How to fill out a PDF form.

1. Open the PDF form.

To sign PDF, upload your PDF to the Fill & Sign tool by clicking the Select a File button or dragging and dropping the form into the upload box.

2. Use the Fill & Sign tool.

Your file will upload and open automatically in Acrobat online. Use the toolbar to complete the PDF form:

• Text. Use this setting to type into blank fields in the document.
• Checkmarks, Xs, and circles. Use this setting to complete checklists or answer questions with multiple choices.
• Signature or initials. Use this setting to sign or initial your form with a trusted e-signature.

Click any form field to fill it out. If the PDF document was initially saved as an interactive PDF with embedded, pre-built fields, the Fill & Sign tool will recognize the fields automatically and flag them for your response. But if not, you can still easily add your responses manually by clicking the area of the document where you want them to appear.

3. Add a signature.

Signing your form is often the final step before your task is complete. To sign a form in the Fill & Sign tool:

• In the Toolbar, click Sign.
• Choose Add Signature (or Add Initials if your form only requires an initial over a signature).
• Choose to draw your signature using your mouse or trackpad, type out a signature using a preset font, or upload an image of your signature to use in the document.
• Place your signature in the document. Remember that you can resize it as needed by clicking and dragging the resize handles that surround your image.

4. Review and save.

Read over your form one more time to make sure you have filled out all the necessary sections. Then, click Next. You can download your completed form or share it with yourself or others by email or with a link.

Adding comments or annotations.

When reviewing a PDF form, you may want to add notes or comments before you are ready to sign. Acrobat also offers an online PDF editor to make giving feedback simple:

• Click Select a File or drag and drop the file into the drop zone.
• Once Acrobat uploads and opens the file, use the toolbar to add text and sticky notes, highlight sections, insert shapes, make drawings, and more.
• Download the annotated file or share it with a custom link.

Filling out a PDF form on a Mac.

If you want to learn how to fill out a PDF form on a Mac, you can use an online tool in the Safari browser or download Acrobat Reader to your computer for offline functionality. Mac’s default PDF viewer, Preview, does allow basic form filling, but it doesn’t offer the signature and annotation tools available in Acrobat.

To fill out a PDF form in Acrobat Reader:

1 Open the PDF document.

2 Select Tools > Fill & Sign.

3 Add the information to the form including text, checkmarks, and your signature.

4 Save the form to your computer.

Filling out a PDF form on an iPhone or iPad.

If you are wondering how to fill out a PDF form on an iPhone, you can still access online tools in the Safari browser. Or you can download the Acrobat Reader mobile app for free from the App Store:

1 Open the app, and choose the PDF file.

2 Tap the pencil icon and select Fill & Sign.

3 Add the information to the form including text, checkmarks, and your signature.

4 Save the form to your computer.

Filling out a PDF form on Windows or Android.

Like Mac, both Windows and Android devices can access Acrobat online tools or download an offline solution:

• On Windows, download the Acrobat Reader desktop app.
• On Android, download the Acrobat Reader mobile app from the Play Store.

Interactive forms

Interactive forms are often referred to as fillable forms because they come with built-in fields. These forms are created using Acrobat or other professional form-building tools. You can recognize interactive forms because they allow you to click directly into text boxes, use drop-down menus and buttons, and quickly tab between fields. These forms are the simplest to fill out. Simply open your preferred filling and signing tool and type into the form fields. Then, save or share.

Flat forms

Flat forms are also known as non-fillable PDFs. They are usually scanned documents or static files without embedded fields. Visually, they look like any other PDF form but don’t allow you to type directly into the fields without the proper tools.

If you are creating a form to share with others, you can learn how to make PDF fillable or create one with a PDF maker in the first place to avoid the pitfalls of a flat form. But if a flat form is handed to you, you can use Fill & Sign to place text boxes in the required fields. You can also manually add checkmarks and your signature. Remember that you can adjust the font size in each text box to keep a flat form organized and readable.