Remove form fields from a PDF

Fillable fields – text boxes, checkboxes, drop-down lists – can be changed by anyone who opens the file. Flatten them and the values become part of the page, like any other text.

How it works

  1. Drop one or more filled-in PDF forms.
  2. The field values are written into the page and the fields are removed.
  3. Download the flattened PDF.

Works well for

  • Applications, orders and contracts you filled in and want to send in a final, non-editable state.
  • Forms that should look the same in every viewer, without the viewer highlighting fillable fields.
  • Removing the form logic together with the fields, including calculated and validated fields.
  • Several filled-in forms at once.

Limitations

  • If a field has no stored appearance or is unusual, the form cannot be flattened; the fields are then removed and their values disappear from the page.
  • Flattening is not a signature and does not protect the file – the text can still be changed with a PDF editor.
  • An empty form becomes an empty page: the blank fields cannot be filled in any more.
  • Password-protected (encrypted) PDFs are refused – remove the password first.

Frequently asked questions

What does flattening a PDF form mean?

The visible look of each field – its value, a ticked checkbox, the chosen option – is written into the page content and the interactive field is removed. The document looks the same but can no longer be filled in.

Will my filled-in values stay?

Yes, in most cases. They are lost only when the form cannot be flattened, for example when the PDF stores no appearance for its fields; then the fields are dropped completely.

Is my form uploaded?

No. The values you filled in stay on your device – the file is processed in your browser. Only the paid HTTP API for Pro users works on our server.