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How to Edit a PDF on Mac

Picture this. Your team is creating a PDF brochure for an important business or charity event. The first draft is coming along nicely, but there are several copy and imagery edits you need to make before it’s ready to go.

Your trusty Mac is waiting at the ready. But now you’re thinking, ‘How do I edit a PDF on a Mac?’. Luckily, Adobe Acrobat is here to help with this guide on how to edit a PDF on Mac.

What you’ll learn.

Can you Edit a PDF on a Mac using Preview?

Yes, you can edit a PDF on a Mac using the built-in Preview app. This can be a great tool for making simple changes to a PDF. But for more advanced edits, you may need to look to incorporate another tool, such as Adobe Acrobat.

In Detail: How to Edit a PDF File on a Mac Step by Step.

With Adobe Acrobat online services, you can easily edit PDF files on your Mac. Use the online tools to make some initial changes, and quickly communicate to collaborators what needs adding, deleting or changing.

To get started, go to Acrobat online services on any web browser on your Mac and follow these steps:

1. Click the  Select a File  button.

Screengrab showing how to navigate to the file tab in Acrobat Online on a Mac.
2. Choose a file from your internal storage, cloud storage or Google Drive or drag and drop it from your desktop into the designated drop zone.
Screengrab of menu interface with open Mac window for selecting files

3. After the file uploads, sign in with your Adobe login to access the editing features.

4. Use the Edit a PDF tools on the left-hand panel to add text, highlight key sections, draw and annotate the content, and more.

Screengrab showing the Edit a PDF tool in Acrobat Online on a Mac.
5. Once you’ve finished editing, hit the Save button to keep a record of your notes and edits. You can then Download your own copy or go to the  Share  menu to share the document with others via email or a link.

How to Open a PDF on a Mac.

Unsure of how to open a PDF to begin with? Preview is the default application for viewing a PDF on a Mac computer if you don’t have access to Adobe Acrobat.

To open a PDF with Preview just:

  1. Select the PDF and click  File > Get Info.
  2. Choose  Preview.
  3. Click  Open.

Keep in mind, you’ll only be able to view the PDF with Preview – you won’t be able to make changes. If you want to edit a PDF on your Mac, use drop-down menus or sign PDFs, it’s best to open the file with software designed for PDFs, like Adobe Acrobat.

If you already have Adobe Acrobat installed on your Mac, you can simply double-click your PDF and Acrobat will open it automatically. If it doesn’t, you can control-click your PDF and select Open With > Adobe Acrobat.

How to Edit PDF Text on a Mac using Preview.

You can add new text to a PDF in Preview, but you won’t be able to edit existing text.

Here’s how to add new text to a PDF in the Preview app:

  1. Navigate to Tools.
  2. Select  Annotate.
  3. Click the text icon.
  4. Hover your cursor over the area you want to add new text.
  5. Enter your text.

To change the font, size and style of the text, you can use the text icon. You can also change the colour of the text by selecting the colour box in the top right-hand corner. Then pick out your desired shade from the colour palette.

How to Edit PDF Images on a Mac using Preview.

You can rotate, crop, annotate and adjust the size of an image in the Preview app. Just choose your desired function from the toolbar.

For example, to crop an image:

  1. Choose the part of the image you want to crop by clicking the image and dragging your cursor. A dotted line should appear and form a box.
  2. Drag your cursor until the area of the image you want to keep is within the dotted lines.
  3. Navigate to Menu and select  Tools, then Crop.
  4. If you need to revert a change, just click  Edit and Undo.

How to Edit PDFs on a Mac using Acrobat Pro.

Adobe Acrobat Pro is the one-stop tool for PDF management. Advanced tools enable you to create PDFs from scratch, leave annotations and feedback, work with images and make fillable forms. You can also keep PDFs even more secure with password protection and redaction tools.

Ready to make Acrobat the default PDF viewer on your Mac? Just:

  1. Download Acrobat on to your Mac.
  2. Right-click on a PDF file anywhere on your Mac — desktop, downloads or another folder.
  3. Select  Get Info, then  Open With.
  4. Set Acrobat as the default application.

Every time you open a PDF, it should now automatically open in Acrobat.

Whichever option you choose —Preview, Acrobat online or Acrobat Pro — you can easily open and edit PDFs on your Mac. Each has its own advantages, so it’s important to explore your options and pick the best tool for you.

FAQs.

Here are some frequently asked questions about opening and editing a PDF on a Mac

Why can’t I edit a PDF on my Mac?

The default application to open a PDF on a Mac is Preview. However, this will only allow you to view the PDF, so you won’t be able to make any edits. If you need to edit a PDF on a MacBook, consider opening the file with PDF management tool, like Adobe Acrobat.

How do I change permissions on a PDF on a Mac?

To manage permissions for a PDF on a Mac, open the Preview app. Then open the PDF you want to manage and navigate to File, followed by Edit Permissions. From here, you can set a password to open the PDF, choose which features require a password, or change the owner password. Alternatively, you can use Adobe Acrobat to password-protect your PDF.H2: Related Content.

Get more out of Acrobat with our related resources:

Sign up to Adobe Acrobat to edit a PDF on a Mac today. All it takes is a few clicks.

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How to Edit a PDF on Mac
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Find out how to edit PDF on Mac in this comprehensive Adobe guide. Pick up all of the skills you need to modify PDFs to your liking.
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