- How to edit text in a PDF
- The font catch
- How to edit images in a PDF
- How to add new text to a PDF
- Editing a scanned PDF
- Editing a PDF in your browser
- What you can and can't change
- When to edit the original file instead
- Tips for clean PDF edits
- Before you send an edited PDF
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To edit a PDF in Adobe Acrobat, open the file and select Edit. Click any text box to change the words, or click an image to move, crop or replace it. Change the font, size and colour with the formatting options, then save, and scanned PDFs are made editable automatically with text recognition.
Acrobat edits PDFs more like a word processor than people expect: you click into the text and type. Where it gets tricky is fonts, scanned documents and layouts that shift when you add words. Knowing those three catches in advance saves a lot of undoing.
How to edit text in a PDF
- Open the PDF in Acrobat.
- Select Edit in the toolbar. Acrobat draws boxes round the text and images it can edit.
- Click inside a text box and type, delete or select words as you would in a document.
- Use the Format text options to change the font, size, colour or alignment.
- Click outside the box when you're done, then save the file.
The font catch
If the PDF uses a font that isn't installed on your computer, but the font is embedded in the file, Acrobat lets you change only the colour or size of that text. You can't retype it in the same font. If you need to change the wording, either install the font, or select the text and switch it to a font you have, and check that it still looks right next to the rest of the page.
How to edit images in a PDF
- Select Edit, then click the image.
- Use the object tools to flip, rotate, crop or align it, or move it by dragging.
- Choose Replace image to swap in a new picture at the same position.
- For more advanced changes, choose Edit image, which opens the Adobe Express editor inside Acrobat.
How to add new text to a PDF
To add words that weren't there before, such as a note or a label, choose the option to add text while in Edit, click where you want it on the page and start typing. It's a separate text box, so you can move it around without disturbing the existing layout.
Editing a scanned PDF
A scanned page is really a picture of text, so there's nothing to click into. When you open one in Edit, Acrobat automatically runs text recognition (OCR) and makes an editable copy. Adobe's advice is to keep edits to tables, graphs and images in scanned documents to a minimum, because the recognised layout is more fragile than a PDF made from a document. Proofread the recognised text too, since scans of poor quality can turn letters into the wrong characters.
Editing a PDF in your browser
Acrobat on the web works without installing anything. Choose Edit, then Edit text and images, upload your file and make your changes. Everything is saved automatically to your Adobe cloud storage, so remember to download the edited copy if you need it on your computer, and be mindful of uploading confidential documents.
What you can and can't change
| Edit | Can you do it in Acrobat? |
|---|---|
| Fix a typo or change a sentence | Yes, with Edit |
| Change a font | Yes, if the font is installed |
| Move, crop or replace an image | Yes |
| Edit text in a scanned page | Yes, after automatic text recognition |
| Reflow a whole document's layout | Limited: big changes are easier in the original file |
When to edit the original file instead
Acrobat is ideal for small fixes: a wrong date, a typo, a swapped logo. If you need to rewrite whole sections, add pages of new content or change the layout, it's usually quicker to edit the original Word, Google Docs or design file and export a fresh PDF. Long edits in a PDF can push text out of its boxes and leave uneven spacing that takes longer to tidy than starting again.
Tips for clean PDF edits
- Save a copy before you start, so the original is safe.
- Make one change at a time and check the page around it.
- Keep new text in the same font and size as the text around it.
- Check the edited PDF on another device before sending it.
Before you send an edited PDF
Editing a PDF changes what people see, but not always what's stored in the file. Comments, earlier versions and hidden text can survive edits, so if you're removing anything sensitive, use Acrobat's redaction tools rather than simply deleting or covering the text. And if the document is going for signature, make every edit first, because changing a PDF after it's been signed can invalidate the signatures.
If you work with PDFs a lot, my guide to PDF converters covers turning PDFs back into editable documents, and why PDFs suit business documents explains when PDF is the right format in the first place.
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My verdict
Select Edit and click into the text: that's all most PDF fixes need. Watch for the font catch, where a font that isn't on your computer can only be resized or recoloured, and treat scanned PDFs gently because their recognised layout is fragile. For anything bigger than a few fixes, edit the original file and export again. And if the PDF needs signatures, see my notes on e-signature tools for sending it out.
Frequently asked questions
How do I edit text in a PDF with Acrobat?
Open the PDF, select Edit, click into a text box and type.
Why can I only change the size or colour of some PDF text?
The font isn't installed on your computer, although it's embedded in the PDF.
Can Acrobat edit a scanned PDF?
Yes. It runs text recognition automatically and makes an editable copy.
Can I edit a PDF in my browser with Acrobat?
Yes. Acrobat on the web has Edit text and images, and saves changes to Adobe cloud storage.
Can I replace an image in a PDF?
Yes. In Edit, click the image and choose Replace image.
Is it better to edit the PDF or the original document?
Edit the PDF for small fixes, and the original for big rewrites or layout changes.
