How to flatten a PDF
Flattening merges everything you added into the page itself. Useful when sending a document you do not want altered, or when a recipient's PDF reader displays annotations oddly.
Step by step
- Open and editDrop your PDF in and make whatever changes you need.
- Open the export menuClick the arrow beside Download.
- Choose FlattenEvery page is rendered so annotations become part of the page.
- DownloadThe result looks identical but nothing can be selected, moved or edited.
Your file stays on your device. PDFree runs entirely in your
browser - the PDF is never uploaded to a server, so private documents stay private.
Common questions
What is the difference between Flatten and Download?
A normal download keeps text selectable and annotations editable. Flatten bakes everything into the page permanently.
Will text still be selectable?
No. Flattening turns pages into images, so text cannot be selected or searched.
Does flattening make the file smaller?
Usually not. It is about locking edits, not size. Use Compress for size.
Related guides
- How to edit a PDF for free
- How to redact a PDF properly
- How to sign a PDF online
- How to fill out a PDF form
- How to compress a PDF
- How to edit existing text in a PDF
- How to add text to a PDF
- How to delete pages from a PDF
- How to rotate a PDF
- How to reorder pages in a PDF
- How to highlight text in a PDF
- How to add an image to a PDF
- How to add a link to a PDF
- How to search text in a PDF