Edit Guides & Tutorials | pdfFiller How-To

PDFs are everywhere—business contracts, academic papers, forms, you name it. They’re reliable for keeping documents looking sharp no matter where they’re opened. But let’s be honest: needing to tweak a PDF can feel like hitting a brick wall. Maybe you need to fix a typo, sign a contract, or fill out a form, and suddenly that “locked” format feels like a challenge. The good news? You don’t need to stress. This guide breaks down exactly how to open and edit PDFs using tools you already have on your Mac or Windows PC, plus a deep dive into pdfFiller, an online PDF editor that makes editing a breeze. Let’s get started and make those PDFs work for you.

Why Editing PDFs Is Essential

PDFs are designed to preserve the layout and content of a document, making them ideal for sharing. However, real-world scenarios often require edits—whether it’s updating text, adding images, or signing forms. Knowing how to edit PDFs efficiently can streamline your workflow, save time, and prevent the frustration of dealing with uneditable files. This article covers three primary methods:

• Using built-in tools on Mac (Preview)
  
• Using built-in tools on Windows (Microsoft Word and Microsoft Edge)
  
• Using pdfFiller, a powerful online PDF editor
  

Each method has its strengths, and the best choice depends on your specific needs, such as the complexity of the edits or the need for collaboration.

How to Edit PDFs Using pdfFiller

For those who need advanced editing capabilities or prefer an online tool, pdfFiller is an excellent choice. As a robust online PDF editor, pdfFiller allows you to edit PDFs directly in your web browser without installing software. It’s ideal for both personal and business use, offering features that go beyond what built-in tools provide.

How to Open and Edit a PDF with pdfFiller

1. Visit pdffiller.com.

2. Upload your PDF by dragging and dropping it into the upload area or selecting it from your computer.

3. Once uploaded, the PDF will open in pdfFiller’s editor.

4. Use the editing tools:

• Top Toolbar: Erase, highlight, or blackout text; add text boxes, sticky notes, or drawings.
  
• Right Menu: Add fillable fields, images, watermarks, or electronic signatures.
  
• Left Menu: Add, delete, duplicate, rotate, or rearrange pages.
  

5. Edit existing text by clicking on the text and typing directly.

6. Add images by selecting the “Image” tool and uploading your file.

7. Create fillable forms by adding text fields, checkboxes, or dropdown menus using the “Form Fields” tool.

8. When finished, click “Done” and choose to download the edited PDF, export it to other formats (e.g., Word, JPG), or share it via email or a link.

Advantages of Using pdfFiller

pdfFiller stands out for several reasons:

• Online Accessibility: Edit PDFs from any device with an internet connection—no software installation required.
  
• Advanced Editing Tools: Directly edit text, add or remove images, and modify page layouts.
  
• Form Creation: Easily create and share fillable PDF forms for contracts, surveys, or registrations.
  
• Electronic Signatures: Add legally binding signatures with ease.
  
• Collaboration: Share documents for real-time editing or signing, with tracking capabilities.
  
• Security: Documents are stored on encrypted servers, ensuring privacy and compliance.
  
• Integration: Connects with cloud storage (e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive) and CRM systems.
  

Whether you’re managing business documents or personal files, pdfFiller offers a seamless and secure solution.

Editing PDFs on Mac Using Preview

If you’re a Mac user, you’re in luck. macOS comes with Preview, a versatile built-in tool that allows you to view and edit PDFs without additional software. While it’s not a full-fledged PDF editor, Preview offers essential editing features for everyday tasks.

How to Open a PDF in Preview

1. Double-click the PDF file on your Mac. By default, it should open in Preview.
   
2. If it doesn’t, right-click the file, select “Open With,” and choose Preview.
   
3. Alternatively, select the PDF in Finder and press the spacebar for Quick Look, then click the pencil icon to start editing.
   

Editing Capabilities in Preview

Once the PDF is open in Preview, you can perform several editing tasks:

1. Add Text:

• Click the pencil icon in the toolbar to access editing tools.
  
• Select the Text tool (an “A” in a box) or go to “Tools” > “Annotate” > “Text.”
  
• Click where you want to add text and start typing.
  
• Customize the text using the toolbar: change color, font, size, or apply bold, italic, or underline.
  
• Move the text by dragging the text box.
  

2. Add a Signature:

• Click the signature icon in the toolbar.
  
• Create a signature using your trackpad, camera, or an iPhone/iPad (if logged into the same Apple ID).
  
• Drag the signature to the desired location on the document.
  

3. Add Shapes and Annotations:

• Use the Shapes tool to add squares, circles, arrows, or speech bubbles.
  
• Customize colors and borders, then position them by dragging.
  
• Highlight text or add sticky notes for comments.
  

4. Rearrange or Delete Pages:

• Click the View Menu icon and select “Thumbnails.”
  
• Drag thumbnails to reorder pages or press Delete to remove unwanted pages.
  

Limitations of Preview

While Preview is excellent for basic tasks like adding text, signatures, or annotations, it has limitations:

• You cannot edit existing text or images directly.
  
• Advanced features like creating fillable forms or editing page layouts are not available.
  

For more complex edits, you may need a dedicated PDF editor like pdfFiller.

Editing PDFs on Windows Using Built-in Tools

Windows doesn’t have a dedicated PDF editor like Preview, but you can use Microsoft Word to open and edit PDFs by converting them into Word documents. Additionally, Microsoft Edge offers basic annotation tools for PDFs.

Using Microsoft Word to Edit PDFs

1. Open Microsoft Word.
   
2. Go to “File” > “Open” and select your PDF file (use “Browse” if necessary).
   
3. Word will display a message stating it will convert the PDF to an editable Word document. Click “OK.”
   
4. Once converted, edit the text, images, or layout as you would in any Word document.
   
5. After editing, go to “File” > “Save As” and choose PDF as the format to save it back as a PDF.
   

Limitations of Word for PDF Editing

While Word is a powerful tool, converting PDFs has its drawbacks:

• Complex layouts, scanned documents, or image-heavy PDFs may not convert accurately.
  
• Formatting issues can occur, especially with fonts or page numbers.
  
• Large files may take time to convert and edit.
  

For simple, text-based PDFs, Word works well. However, for more intricate documents, consider using a specialized PDF editor like pdfFiller.

Using Microsoft Edge’s PDF Viewer for Annotations

If you only need to annotate a PDF (e.g., highlight text or add comments), Microsoft Edge’s built-in PDF viewer is a quick solution:

1. Open the PDF in Microsoft Edge.
   
2. Use the toolbar to highlight text, add comments, or draw on the PDF.
   
3. Save or print the annotated PDF.
   

Note that Edge does not allow direct editing of text or images, making it less suitable for comprehensive edits.