How to edit pdf files

Edit text in PDFs

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Edit text in PDF

This document explains how to edit text in a PDF. (For information on how to edit images, objects, or scanned PDFs, click the appropriate link above.)

Watch a quick video tutorial and get started

Edit text and images in your PDF now. Click Get Started to launch Acrobat:

Add, change, format, delete, or highlight text

When you add text in a PDF, by default Acrobat picks nearby font attributes for the new text. Similarly, when you edit existing text in a PDF and the font is not available on the system, by default the font fall-backs to a specific font in a particular script. For example, font fall-backs to Minion Pro in roman script fonts. This default behavior can lead to fonts with an inconsistent appearance in a PDF document. To make it consistent throughout all the PDFs, you can choose a specific font for both adding text and editing text using the Font Options under the Content Editing preferences.

In Acrobat, on the Edit menu, choose Preferences. The Preferences dialog box is displayed.
(Alternatively, you can press Ctrl+K keys on Windows or Command+K keys on macOS.)

In the dialog box, click Content Editing under Categories. The Font Options are displayed as shown in the screenshot below.

Select an appropriate font in the drop-down lists:

Click OK to save the changes and close the Preferences dialog box.

When you edit text, the text in the paragraph reflows within its text box to accommodate the changes. Each text box is independent, and inserting text in one text block does not push down an adjacent text box or reflow to the next page.

Select the text you want to edit. The text-box turns blue upon selection, and a rotation handle appears at the top of the selected text-box.

For legal reasons, you must have purchased a font and have it installed on your system to revise text using that font.

You can edit text only if the font used for that text is installed on your system. If the font isn’t installed on your system, but is embedded in the PDF, you can change only the color or font size. If the font is not installed or embedded, you can’t edit any of the text.

Select the text you want to change.

In the right-side Format panel, select a font, font size, or other formatting options. You can also use the advanced format options, such as line spacing, character spacing, horizontal scaling, stroke width, and color.

For legal reasons, you must have purchased a font and have it installed on your system to revise text using that font.

You can edit text only if the font used for that text is installed on your system. If the font isn’t installed on your system, but is embedded in the PDF, you can change only the color or font size. If the font is not installed or embedded, you can’t edit any of the text.

You can add or insert new text into a PDF using any of the fonts installed on the system.

The Add text tool intelligently detects the following text properties of text close to the point of click:

These text properties are automatically applied to the text that you add at the point of click.

You can change the text properties using the options under Format in the right pane.

You can move or rotate text boxes on a page. The Edit Text & Images tool outlines each text box, so it is clear what text is affected. Edits are confined to the page. You cannot drag a text block to another page, or move or rotate individual characters or words within a text box. However, you can copy text boxes and paste them on another page.

Resizing a text box causes the text to reflow within the new text box boundaries. It does not change the size of the text. As with other text edits, resizing is limited to the current page. Text does not flow to the next page.

Place the pointer over any of the circular selection handles, and drag the handle to resize the text block.

If you want to mark up selected text with highlight, strikethrough, or underline, use the Comment tool. The actual text doesn’t change in the PDF. Those mark ups only indicate where and how the text should be edited in the source file. For more information, see Highlight, strikethrough, or underline text.

You can use annotation and drawing markup tools to add comments. Comments are notes and drawings that communicate ideas or provide feedback for PDFs. You can type a text message using the Sticky Note tool. Alternatively, you can use a drawing tool to add a line, circle, or other shape and then type a message in the associated pop-up note. For more information, see Use annotation and drawing markup tools to add comments in PDFs.

You can add items to a numbered or bulleted list, create list items, convert an existing paragraph to a list item, convert an existing list item to a paragraph, and convert from one list type to another.

Acrobat detects paragraphs and lists separately. Therefore, both paragraph and list may appear in the same bounding box while editing. After you save or save as the changed file and reopen it, the paragraph and list items are displayed in separate bounding boxes.

Do the following:

To add or remove items from a numbered or bulleted list:

To create a numbered or bulleted list:

To convert an existing paragraph to a list item:

To convert an existing list item to a paragraph:

To convert from one list type to another:

Edit text in PDFs

This document explains how to add or replace text, correct typos, change fonts and typeface, adjust alignment, and resize text in a PDF. See the step-by-step instructions below.

Add, change, format, delete, or highlight text

When you add text in a PDF, by default Acrobat picks nearby font attributes for the new text. Similarly, when you edit existing text in a PDF and the font is not available on the system, by default the font fall-backs to a specific font in a particular script. For example, font fall-backs to Minion Pro in roman script fonts. This default behavior can lead to fonts with an inconsistent appearance in a PDF document. To make it consistent throughout all the PDFs, you can choose a specific font for both adding text and editing text using the Font Options under the Content Editing preferences.

