Fill and Create PDF Forms

Open a PDF with form fields and fill them in on the page, or turn any PDF into a fillable form by adding text fields, checkboxes, dropdowns and radio buttons. Fields are written as real PDF form fields that other readers can fill too.

Drag & drop a PDF here

or choose a file from your device

PDF

Overview

What is PDF Forms?

PDF Forms has two jobs. Fill opens a PDF that already has form fields and lets you type into them, tick checkboxes and choose options, right on the page. Create turns any PDF into a fillable form by adding text fields, checkboxes, dropdowns and radio buttons.

In both modes the result contains real PDF form fields (AcroForm), not pictures of boxes. Filled values are stored in the fields, so the form can still be edited in Acrobat, browser viewers or a phone app. Fields you create can be filled by anyone you send the PDF to.

How it works

How to fill or create a PDF form

  1. Open the PDF

    Existing fields are detected and the tool opens in Fill mode. A PDF without fields opens in Create mode.

  2. Fill

    Type straight into the highlighted fields on the page, or use the field list beside it. Read-only fields stay locked.

  3. Or create

    Pick a field type, click on the page, then drag and resize it. Set its name, options and whether it is required.

  4. Download

    Save the filled PDF, a flattened copy, or the new fillable form.

Examples

Examples: supported field types

Field typeFillCreate
Text (single line, multi-line, max length)YesYes
CheckboxYesYes
Dropdown (combo box)YesYes, with your own options
Radio button groupYesYes, buttons placed one after another join a group
List boxYesNo
Signature fieldListed only; sign with Sign PDFNo
XFA dynamic formNot supportedNot supported

Saving

Keep fields editable, or flatten them

By default the filled PDF keeps its fields, so you or the recipient can change an answer later. Appearances are regenerated with an embedded font, so accented names such as Zoë or Müller display correctly in every viewer.

Tick Flatten to turn the answers into ordinary page content. The values can no longer be edited in a form viewer, which suits a final submission. Flattening cannot be undone, so keep the unflattened copy if you may need to change something.

Field
applicant.name
Value
Zoë Müller
Saved as
/V (Zoë Müller), still editable

XFA forms

What if the form is XFA?

Some government and corporate forms are built with Adobe LiveCycle as XFA forms. They describe fields in an XML layer that only Adobe Acrobat and Reader fully support. When such a file is opened, the tool says so.

If the file also has regular form fields, as many hybrid forms do, those are filled. The XFA layer is removed on save so viewers show your answers. Purely dynamic XFA forms with no regular fields cannot be filled here; use Adobe Reader for those.

Use cases

Use cases

Official forms

Tax, visa and insurance forms are often supplied as fillable PDFs. Fill them without installing Acrobat.

form.pdfform-filled.pdf

Make your own form

Turn a registration sheet or a checklist into a fillable PDF that people can complete on screen and email back.

flat.pdffillable.pdf

Fill, then sign

After filling, continue to Sign PDF with the same document; no second upload.

PDF FormsSign PDF

Tips

Tips for building a form people can fill

  • Give every field a clear, unique name such as billing_email; that is what readers and exported data show.
  • Make text fields slightly taller than the printed line so typed text is not clipped.
  • Use radio buttons for one-of-several choices and checkboxes for independent yes/no questions.
  • Tick Multiple lines for address and comment fields; set a max length for codes such as postal codes.
  • Mark the fields that must be completed as Required so viewers can highlight them.

Limitations

Limitations

Form scripts

JavaScript in forms (calculations, validation, formatting) is not run. Totals that the form normally calculates must be typed.

XFA

Dynamic XFA forms are not supported; hybrid forms are filled through their regular fields.

Field styling

New fields use a standard look (light background, teal border, Liberation Sans). Fonts and colours of existing fields are regenerated in a similar standard style.

Privacy

Privacy

Forms often contain personal details. Filling and creating fields happens in your browser; the PDF and your answers are not uploaded to TryFormatter.

Related tools

Related tools

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the form still be editable after I fill it?

Yes, unless you tick Flatten. The answers are stored in the form fields, so you or the recipient can change them later in any PDF form viewer.

Why does my PDF show no fields to fill?

Either the PDF is a flat form (the boxes are just printed lines), or it is a pure XFA form. For flat forms, switch to Create fields and add them, or use the PDF Editor to type on the page.

Are the fields I create real form fields?

Yes. They are standard AcroForm fields with widgets, so Adobe Reader, browser PDF viewers and mobile apps can fill them.

Do calculated fields and form scripts work?

No. Form JavaScript is not run in this tool, so automatic totals and custom validation do not happen. Type calculated values yourself.

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