Answers that stay put
Filled fields become part of the page: no one can change them by clicking into the form.
Flatten a PDF: make form answers part of the page
Make form answers, comments, highlights and stamps part of the page, so they can no longer be changed, moved or removed as fields or comments. Worth doing before you send a filled form or a reviewed document. Free, in your browser.
or drop it here
- Runs in your browser
- Free, no account needed
- Works on phones
How it works
How to flatten a PDF
- 01
Choose your PDF. It opens in the editor, in your browser.
- 02
Choose Flatten in the tools.
- 03
Download the PDF: its fields and comments are now part of the pages.
Why GenPDF
Flatten PDF with GenPDF: what is different
Shown by every reader
Some readers and printers leave out form fields or comments. Once flattened, they are simply part of the page.
Undo while you work
Flattening can be undone in the editor until you close the document, in case one more change is needed.
Questions
Flatten PDF: questions and answers
What does flattening a PDF do?
It draws form fields and annotations, such as comments, highlights and stamps, into the page itself. They look the same, but are no longer separate objects that can be edited or removed.
Can a flattened PDF be unflattened?
No. Once downloaded, the answers and comments are part of the page. Keep a copy of the original if you may need to change them.
Should I flatten a form before sending it?
If the answers must not change, yes: flattening stops anyone from editing the fields, and every reader and printer shows the answers.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. Flattening happens in your browser. A scanned page is sent as an image only if you agree to have its words read, and deleted as soon as they are read.
Blog
Articles about this tool
Guides
Flatten a PDF form or keep it editable?
Decide when to flatten a filled PDF form, what you may lose, and how to check the saved copy. Keep an editable original for later corrections.