Skip to main content
AWE-OS

PDF Editor

Edit PDFs online free โ€” annotate, highlight, draw, sign, add stamps, and more. 100% browser-based.

โœ“ Free ยท No sign-up ยท Works in browserLast updated: March 2026 ยท Tested on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari

Use PDF Editor

Once uploaded, the editor opens full-screen with tools to highlight, draw, add text, sign, and more โ€” then download your edited copy. Nothing is uploaded to a server.

How to Use PDF Editor

  1. Upload a PDF โ€” it never leaves your browser.

  2. Pick a tool from the toolbar (or its keyboard shortcut) and click or drag on the page to annotate.

  3. Select an existing annotation to move it, or press Delete to remove it. Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y undo and redo.

  4. Click Download to save a flattened copy with your annotations embedded as real PDF content.

You Might Also Like

Add Watermark to PDF

Add custom text watermarks to PDF pages.

Protect PDF

Password-protect a PDF to prevent unauthorized access.

Merge PDF

Combine multiple PDF files into one document. Drag to reorder before merging.

Browse all PDF Tools โ†’

About PDF Editor

PDF Editor lets you annotate, highlight, draw, stamp, and sign PDFs directly in the browser โ€” PDF.js renders the pages, pdf-lib saves your changes. Every tool, including Whiteout and Redact, draws a new layer on top of the page. Nothing you add replaces what was already there.

Honest limitation: Whiteout and Redact cover content with a box โ€” they don't remove it. The text underneath is still in the file, and it comes back the moment someone copy-pastes it or runs the page through a text extractor. Replace All works the same way under the hood: it whites out the old text, then draws the new text on top. If you're actually trying to strip sensitive information before sharing a document, black it out in the source file before exporting to PDF, or use desktop software with certified redaction โ€” this tool can't guarantee removal.

Tips & Best Practices for PDF Editor

  • ๐Ÿ’กUse the text annotation tool to add notes and comments directly on the PDF rather than editing the underlying text โ€” the editor is best suited for annotation, not full text rewriting.
  • ๐Ÿ’กFor signing contracts and agreements, use the signature tool to draw or upload your signature and place it precisely on the designated signature line, then flatten the PDF before sending.
  • ๐Ÿ’กSave your work progressively โ€” use the download button after completing each major edit section in case the browser session times out or is interrupted before you finish all annotations.
  • ๐Ÿ’กZoom in to 100-150% when placing text annotations to ensure your additions align precisely with the original document layout, especially for forms with small text fields.
  • ๐Ÿ’กFor adding text to blank form fields in a PDF, use the text box tool rather than trying to edit the existing printed text โ€” text box additions are cleaner and do not alter the original document content.
  • ๐Ÿ’กBefore sharing an annotated PDF, flatten all annotation layers into the document so that the recipient cannot remove or alter your markups โ€” look for a "Flatten" or "Save with annotations embedded" option.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with PDF Editor

  • โœ•Expecting the PDF editor to function as a full word processor โ€” PDF editors handle annotation, signatures, and form filling well, but wholesale paragraph rewriting or reformatting is difficult. Use Word or Google Docs for heavy editing and convert to PDF afterward.
  • โœ•Trying to edit text in a scanned PDF โ€” scanned PDFs contain images of pages, not editable text layers. Only natively digital PDFs allow text layer editing in a PDF editor.
  • โœ•Not saving (downloading) the annotated file before closing the browser tab โ€” all unsaved work is permanently lost when the browser session ends.
  • โœ•Adding visible annotation markers that obscure important document content โ€” resize and position text boxes and stamps so they complement the document rather than covering critical text or signatures.
  • โœ•Signing a document with a low-resolution image of a signature โ€” use a clean, high-contrast signature drawn on the editor's drawing pad or uploaded as a PNG with transparent background for a professional result.
  • โœ•Editing a protected PDF without first removing the permissions password โ€” PDFs with editing restrictions cannot be annotated. Use the Unlock PDF tool first if you are authorised to edit the file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my PDF uploaded to any server?
No. The editor runs entirely in your browser using PDF.js and pdf-lib โ€” your file is never transmitted anywhere.
Will my annotations survive a page refresh?
No โ€” annotations live in memory for the current session only. Download before refreshing or closing the tab.
What does Whiteout do?
It draws a permanent white rectangle over the selected area. On download, pdf-lib embeds it as an opaque rectangle covering the original content underneath โ€” the underlying text itself is not removed from the file.
Does Redact actually delete the text, or just cover it?
Just covers it. Redact draws a solid black box over the selected area โ€” the text underneath stays in the PDF unchanged. We tested this directly: covered a fake account number with Redact, then ran the page through a text extractor, and got the exact number back. If you're sharing a document and the content really needs to be gone, don't rely on Redact alone.

Built & maintained by Team AWE-OS

This tool is developed in-house and manually re-tested on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari after every update, following our tool testing policy. Found a bug? Tell us โ€” fixes are usually shipped within days.

We use cookies for analytics to understand how visitors use AWE-OS. No personal data is sold. Privacy Policy.