Flatten PDF
Choose a filled-in form or annotated PDF and download a flattened copy where every field value is baked into the page.
Choose a filled-in form or annotated PDF.
About this tool
A fillable PDF keeps each answer in a separate form field. Anyone who opens the file can still change those values, and some viewers or print services fail to show them at all. Flattening draws the field appearances onto the page and removes the interactive fields, so what you see is what everyone gets.
Flatten a form before sending a signed application, an invoice or a contract, or when a recipient reports that fields look empty. The document is also re-saved with object streams, which often makes it smaller. Password-protected files must be unlocked first.
Frequently asked questions
- Will the filled values be visible after flattening?
- Yes. Field appearances are regenerated and painted onto the pages, then the fields are removed.
- Can I undo flattening?
- No. Keep the original if you may need to edit the form again.
- My PDF has no form fields — is flattening useful?
- It still re-saves the file cleanly, but there is nothing to flatten. Use Compress PDF for size reduction.