How to edit a PDF for free
Updated
A PDF is built to look the same everywhere, which is why it feels hard to change. You do not need a paid desktop app to edit one. This guide shows how to change the text that is already there, add your own text, pictures and signatures, and reorder or remove pages — in any browser, on any device.
Change the text that is already in the PDF
- Open the PDF editor and choose your file.
- Choose Edit text in the toolbar. Every paragraph, heading, list and table cell is outlined.
- Click the text you want to change and type. It keeps its font size, weight, colour and position.
- Press Done and download. The old words are removed from the file, not just hidden under a white box.
Because the original words are taken out of the file, search, copy and screen readers find only your new text — which matters for contracts, invoices and anything you send on.
Add new text, pictures, shapes and signatures
Pick Text and click anywhere on the page to type. Format it as you would in Word: select a few words and make them bold, italic, coloured, larger or highlighted, use bullets and numbering, and choose a style such as Heading 1 or Quote. Images, shapes, stamps like Approved or Paid, tables, links and comments are in the toolbar and the Elements panel.
Objects snap to smart guides as you move them, so things line up with the page and with each other.
Reorder, rotate or delete pages
Use Organise pages to drag thumbnails into a new order, rotate pages or delete them. Merge PDF joins several files into one, and Split PDF takes pages out into separate files.
What about scanned PDFs?
A scan is a picture of a page, so there is no text to edit until it has been read. In the editor, choose Edit text and press Recognise text on this page, or turn the whole document into an editable PDF with OCR PDF.
Questions and answers
Can I edit a PDF without Adobe Acrobat?
Yes. pdf-m8 edits PDFs in the browser: change existing text, add text, images and signatures, fill forms and reorder pages, free and without installing anything.
Is my PDF uploaded when I edit it?
No. The editor runs on your device, so the file never leaves your computer or phone.