Create fillable PDF forms on an iPad using these steps.

A man creates a fillable PDF form on an iPad.

For all kinds of forms and applications, it’s easy to create a PDF that others can fill and sign as needed — at home or on the go.

Whether you need to send out consent forms for a school activity or you’re organizing a charity event, forms like these require names, addresses, and possibly signatures. Rather than asking someone to physically print and fill them out, it makes more sense to make the PDF fillable and signable right on your device. The Fill & Sign mobile app from Adobe makes that easy.

How to create a fillable PDF on an iPad.

  1. Download and open the Fill & Sign app from Google Play or the Apple App Store.
  2. Create or download the PDF on your device. You can even take a photo of a physical document.
  3. Open the document or photo to open it.
  4. Tap the Share button.
  5. Tap the More button.
  6. Choose Adobe Fill & Sign.
  7. When the document is open in the app, tap anywhere to create a fillable field.

The Fill & Sign app is a great option if you deal with PDF forms frequently or if that’s the only thing you need to do with PDFs on your iPad. But if you need to edit, add comments, or use other tools, try them out in Adobe Acrobat online services, which you can access for free in your browser.

How to fill in a PDF form on an iPad.

If the form has already been created and you just need to fill it out, you can use the Fill & Sign app to complete that task. You can even open a document in the app directly from your email. It’s an incredibly easy two-step process:

  1. Open the document with the Fill & Sign app.
  2. Tap in a field and begin typing.

The app includes a few helpful shortcuts. By tapping the profile button, you can enter info directly from your contacts. Press and hold any box to fill it with a check mark or other annotation.

Even for a document that doesn’t include fillable fields, you can use the Fill & Sign app to create and add a signature. To sign or initial the document, just tap the signature button and use your finger or stylus. You can even drag and drop the most recent signature or initials from that same button. When you’re finished, you can easily share the form in multiple ways.

Alter your PDFs on your iPad.

Alternatively, if you have Adobe Acrobat on your iPad, use it to navigate to a PDF — or take a photo — and click the pencil icon. Choose the Fill & Sign option and use the tools in the top toolbar to add fields, marks, boxes, and lines. You can sign or initial with the signature tool and then share this form via the request e-signatures online tool, a link, or email. Whether you use the Fill & Sign app or the Adobe Acrobat app, it’s fast and easy to collect the information and signatures you need.

Because PDFs are so universal and so frequently used in both personal and business matters, it just makes sense to use the software and services that are most compatible with this file format. Acrobat gives you access to all the intuitive and easy-to-use tools you’ll need to do more with your PDFs. The software is compatible with your iPad, which means you can edit, add comments, collaborate, convert files, and more — all in a few taps and anywhere you go.

Explore everything Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat online services can do to improve your PDF processes.