In Acrobat, on the Edit menu, choose Preferences. The Preferences dialog box is displayed.
(Alternatively, you can press Ctrl+K keys on Windows or Command+K keys on macOS.)

In the dialog box, click Content Editing under Categories. The Font Options are displayed as shown in the screenshot below.

Select an appropriate font in the drop-down lists:

Click OK to save the changes and close the Preferences dialog box.

When you edit text, the text in the paragraph reflows within its text box to accommodate the changes. Each text box is independent, and inserting text in one text block does not push down an adjacent text box or reflow to the next page.

Select the text you want to edit. The text-box turns blue upon selection, and a rotation handle appears at the top of the selected text-box.

For legal reasons, you must have purchased a font and have it installed on your system to revise text using that font.

You can edit text only if the font used for that text is installed on your system. If the font isn’t installed on your system, but is embedded in the PDF, you can change only the color or font size. If the font is not installed or embedded, you can’t edit any of the text.

Select the text you want to change.

In the right-side Format panel, select a font, font size, or other formatting options. You can also use the advanced format options, such as line spacing, character spacing, horizontal scaling, stroke width, and color.

For legal reasons, you must have purchased a font and have it installed on your system to revise text using that font.

You can edit text only if the font used for that text is installed on your system. If the font isn’t installed on your system, but is embedded in the PDF, you can change only the color or font size. If the font is not installed or embedded, you can’t edit any of the text.

You can add or insert new text into a PDF using any of the fonts installed on the system.

The Add text tool intelligently detects the following text properties of text close to the point of click:

These text properties are automatically applied to the text that you add at the point of click.

You can change the text properties using the options under Format in the right pane.

You can move or rotate text boxes on a page. The Edit Text & Images tool outlines each text box, so it is clear what text is affected. Edits are confined to the page. You cannot drag a text block to another page, or move or rotate individual characters or words within a text box. However, you can copy text boxes and paste them on another page.

Resizing a text box causes the text to reflow within the new text box boundaries. It does not change the size of the text. As with other text edits, resizing is limited to the current page. Text does not flow to the next page.

Place the pointer over any of the circular selection handles, and drag the handle to resize the text block.

If you want to mark up selected text with highlight, strikethrough, or underline, use the Comment tool. The actual text doesn’t change in the PDF. Those mark ups only indicate where and how the text should be edited in the source file. For more information, see Highlight, strikethrough, or underline text.

You can use annotation and drawing markup tools to add comments. Comments are notes and drawings that communicate ideas or provide feedback for PDFs. You can type a text message using the Sticky Note tool. Alternatively, you can use a drawing tool to add a line, circle, or other shape and then type a message in the associated pop-up note. For more information, see Use annotation and drawing markup tools to add comments in PDFs.

You can add items to a numbered or bulleted list, create list items, convert an existing paragraph to a list item, convert an existing list item to a paragraph, and convert from one list type to another.

Acrobat detects paragraphs and lists separately. Therefore, both paragraph and list may appear in the same bounding box while editing. After you save or save as the changed file and reopen it, the paragraph and list items are displayed in separate bounding boxes.

Do the following:

To add or remove items from a numbered or bulleted list:

To create a numbered or bulleted list:

To convert an existing paragraph to a list item:

To convert an existing list item to a paragraph:

To convert from one list type to another:

Edit text in PDFs

You are here >
Edit text in PDF

This document explains how to edit text in a PDF. (For information on how to edit images, objects, or scanned PDFs, click the appropriate link above.)

Watch a quick video tutorial and get started

Edit text and images in your PDF now. Click Get Started to launch Acrobat:

Add, change, format, delete, or highlight text

When you add text in a PDF, by default Acrobat picks nearby font attributes for the new text. Similarly, when you edit existing text in a PDF and the font is not available on the system, by default the font fall-backs to a specific font in a particular script. For example, font fall-backs to Minion Pro in roman script fonts. This default behavior can lead to fonts with an inconsistent appearance in a PDF document. To make it consistent throughout all the PDFs, you can choose a specific font for both adding text and editing text using the Font Options under the Content Editing preferences.

In Acrobat, on the Edit menu, choose Preferences. The Preferences dialog box is displayed.
(Alternatively, you can press Ctrl+K keys on Windows or Command+K keys on macOS.)

In the dialog box, click Content Editing under Categories. The Font Options are displayed as shown in the screenshot below.

Select an appropriate font in the drop-down lists:

Click OK to save the changes and close the Preferences dialog box.

When you edit text, the text in the paragraph reflows within its text box to accommodate the changes. Each text box is independent, and inserting text in one text block does not push down an adjacent text box or reflow to the next page.

