If you just want to write letters in a crossword or draw amendments to a plan, you may not be able to find the tools you need for that. However, there are some methods you can use to write or draw on a PDF in Mac and Windows, which we’ll explain in this guide.

How to Write on a PDF File in Windows

In Windows, you can convert the PDF file into a Word document, edit it, and then save it as a PDF file again to preserve your changes.

How to Add Text to a PDF File in Windows Using Adobe Acrobat Online

You can write on a PDF document in Windows with Adobe Acrobat’s online service.  With Adobe Acrobat online you can also add annotations or sticky notes, mark up text or convert the PDF to other file formats.

How to Draw on a PDF File in Windows

There are times you just want to draw amendments to some plans or fill letters in a crossword. In such cases, the easiest thing to do is to use Adobe Acrobat Reader or online tools like PDFescape or SmallPDF.

Draw on PDF Using Adobe Acrobat Reader

Drawing tools are available in Adobe Acrobat Reader but only for PDFs that have commenting available.  Note: To draw perfect circles or squares or draw lines, press the Shift key on your keyboard while drawing the shape. Then, select the shape and drag one of its handles to edit or resize it. 

Draw on PDF Using PDFescape

PDFescape is a free tool with many features that let you add text, draw on the PDF, and manage the pages however you want. Here’s how to draw on a PDF file in Windows using PDFescape. 

How to Write or Draw on a PDF File in Mac

There aren’t many genuinely free PDF editors for macOS that can let you write in the PDF, add or remove images, fill forms, etc. However, the built-in Preview program can accomplish several PDF editing capabilities that might work better for you, depending on what you want to do. Note: The Preview app doesn’t allow you to edit pre-existing text. If you want to overwrite a portion of the text, you may have to draw a white box over the text to hide it and then use the text tool to write on top of the box. You can also use an online PDF editor to write or draw on a PDF file in Mac. Some of the commonly used tools include PDFescape, Sejda, or LibreOffice Draw.  For more on managing PDF files, turn to our guides on how to insert a PDF into PowerPoint, scan multiple pages into one PDF file, and convert a Word document to PDF. Was this guide helpful? Share with us in a comment below.

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