by apps that leave the drawing to the next reader get a fresh appearance first, in a plain font.
• XFA forms (made with Adobe LiveCycle) can’t be drawn here. The tool warns you; fill and print them to PDF in Adobe Reader first.
• “Everything as images” makes text unsearchable and the file bigger. Use it only when “Keep text” misses something.
• Flattening isn’t redaction: covered text under a mark stays in the file. Use Redact PDF to remove it.