Flatten a PDF form
Turn filled form fields, comments and stamps into ordinary page content that nobody can edit by accident.
Formats & limits
Formats & limits
- Accepted formats
- Result
| On a computer | On a phone or tablet | |
|---|---|---|
| Max file size | 200 MB | 60 MB |
| Max pages | 2000 | 300 |
Limits on your device depend on its memory. Larger files may still work; the tool warns you first.
How it works
- 01 Choose or drop a filled PDF form.
- 02 Choose what to flatten: forms and comments, or form fields only.
- 03 Press Flatten PDF.
- 04 Download the flattened copy, and keep the original in case you need to edit the answers.
About this tool
A filled form is still a set of editable fields: the next person can change an answer, and some phone apps and printers even show the fields empty. Flattening draws each field’s current look into the page itself, so the document reads and prints the same everywhere and the values can no longer be edited.
Hushdesk can flatten the form fields only, or comments, highlights, stamps and drawings as well. Links stay clickable, and the rest of the page is untouched. Flattening runs on this device, so the personal details typed into the form never leave it. Sending the result by email? Protect it with a password too.
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Same look everywhere
Field values become part of the page, so macOS Preview, phone apps and printers show exactly what was filled in.
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You choose the scope
Flatten only the form, or comments, highlights, stamps and ink drawings as well. Whatever is not flattened stays editable.
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Links keep working
Clickable links, file attachments and pending redaction marks are left exactly as they are.
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No vanishing answers
Fields saved without an appearance are drawn from their values first, so nothing disappears when the form is flattened.
Questions and answers
What does flattening a PDF mean?
It turns interactive elements, form fields and optionally comments, into ordinary page content. They look the same, but they can no longer be selected, edited or filled in.
Can a flattened PDF form be edited again?
Not as a form: the values are now drawn on the page. Keep the original file if you may need to change an answer later.
Does flattening hide the information in a form?
No. Flattened values stay on the page as text that can be selected and copied. To remove information, redact it instead of flattening.
Why do my form answers disappear in some apps?
Some apps show only a field’s saved appearance, and some forms are saved without one. Flattening draws every value into the page, so it shows up everywhere.
What happens to a digitally signed form when it is flattened?
The signature turns into a plain picture and no longer validates; the result warns you about it. Flatten before signing, not after.
Does flattening make the file smaller?
Usually the size stays about the same: the form structure is removed, while the look of every field is kept as page content.