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Flatten PDF

Flatten PDF merges interactive parts of a PDF into the page so they can no longer be changed. Filled form fields, comments, highlights, stamps and drawings become ordinary page content, while text stays selectable and searchable. You can flatten form fields only and keep comments editable, keep links clickable, or turn every page into an image for a complete flatten at 75 to 300 dpi in JPEG or lossless PNG. Add several PDFs at once and get them back as a ZIP. Each file shows how many fields and annotations it has before you start and what was flattened afterwards. Processing happens in your browser, with no upload.

Always freeNo sign upRuns in your browser
What to flatten

How to use

01

Add your PDFs

Drop one or more PDFs up to 200 MB each. The list shows each file's pages, form fields and annotations.

02

Choose what to flatten

Pick Forms and annotations, Form fields only, or Everything into images. For the first two you can keep links clickable; for images, choose the resolution and format.

03

Flatten and download

Press Flatten. One file downloads as a PDF with a -flattened suffix, several download as a ZIP, and each file can also be saved from the list.

Why Flatten PDF

The three flatten modes

Pick the lightest mode that does the job. The first two keep the PDF small and its text searchable.

ModeWhat changesText selectableFile size
Forms and annotationsFields, comments, highlights, stamps and drawings become page contentYesAbout the same
Form fields onlyOnly fields are locked; comments stay editableYesAbout the same
Everything into imagesEvery page becomes one pictureNoUsually larger

When to use a full image flatten

Turning pages into images is the strongest option. It hides fonts, layers and any hidden content structure, and every reader shows exactly the same picture. It also stops text from being copied. The cost is a larger file with no searchable text, so use it only when those matter more.

Common questions

What does it mean to flatten a PDF?
Flattening takes layers that sit on top of the page, such as form fields and comments, and draws them into the page itself. The result looks the same but cannot be edited through those fields or annotations anymore.
Why flatten a PDF form before sending it?
So the answers stay as you entered them. An unflattened form can be edited by anyone who opens it, and some readers or printers show empty fields. Flattening fixes the values in place and makes them look the same everywhere.
Does flattening a PDF remove the text layer?
Not in the first two modes. Forms and annotations or Form fields only keep the original text selectable and searchable. Only Everything into images replaces each page with a picture, so no text can be selected afterwards.
What is the difference between flattening annotations and form fields?
Form fields are the boxes you type into or tick. Annotations are comments, highlights, stamps, sticky notes and drawings added on top. Form fields only locks the answers but keeps comments editable, while Forms and annotations locks both.
Will links still work after I flatten a PDF?
Yes, with Keep links clickable ticked, which is the default. Untick it to flatten links too. In Everything into images mode links cannot survive, since each page becomes one picture.
Which resolution should I pick to flatten a PDF into images?
150 dpi suits sharing and archiving, 220 or 300 dpi suits printing, and 75 or 100 dpi keeps files small for screen reading. PNG keeps every pixel exact but makes larger files than JPEG.
Why did the flatten report mention removed empty items?
Some fields and comments have no visible appearance saved in the file, or are marked hidden. There is nothing to draw for them, so they are removed rather than left behind as invisible, editable parts.
Can I flatten a digitally signed PDF?
You can, and the signature's appearance stays on the page, but the cryptographic signature stops being verifiable because the file has changed. Flatten a copy, and keep the signed original if the signature needs to be checked later.
Can I flatten several PDF files at the same time?
Yes. Add as many PDFs as you like. They are processed one after another with the same settings, and all results download together in one ZIP.

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