Select the text you want to edit. The text-box turns blue upon selection, and a rotation handle appears at the top of the selected text-box.

For legal reasons, you must have purchased a font and have it installed on your system to revise text using that font.

You can edit text only if the font used for that text is installed on your system. If the font isn’t installed on your system, but is embedded in the PDF, you can change only the color or font size. If the font is not installed or embedded, you can’t edit any of the text.

Select the text you want to change.

In the right-side Format panel, select a font, font size, or other formatting options. You can also use the advanced format options, such as line spacing, character spacing, horizontal scaling, stroke width, and color.

For legal reasons, you must have purchased a font and have it installed on your system to revise text using that font.

You can edit text only if the font used for that text is installed on your system. If the font isn’t installed on your system, but is embedded in the PDF, you can change only the color or font size. If the font is not installed or embedded, you can’t edit any of the text.

You can add or insert new text into a PDF using any of the fonts installed on the system.

The Add text tool intelligently detects the following text properties of text close to the point of click:

These text properties are automatically applied to the text that you add at the point of click.

You can change the text properties using the options under Format in the right pane.

You can move or rotate text boxes on a page. The Edit Text & Images tool outlines each text box, so it is clear what text is affected. Edits are confined to the page. You cannot drag a text block to another page, or move or rotate individual characters or words within a text box. However, you can copy text boxes and paste them on another page.

Resizing a text box causes the text to reflow within the new text box boundaries. It does not change the size of the text. As with other text edits, resizing is limited to the current page. Text does not flow to the next page.

Place the pointer over any of the circular selection handles, and drag the handle to resize the text block.

If you want to mark up selected text with highlight, strikethrough, or underline, use the Comment tool. The actual text doesn’t change in the PDF. Those mark ups only indicate where and how the text should be edited in the source file. For more information, see Highlight, strikethrough, or underline text.

You can use annotation and drawing markup tools to add comments. Comments are notes and drawings that communicate ideas or provide feedback for PDFs. You can type a text message using the Sticky Note tool. Alternatively, you can use a drawing tool to add a line, circle, or other shape and then type a message in the associated pop-up note. For more information, see Use annotation and drawing markup tools to add comments in PDFs.

You can add items to a numbered or bulleted list, create list items, convert an existing paragraph to a list item, convert an existing list item to a paragraph, and convert from one list type to another.

Acrobat detects paragraphs and lists separately. Therefore, both paragraph and list may appear in the same bounding box while editing. After you save or save as the changed file and reopen it, the paragraph and list items are displayed in separate bounding boxes.

Do the following:

To add or remove items from a numbered or bulleted list:

To create a numbered or bulleted list:

To convert an existing paragraph to a list item:

To convert an existing list item to a paragraph:

To convert from one list type to another:

Edit images or objects in a PDF

This document explains how to add, resize, move, or replace images and objects in a PDF using Acrobat. See the step-by-step instructions below.

In the Open dialog box, locate the image file you want to place.

Click where you want to place the image, or click-drag to size the image as you place it.

A copy of the image file appears on the page, with the same resolution as the original file.

Move or resize an image or object

Open the PDF in Acrobat, and then select the appropriate tool depending on what you want to move:

If you select multiple objects, you can move or resize them together. To select multiple objects, press and hold the Shift key and then click the objects one-by-one.

Rotate, flip, crop (clip), or replace an image

Under Objects in the right hand panel, click one of the following tools:

Flip Vertical Flips the image vertically, on the horizontal axis.

Flip Horizontal Flips the image horizontally, on the vertical axis.

Rotate Counterclockwise Rotates the selected image ninety degrees in the counterclockwise direction.

Rotate Clockwise Rotates the selected image ninety degrees in the clockwise direction.

Crop Image Crops or clips the selected image. Drag a selection handle to crop the image.

Replace Image Replaces the selected image with the image you choose. Locate the replacement image in the Open dialog, and click Open.

Move an image or object in front or behind other elements

The Arrange options let you move an image or object in front of or behind other elements. You can push an item forward or back just one level, or send it to the front or back of the stacking order of elements on the page.

Alternatively, you can right-click the object (or objects), and point to Arrange and then choose the appropriate option.

Align images or objects

When you align objects relative to each other by their edges, one of the objects remains stationary. For example, the left option aligns the left edges of the selected objects with respect to the left edge of the leftmost object. The leftmost object remains stationary, and the other objects are aligned relative to it.

The horizontal center option aligns the selected objects horizontally through the centre of the objects, and the vertical center option aligns the selected objects vertically through the centers of the objects. The objects are aligned along a horizontal or vertical line that represents the average of their original positions. An object can remain stationary if it is already aligned with the horizontal or vertical line.

