Flatten PDF
Flatten a PDF's forms and annotations so nothing can be edited or removed. The visible content becomes part of the pages themselves — perfect for archiving signed forms or finalising contracts.
Files are encrypted at rest, kept in your history for 24 hours on Free (30 days on Pro), then deleted automatically.
How Flatten PDF works
- 1
Upload the PDF
Drop the form or annotated PDF.
- 2
We flatten it
Form fields become part of the page; comments and annotations are removed.
- 3
Download the static PDF
The result looks identical but nothing is interactive anymore.
Features of the Flatten PDF tool
Locks in field values
Anything typed into a form field is baked into the page.
Removes comments
Highlights, sticky notes and freeform annotations are stripped out.
Archive-friendly
The output renders identically in every PDF viewer, forever.
Signature-friendly
Use before sending a filled-in form so the recipient can't alter your entries.
When to use Flatten PDF
Lock a signed form
Bake filled-in form fields into the page so nobody can edit them.
Strip comments
Remove sticky notes and highlights before delivering a final version.
Prepare for archive
Guarantee the PDF renders identically in every future viewer.
Send a final invoice
Ship an invoice as a static document with no editable fields.
Why choose Flatten PDF
Private by design
Files uploaded to Flatten PDF are transferred over HTTPS, encrypted at rest and auto-deleted after 24 hours on Free (30 days on Pro). We never sell or share your documents.
Fast, no install
Flatten PDF runs entirely from your browser — nothing to download, no plugin, no account required for a first try. Most jobs finish in a few seconds.
Works everywhere
Use Flatten PDF on Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, iPhone, iPad or Android. Any recent Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Edge browser is enough.
Flatten PDF — Frequently asked questions
Does flatten remove digital signatures?
It removes signature form fields; cryptographic signatures should be applied after flattening.
Can I still search text after flattening?
Yes. The text layer is preserved — only interactivity is removed.
Will the file get smaller?
Sometimes — removing annotations trims the file. Big drops usually come from Compress.
Can I flatten a scanned PDF?
Yes. Scanned PDFs without forms simply have their annotations removed.
Is Flatten PDF free to use?
Yes. The Free plan lets you run Flatten PDF twice a day on files up to 10 MB, no card required. Pro removes the daily limit and raises the size cap to 50 MB.
Does Flatten PDF work on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android?
Yes. Flatten PDF runs in any modern browser, so it works the same on macOS, Windows, Linux, ChromeOS, iOS and Android — no app to install.
What's the maximum file size?
10 MB per file on the Free plan, 50 MB on Pro and 200 MB on Business. Larger files should be compressed first with the Compress PDF tool.