How to add text to a PDF

To add text to a PDF in AnyPDFfiller, you place a text field on the page and type into it. A text field is a box that holds your words. You can move it, resize it, and change the text at any time before you download. It works on any PDF, even one that has no fillable boxes at all, like a scanned form.

Before you start

Open the editor and upload your PDF. You do not need an account to add text. The file opens in your browser, so there is nothing to install.

Three ways to add a text box

1. Toolbar. Click Add Text Field in the left toolbar. Move the cursor onto the page, then click where the text should go.
2. Double-click. Double-click any spot on the page. A text field appears right there.
3. Right-click. Right-click the page and pick Text field from the menu.

Changed your mind while placing a field? Press Esc to cancel.

Type and edit your text

Click into the field and start typing. Press Enter when you are done.

Need a second line, such as for an address? Press Shift + Enter. This starts a new line inside the same box.

Made a mistake while typing? Press Esc. This undoes the edit and brings back the old text.

You can also fix a field later. Select it, then change the text in the Value box in the left sidebar.

Line it up with the form

Most forms have printed lines or boxes. Your text should sit on them, not float above them.

• Move it: drag the field onto the line or into the box.
• Resize it: pull the field’s edges. Make the box wide enough to hold the whole answer.
• Change the size of the letters: use Font size in the sidebar. The default is 16. Pick a smaller size for tight boxes and a larger one for names and titles.

Pick a font

Choose a font in the left sidebar: Helvetica, Times New Roman, or Courier. The file you download uses the font you pick. Helvetica is the default. Courier looks like a typewriter, which can suit old-style government forms.

Text with letters from other alphabets, such as Polish Ł, Turkish ğ, or Russian Я, is saved in a plain font that looks like Helvetica. That way every letter shows up in the file.

Remove a text box

Select the field and press Delete or Backspace. You can also click the trash icon in the sidebar, or right-click the field and choose Delete field.

Tips for a clean result

• Most European alphabets work. Accents and letters like Ł, ğ, and Я are saved in your PDF. Emoji and some other scripts, such as Chinese, Arabic, and Hebrew, can’t be saved yet. If your text has them, the file still downloads, and a message lists the characters that were left out.
• Let AI place the boxes. On a form with many blanks, AI field detection finds the blanks and adds text fields for you. Then you just type.
• Keep one answer per box. One field per blank is easier to line up than one long field that spans several lines.
• Check it before you download. Read each field once. It is faster to fix a typo now than to redo the file.

Text boxes vs. the other tools

A text field is for anything you would write by hand. For other parts of a form, use the tool made for the job:

• To tick a box, add a check mark or X mark instead of typing an “x.”
• To sign, create your signature and place it on the signature line.
• To go straight to the editor, open the type on PDF tool.

When you are done

Download your filled PDF. Free downloads include a watermark. A Premium account gives you a watermark-free download and lets you save your project to finish later.