Annotate PDF

A note here. A clear idea there.

Add text, highlights, shapes and freehand ink. Existing PDF text is preserved and cannot be rewritten. Draw or click on the page preview.

How to use Annotate PDF

1. Open your document from your device.
2. Adjust the settings and preview the result.
3. Read text results on screen or download your file. Your original remains untouched.

Local by design

Your documents are processed on your device. No account, payment or document upload is required.

Enable JavaScript to use the document workspace.

Add clear annotations without pretending to rewrite the source

Annotate PDF lets you add text, highlights, shapes and freehand ink to a page. It is useful for review notes, explanations and visual emphasis. Existing PDF text is preserved and cannot be rewritten through this annotation workflow. Placing new text over old wording is not the same as editing the original content.

Decide whether you need a review copy or a final edited document. For comments and explanations, annotations may be sufficient. For substantive changes to the original wording, return to the source application where possible or use an appropriate editable reconstruction and review it carefully. Avoid creating a visually convincing replacement that leaves contradictory source content underneath.

Place a mark and inspect it

1. Open the PDF and navigate to the relevant page.
2. Choose the marking type and set the available text, colour and size controls.
3. Click to place text or drag to draw the supported shape or ink mark.
4. Use Undo or clear controls to correct placement mistakes.
5. Create a new annotated result and reopen the downloaded file.

Check the preview at a useful scale. On a narrow screen, small marks can be difficult to position and review. Leave enough contrast between a note and the page background. A highlight should emphasise readable text rather than obscure the words it is meant to call attention to.

Keep annotations meaningful to another reader

A mark that makes sense to you may be ambiguous to someone else. Pair a highlighted passage with a concise explanation when necessary. Distinguish corrections, questions and approvals rather than using one colour for every purpose. Do not imply that a review note is part of the original author’s text unless you have intentionally produced an edited derivative.

Check whether annotations cover page numbers, labels or important punctuation. A large shape can hide context. Freehand ink may look smooth in the drawing gesture but less clear after export, particularly when viewed at a different scale. Inspect the saved page rather than relying only on the in-progress overlay.

Annotations are not a redaction method. A black shape or white text box can leave underlying information intact. Use the dedicated permanent redaction workflow when sensitive content must be removed, and verify its output. This distinction is essential even if the annotation looks completely opaque in your current viewer.

Verify the delivered review copy

Open the downloaded result and check every page with marks. Confirm that text, symbols and colours render correctly. Review orientation on rotated pages and ensure that the notes appear where intended. Check the first and last marked pages and any page where the source size differs from the rest.

Keep the unannotated source separately. If the document was certificate-signed, preserve that signed original and do not represent a rewritten review copy as the unchanged signed record. A visible signature image is not proof of preserved cryptographic validation after edits.

Use clear filenames such as a review suffix and include any explanation needed to interpret the annotations. Read redaction versus black boxes for sensitive information and comparing versions when checking a marked derivative against its source. The useful outcome is a readable, unambiguous review copy whose changes are intentional and easy to understand.

Frequently asked questions

Can I rewrite existing PDF text here?

No. This tool adds annotations while preserving the original text underneath.

Does a black rectangle permanently remove text?

No. Use Redact PDF for permanent removal and inspect the saved result.

Can I correct a misplaced mark?

Use Undo or clear the marks before export, then place the annotation again.

Will annotations preserve an existing certificate signature?

Do not rely on that. Keep the signed original and follow the required review or re-signing process.

What should I check after downloading?

Verify every marked page for position, readability, clipping and accidental coverage of important source content.