Fill out a PDF form online

Open a PDF and type straight into it. If the file already has form fields, they are detected automatically so you can tab through them. If it is a flat or scanned page, you can drop text, checkmarks, dates, and a signature anywhere you need. Everything happens in your browser, so the file never leaves your device.

How to fill a pdf

1. 1Drop your PDF into the box above, or click to choose a file.
2. 2Type into detected form fields, or add your own text and checkmarks by clicking the page.
3. 3Add a signature and today's date if the form needs them.
4. 4Click Download to save a finished, flattened PDF.

When to use this tool

• You received a PDF form by email and need to type your answers into it before sending it back.
• A government or job application only accepts a PDF and you don't want to print, sign, and scan it.
• The form has no fields at all (a flat scan) and you need to add text and checkmarks yourself.
• You want to fill out the same kind of form repeatedly without buying desktop software.
• You need to fill in the same kind of form for several people, one at a time, without any software to install.
• You're on a shared or public computer and don't want to install anything to complete a form.

Tips for a better result

• If the PDF has real form fields, press Tab to jump between them instead of clicking each one.
• Use the checkmark tool for checkbox-style fields instead of typing an X, so it lines up cleanly.
• Zoom in before placing text on a scanned form so it lands exactly on the line.
• Download and reopen the file to confirm your entries before you send it anywhere important.
• Save the finished PDF with a clear file name, like the form name and date, so it's easy to find again.

Privacy: what happens to your file

This runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript, which reads the PDF, lets you type into it, and flattens the result. Your file is never uploaded to a server, and nothing is stored once you close the tab.

Fill a PDF is one of 34 free fill-category tools on fillable.ca. It pairs well with create a fillable pdf, sign a pdf and annotate a pdf for a complete document workflow — see the full tools listfor everything else that’s free to use.