Quick answer
Open PDF Form Fill and choose your PDF. Click on the page where the text should go, type it, and drag the green handle to line it up. Set the size and colour, check each page, then save the PDF.
Adding text vs. changing text
People use "add text to a PDF" for two different jobs. Pick the right one before you start:
| You want to | Example | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Put new text on the page | Your name, a date, an answer, a short note | PDF Form Fill (free) |
| Change words that are already there | A wrong price, an old address, a typo | Edit PDF (Pro) |
| Add a signature | Sign a letter or agreement | PDF Sign (free) |
Typing over an old word with new text does not remove the old word. It only covers it, and the result often looks messy. If the text on the page is wrong, change it properly with Edit PDF instead.
Type on a PDF, step by step
- Open PDF Form Fill and choose your PDF. The first page appears on screen.
- Set the size and colour before you type, so every entry matches.
- Click where the text should start and type.
- Drag the green handle on the left of each entry to move it. Click the red cross to remove one.
- Use Next to go to other pages. Your text is kept on each page.
- Save the filled PDF. Keep your blank original in case you need to start again.
Make the text look like it belongs
- Match the size of the printed text. Zoom in and compare. Text that is too big is the most common giveaway.
- Use black or dark blue. Bright colours look like edits rather than entries.
- Line it up with the line or box. Sit the text just above a line, not on top of it.
- Keep it short. Long paragraphs typed on top of a page are hard to read. If you need a lot of new text, add a separate page instead.
Scanned pages and photos of documents
A scanned PDF is a picture of the paper, so there is no real text to click on. That does not matter for adding text: PDF Form Fill places your words on top of the image, just like on a normal PDF. If the scan is crooked, line your text up with the nearest printed line rather than the edge of the page.
Other ways you might already have
Some apps on your computer can also add text. Preview on a Mac has a Text tool in its markup toolbar. Microsoft Edge on Windows has an "Add text" option when it opens a PDF. They work for quick notes. Use the browser tool here when you are on a phone, on someone else's computer, or need entries on many pages.
When the existing text has to change
If the wording itself is wrong, open Edit PDF, click the text and change it. You can also replace images, highlight and draw. Unlike the free tools on this site, Edit PDF sends the file to our server to process it: it is checked for malware, worked on in isolated memory and deleted rather than stored. It is part of Pro. If you only need it for one job, the $2 pass on the pricing page gives 72 hours of Pro and does not renew automatically. The full walkthrough is in how to edit text in a PDF.
Frequently asked questions
How do I type on a PDF for free?
Open PDF Form Fill, choose your PDF, click where the text should go and type. Drag the handle to move it, then save the PDF. There is no signup.
Can I add text to a scanned PDF?
Yes. A scan is an image of a page, and PDF Form Fill places your text on top of it, so it works the same way as on any other PDF.
Can I change text that is already in the PDF?
Adding text does not change what is already there. To change existing words, use Edit PDF, which is a Pro feature. A $2 pass gives 72 hours of Pro with no automatic renewal.
Will the text stay if I send the PDF?
Yes. When you save, the text is written into the PDF, so it shows up in any PDF viewer on any device.