Depending on the alignment option you select, objects move straight up, down, left, or right, and might overlap an object already located there. If you see an overlap, you can undo the alignment.

Alternatively, you can right-click the object (or objects), and point to the Align Objects option from the context menu and then select the desired alignment option from the submenu.

Edit an image outside Acrobat

You can edit an image or graphic using another application, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, or Microsoft Paint. When you save the image or graphic, Acrobat automatically updates the PDF with the changes. The applications that appear in the Edit Using menu depend upon what you have installed and the type of image or graphic you have selected. Optionally, you can specify the application you want to use.

Edit text in PDFs

You are here >
Edit text in PDF

This document explains how to edit text in a PDF. (For information on how to edit images, objects, or scanned PDFs, click the appropriate link above.)

Watch a quick video tutorial and get started

Edit text and images in your PDF now. Click Get Started to launch Acrobat:

Add, change, format, delete, or highlight text

When you add text in a PDF, by default Acrobat picks nearby font attributes for the new text. Similarly, when you edit existing text in a PDF and the font is not available on the system, by default the font fall-backs to a specific font in a particular script. For example, font fall-backs to Minion Pro in roman script fonts. This default behavior can lead to fonts with an inconsistent appearance in a PDF document. To make it consistent throughout all the PDFs, you can choose a specific font for both adding text and editing text using the Font Options under the Content Editing preferences.

In Acrobat, on the Edit menu, choose Preferences. The Preferences dialog box is displayed.
(Alternatively, you can press Ctrl+K keys on Windows or Command+K keys on macOS.)

In the dialog box, click Content Editing under Categories. The Font Options are displayed as shown in the screenshot below.

Select an appropriate font in the drop-down lists:

Click OK to save the changes and close the Preferences dialog box.

When you edit text, the text in the paragraph reflows within its text box to accommodate the changes. Each text box is independent, and inserting text in one text block does not push down an adjacent text box or reflow to the next page.

Select the text you want to edit. The text-box turns blue upon selection, and a rotation handle appears at the top of the selected text-box.

For legal reasons, you must have purchased a font and have it installed on your system to revise text using that font.

You can edit text only if the font used for that text is installed on your system. If the font isn’t installed on your system, but is embedded in the PDF, you can change only the color or font size. If the font is not installed or embedded, you can’t edit any of the text.

Select the text you want to change.

In the right-side Format panel, select a font, font size, or other formatting options. You can also use the advanced format options, such as line spacing, character spacing, horizontal scaling, stroke width, and color.

For legal reasons, you must have purchased a font and have it installed on your system to revise text using that font.

You can edit text only if the font used for that text is installed on your system. If the font isn’t installed on your system, but is embedded in the PDF, you can change only the color or font size. If the font is not installed or embedded, you can’t edit any of the text.

You can add or insert new text into a PDF using any of the fonts installed on the system.

The Add text tool intelligently detects the following text properties of text close to the point of click:

These text properties are automatically applied to the text that you add at the point of click.

You can change the text properties using the options under Format in the right pane.

You can move or rotate text boxes on a page. The Edit Text & Images tool outlines each text box, so it is clear what text is affected. Edits are confined to the page. You cannot drag a text block to another page, or move or rotate individual characters or words within a text box. However, you can copy text boxes and paste them on another page.

Resizing a text box causes the text to reflow within the new text box boundaries. It does not change the size of the text. As with other text edits, resizing is limited to the current page. Text does not flow to the next page.

Place the pointer over any of the circular selection handles, and drag the handle to resize the text block.

If you want to mark up selected text with highlight, strikethrough, or underline, use the Comment tool. The actual text doesn’t change in the PDF. Those mark ups only indicate where and how the text should be edited in the source file. For more information, see Highlight, strikethrough, or underline text.

You can use annotation and drawing markup tools to add comments. Comments are notes and drawings that communicate ideas or provide feedback for PDFs. You can type a text message using the Sticky Note tool. Alternatively, you can use a drawing tool to add a line, circle, or other shape and then type a message in the associated pop-up note. For more information, see Use annotation and drawing markup tools to add comments in PDFs.

You can add items to a numbered or bulleted list, create list items, convert an existing paragraph to a list item, convert an existing list item to a paragraph, and convert from one list type to another.

Acrobat detects paragraphs and lists separately. Therefore, both paragraph and list may appear in the same bounding box while editing. After you save or save as the changed file and reopen it, the paragraph and list items are displayed in separate bounding boxes.

Do the following:

To add or remove items from a numbered or bulleted list:

To create a numbered or bulleted list:

To convert an existing paragraph to a list item:

To convert an existing list item to a paragraph:

To convert from one list type to another: