How to Edit a PDF for Free

Editing & TextUpdated Sep 23, 2026
Quick answer

For quick changes, add text, highlights and drawings with free tools like Microsoft Edge, macOS Preview or Adobe Acrobat Reader. To change existing text, open the PDF in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, edit it, then save as PDF again, or use an online PDF editor.

First: what kind of edit do you need?

I want to… Easiest free tool
Add text, highlight, draw, add notes Edge, Preview, Acrobat Reader
Fill in a form See How to fill out a PDF form
Sign See How to sign a PDF
Delete, reorder or rotate pages See Organize
Change existing text Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice Draw, online editors

Add text and annotations (free)

Windows — Microsoft Edge

  1. Right-click the PDF > Open with > Microsoft Edge.
  2. Use Add text, Draw or Highlight in the toolbar.
  3. Click Save (or Save as).

Mac — Preview

  1. Open the PDF in Preview.
  2. Click the Markup (pen) icon.
  3. Use the T (text box), shapes, highlight or signature tools.

Any computer — Adobe Acrobat Reader (free): use Comment or Fill & Sign to add text and marks.

Change the existing text

Method A: Microsoft Word (best for text documents)

  1. In Word, choose File > Open and select the PDF.
  2. Word converts it into an editable document. Complex layouts may shift.
  3. Make your edits, then File > Save As > PDF.

Method B: Google Docs (free, any device)

Upload to Google Drive, right-click > Open with > Google Docs. Best for simple text. Layouts and images are often lost.

Method C: LibreOffice Draw (free, desktop)

Opens PDFs as editable pages where each text line is a box. Good for small fixes that keep the layout.

Method D: Online PDF editors

Many online editors let you click on existing text and change it. Good for typos and small changes. Mind privacy for sensitive files.

The “white-out” trick for tiny fixes

If nothing else works (e.g. on a scan): draw a white rectangle over the wrong text, then add a text box with the correct text on top. Match the font size as closely as you can.

⚠️ White-out only hides content visually. The original text may still be in the file and can be copied. Never use it to hide confidential information. Use a proper redaction tool instead.

Frequently asked questions

Why is editing a PDF so difficult?

A PDF stores each line or word at a fixed position rather than as flowing paragraphs. Changing one word doesn't automatically push the rest of the line along the way a word processor does.

Can I edit a scanned PDF?

Not directly. It's an image. Run OCR first (Word and Google Docs do this automatically when opening a scan), or cover the old text with a white box and type new text on top.

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