Make a PDF uneditable
Need a PDF nobody can change? This turns each page into a picture, locking text, forms, comments and drawings together.
Nothing is uploaded. Your files stay private.
Popular uses
Opens the tool with the right settings already chosen.
How to flatten a PDF
Three steps, about ten seconds.
- 01
Add your PDF
Drop it in the box, or tap to choose it.
- 02
Choose what to flatten
Form fields keeps text selectable. Everything turns pages into images.
- 03
Download
Press Flatten PDF to save the locked copy.
How Make uneditable works
Each page is redrawn as a picture, so form answers, comments, highlights, signatures and drawings all become part of the page and can't be edited separately.
The trade-off: text can't be selected or searched any more, and the file usually gets bigger. If you only need form answers locked and text kept selectable, choose Form fields instead.
Someone could still retype a document from scratch. Flattening stops quiet edits to what's already there.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a PDF non-editable?
Drop it in with Make uneditable selected and download. Every page is turned into an image, so nothing on it can be changed directly.
Why is the file bigger now?
Each page is stored as a picture. Run it through Compress PDF if it's over an upload limit.
What does flattening a PDF mean?
It merges form answers and annotations into the page itself, so they become part of the document and can't be edited separately.
Will I still be able to select text?
With Form fields, yes. With Everything, no: each page becomes an image.
Why is my flattened PDF bigger?
Everything stores each page as a picture. Use Standard quality, or compress the result afterwards.