Docmend
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Flatten a PDF: make forms and comments uneditable
Flattening turns each page into a picture. Form fields, comments, highlights and signatures become part of the page and can no longer be edited, and the text can no longer be selected or searched. Your PDF is never uploaded.
How to use it
- Choose your PDF, or drop it on the page.
- Pick the quality. High suits most files; Standard gives a smaller file.
- Press “Flatten PDF” and download the result.
Common questions
Is the flatten PDF tool free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no limit.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. It is flattened in your browser, so it stays on your device.
What does flattening a PDF do?
It merges everything on the page, including form answers, comments, highlights and drawn signatures, into one picture per page. Nobody can edit the form fields or move the marks any more.
Can I still search or copy the text?
No. Each page becomes a picture, so the text is no longer selectable or searchable. If you need searchable text, run the result through OCR PDF.
Why is the flattened file bigger or smaller?
The size depends on the quality you choose and what is on the page. Pages that are mostly text can get bigger; use Standard quality and Smaller file to reduce it, or run Compress PDF afterwards.
Is flattening the same as redacting?
It removes the hidden layers, but it is not a redaction tool. To black out text, use Redact PDF, which flattens only the pages you mark.
How do I make a PDF form uneditable?
Flatten it. Open the PDF in this tool and download the flattened file. Fillable fields, comments and signatures become part of each page, so later readers cannot change them. Keep a copy of the original if you still need an editable form, because flattening cannot be undone.
Can I flatten a fillable PDF or flatten form fields?
Yes. This flatten PDF tool is for fillable forms as well as comments and signatures. After you flatten the file, the form fields are no longer fillable.