Flatten PDF
Make filled forms, comments and stamps part of the page.
Enable JavaScript in your browser to use this tool.
Flatten PDF help
Make supported filled forms, comments or stamps part of the printed page. Choose which categories to flatten while keeping a separate original if you need to edit them later.
How to use Flatten PDF
- Choose a PDF with filled forms, comments or stamps.
- Select Form fields, Comments and marks, or Signatures and stamps to choose what becomes permanent page content.
- Select Flatten PDF; keep your original if you may need to edit these items later.
- Select Download flattened PDF and check that the answers and marks appear correctly.
Options explained
- Form fields
- Make supported filled-field appearances part of the page when the answers no longer need to be interactive.
- Comments and marks
- Flatten supported annotations into the page while preserving their visible appearance.
- Signatures and stamps
- Keep supported visible marks as page content; this does not preserve cryptographic signature validity.
- Save an edited copy. Its digital signature will no longer be valid.
- Shown for digitally signed input. Continue only when you want an edited copy; preserve the signed original for verification.
- Process all files
- Choose multiple files to use the settings above on each one. Results and failures appear separately. Use Cancel file, Cancel all files or Download batch as ZIP as needed. Check that page positions or form fields suit every input.
Limits and supported files
PDF documents. A password-protected PDF needs Unlock PDF first.
Local tests used synthetic 10, 50, 100 and 200 MB PDFs containing large images. Chromium, Firefox and WebKit: completed 10, 50, 100, 200 MB.
Chromium, Firefox and WebKit: completed 50, 300, 1000 text pages.
Flatten PDF was tested on a 16 GB Mac with Chromium, Firefox and WebKit. These are observed examples, not guaranteed limits on your device. WebKit tests do not replace a check in Safari on your own device.
Up to 100 input files and 512 MB total; up to 200 output files or 512 MB. ZIPs over 128 MB need Chrome/Edge direct disk saving; use individual downloads in other browsers. The Workflow stress test completed 100 synthetic files in all three engines; this does not guarantee the same capacity for every conversion.
Questions
Does flattening make a PDF impossible to edit?
No. It removes the selected interactive items and places their saved appearance on the page. Other PDF editing may still change page content. It is not encryption or permanent redaction.
Will a digital signature remain valid?
Editing a signed PDF changes the signed document. Flattening may keep a signature’s visible appearance, but it does not preserve its cryptographic validity. Retain the signed original when signature verification matters.
Can I make filled form answers permanent?
Yes. Select Form fields to make supported filled-field appearances part of the page when the answers no longer need to be interactive.
Can I keep comments visible after flattening?
Yes. Select Comments and marks to make supported annotations part of the page while keeping their visible appearance.
Learn more: How to flatten a PDF form before sharing.
Your files are processed on your device. Verify it yourself. Read our privacy policy for details about website analytics and saved settings.