Flatten PDF
Merge form fields and annotations into the page.
Drop your file here
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PDF · up to 100 MB
How to use Flatten PDF
Flattening draws the visible form fields and annotations of a PDF, such as typed answers, checkboxes, comments, highlights and stamps, directly into the page content. The document looks the same but can no longer be changed in a form filler or PDF editor, and it displays and prints consistently from one viewer to the next. Hidden annotations stay hidden and links keep working. A summary tells you how many fields and annotations were flattened.
Upload your PDF
Drop the filled-in or annotated PDF on the page, or choose it from your device.
Flatten
Start the task: there are no settings to choose.
Check the summary
See how many form fields and annotations were merged into the pages.
Download the flattened PDF
Download the result, ready to send or archive.
Questions about Flatten PDF
Why flatten a PDF?
To send a completed form that can't be altered, to make sure comments and stamps print reliably, or to stop form fields from looking different in each PDF reader.
Will my filled-in answers be kept?
Yes. The answers are drawn into the page where they appear. Text fields without a stored appearance are drawn first, so typed answers are not lost.
Can I undo flattening?
Not in the flattened file: the fields and annotations are now part of the page. Keep your original PDF if you may need to edit it again.
Do links still work after flattening?
Yes. Links are left as they are, so they stay clickable.
Is flattening a PDF free?
Yes. Without an account you can run 3 tasks a day, and a free account gives you 5. Pro and Business plans have no daily limit.
What happens to my file afterwards?
Files are encrypted in transit and deleted automatically: after 2 hours for visitors and after 24 hours for account holders, unless you save them to My documents.