How to add text to a PDF online

Updated

To add text to a PDF, open it in the EditItAll PDF editor, choose the free-text tool, click where you want the words, and type. Position the text box, then export a standard PDF. It all runs in your browser, so the document is never uploaded to a server.

Do it now — free, in your browser

Open the add-text-to-PDF tool

Add text onto any PDF, privately

Plenty of PDFs need a few words added: a date on a form, a note in the margin, a label on a diagram, a name where a printed form expects one. Many free tools do this by uploading your file to a server first — a poor trade when the document is personal.

The EditItAll add-text tool keeps everything on your device. Pick the free-text tool, click anywhere on the page, and type. Nothing is transmitted, so even sensitive paperwork stays private from start to finish.

Add text step by step

Typing onto a page takes a moment:

  • Open the PDF editor and load your document.
  • Choose the free-text tool and click where you want the words to appear.
  • Type your text, then drag the box to position it exactly and adjust the size.
  • Repeat anywhere else on the page, then export a standard PDF straight to your device.

The editor works offline once loaded, so you can disconnect and keep working — a clear sign your file isn't being sent anywhere.

What adding text can and can't do

Adding text places new words on top of the page. That's ideal for filling in a printed-style form, labelling, dating or annotating — and it's how you handle a PDF that has blank lines rather than clickable fields.

Two honest limits are worth knowing. First, this doesn't rewrite the document's existing text stream, so you can't retype a paragraph that's already printed — for that you need the original source file. Second, it doesn't fill interactive form fields; instead you type onto the page over them, which works for any form. When you're done adding text, you can add a signature or annotate the same document in the same private pass.

Ready to try it?

Free, no sign-up, and nothing you open ever leaves your device.

Frequently asked questions

Is my PDF uploaded to add text?+

No. The add-text tool runs entirely in your browser, so the document never leaves your device. You can go offline after the page loads and it still works.

Can I move the text after I type it?+

Yes. Each text box can be dragged to reposition it and resized after you type, so you can place words exactly where the page needs them.

Can I edit the text that's already in the PDF?+

No. Adding text places new words on top of the page; it doesn't rewrite the PDF's existing text stream. Editing printed text requires the original source file.

Does it fill in interactive form fields?+

No. It doesn't fill interactive form fields, but you can type text onto the page over any form — which works whether or not the form has clickable fields.

Will the added text have a watermark?+

No. The exported PDF has no watermark and no account is required — it's a clean, standard file that opens in Acrobat, Preview and any viewer.

Related guides

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