How to Edit Text and Images in a PDF File

The simplest way to edit a PDF depends on what you're changing

Most PDFs can be edited directly in Adobe Acrobat Reader (the free version) or in free tools like Preview on Mac or built-in Windows tools. If you need to change text, add notes, or adjust images, you don't need expensive software — the method depends on whether the PDF was created from a scanned document or from digital text.

A PDF made from a word processor or email contains selectable text you can edit. A PDF made by scanning a paper document is actually a picture of that page, and you'll need different tools to make changes. This guide covers both situations and walks you through the actual steps for each common editing task.

Key Takeaways

Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) lets you add text boxes, highlight, and strike through text in any PDF without installing additional software.
To edit the original text in a PDF, the document must have been created from digital text, not scanned as an image — you can test this by trying to select text with your cursor.
Mac's Preview app and Windows 11's built-in PDF editor both handle basic edits like adding text and moving images without extra cost.
Scanned PDFs (image-based) require optical character recognition (OCR) software to convert them to editable text, which free tools like Tesseract or paid tools like Adobe Acrobat Pro can do.
If you need to edit a PDF regularly, saving the original file in Word or another editable format prevents the need to edit the PDF itself.

How to tell if your PDF can be edited as text

Open the PDF and try to click and drag to select a word. If the text highlights and you can copy it, the PDF contains actual text and you can edit it directly. If nothing happens or you select a whole image, the PDF is a scanned document and you'll need OCR software to make the text editable.

This matters because editing a text-based PDF is straightforward — you can change words, delete sentences, and reformat. Editing a scanned PDF requires converting the image back into text first, which is more involved and sometimes imperfect, especially with poor-quality scans or unusual fonts.

Adding and editing text in a text-based PDF

In Adobe Acrobat Reader (free): Open the PDF, then click the pencil icon in the top toolbar. Click "Add text" and then click anywhere on the page where you want to add text. A text box appears and you can type. To edit existing text, click the pencil icon, then click directly on the text you want to change — you can highlight it and type over it, though the original formatting may not adjust perfectly.

On Mac with Preview: Open the PDF, then click the markup toolbar icon (looks like a pen tip in a circle) in the top right. Click the text tool (the "A" icon), then click on the page where you want to add text. To edit existing text, you'll need to use the annotation tools — Preview doesn't let you directly edit the original text the way Acrobat does, but you can add text boxes over it or use strikethrough to mark changes.

On Windows 11: Right-click the PDF file, select "Open with" and choose "Microsoft Edge" or "Paint". In Edge, click the pencil icon in the top right, then use the text tool to add annotations. This approach works best for adding notes rather than replacing existing text.

Deleting, moving, or resizing images in a PDF

Adobe Acrobat Reader's free version lets you add and annotate but not delete or move the original images. To actually remove or reposition images, you need either Adobe Acrobat Pro (paid subscription) or a free alternative like PDFtk or Smallpdf.

Using Smallpdf (free, browser-based): Go to smallpdf.com, click "Edit PDF", upload your file, then click on any image to select it. You can delete it, resize it by dragging the corners, or move it by dragging it to a new spot. Download the edited PDF when you're done. Smallpdf processes files in your browser and deletes them after an hour, but read their privacy policy if you're working with sensitive documents.

Using Preview on Mac: Open the PDF, click the markup toolbar, then select the image selection tool (looks like a rectangle). Click an image to select it, then press Delete to remove it. You can't move images in Preview, but you can delete them and add text boxes in their place.

Converting a scanned PDF to editable text

Scanned PDFs are images, not text. To edit the actual words, you need to run optical character recognition (OCR) — software that reads the image and converts it to text. The quality of the conversion depends on how clear the original scan is.

Free option — Tesseract: Tesseract is command-line software that's free but requires some technical comfort. You download it, open a terminal, and run a command like tesseract input.pdf output. It works well on clean, high-contrast scans. Instructions vary by operating system, so search "Tesseract [your OS]" for setup steps.

Easier free option — Google Docs: Upload the scanned PDF to Google Drive, right-click it, select "Open with" and choose "Google Docs". Google Docs runs OCR automatically and converts the image to editable text. The result is usually readable but may have errors, especially with handwriting or unusual formatting. Download it as a Word document or PDF when done.

Paid option — Adobe Acrobat Pro: Acrobat Pro includes OCR and produces the most accurate conversions. It costs about $180 per year or $15 per month. If you work with scanned documents regularly, this is often worth it because the accuracy is higher and the process is faster than free alternatives.

Highlighting, striking through, and adding comments

All free PDF readers let you annotate — highlight text, add strikethrough, and leave comments. These changes don't alter the original PDF; they're stored as annotations that you can show or hide.

In Adobe Acrobat Reader: Click the pencil icon, then click "Highlight text", "Strikethrough", or "Add note". Select the text or area you want to mark. Annotations appear in a sidebar and you can delete them individually or clear all at once. When you save, the annotations are saved with the file.

In Preview on Mac: Click the markup toolbar, then choose the highlighter, pen, or text tool. Draw or click to mark up the document. Annotations save automatically when you close the file.

Saving your edited PDF

When you make changes in Adobe Acrobat Reader or Preview, click File and then Save (or Save As to create a new version). The edited PDF saves with your changes. If you used a browser tool like Smallpdf, you'll see a Download button — click it to save the file to your computer.

If you edited a scanned PDF using Google Docs or Tesseract, you're working in a new document, not the original PDF. Save it as a new file so you keep both the original scan and the editable version. This is useful if the OCR made mistakes and you need to refer back to the original image.

When to convert a PDF back to Word instead of editing it

If you find yourself editing the same PDF repeatedly, or if you need to make major changes, it's often faster to convert it back to a Word document, edit there, and export as PDF again. This preserves formatting better and gives you more control.

Free conversion: Upload the PDF to Google Docs, let it convert, then download as a Word file (.docx). This works best for text-heavy documents. Paid conversion: Adobe Acrobat Pro can convert PDFs to Word with better formatting preservation, especially for complex layouts. Some online converters like ilovepdf.com or pdf2go.com also offer this, though you're uploading your file to their servers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit a PDF without Adobe Acrobat Pro?

Yes. Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) lets you add text, highlight, and annotate any PDF. For more advanced edits like deleting images or converting scanned text, free browser tools like Smallpdf or Google Docs work well. You only need Acrobat Pro if you edit PDFs constantly and need professional-grade accuracy and speed.

Why can't I select and edit the text in my PDF?

Your PDF is likely a scanned image, not a text-based document. Try clicking and dragging to select text — if nothing highlights, it's a scan. You'll need OCR software like Google Docs or Tesseract to convert the image to editable text first.

Is it safe to upload my PDF to online tools like Smallpdf?

Smallpdf and similar tools delete files after an hour and use encryption, but you're still uploading to someone else's server. For sensitive documents (medical records, financial statements, legal papers), use desktop software like Preview or Adobe Acrobat Reader instead, or check the tool's privacy policy first.

Can I edit a PDF on my phone?

Yes, but it's limited. Adobe Acrobat Reader for iOS and Android lets you annotate and add text. For more complex edits, browser-based tools like Smallpdf work on mobile but are harder to use on a small screen. Desktop editing is usually faster and more precise.

What's the difference between annotating and editing a PDF?

Annotating adds highlights, comments, and strikethrough without changing the original content — you can hide annotations or remove them. Editing changes the actual text or images in the document permanently. Annotations are useful for marking up documents to share feedback; editing is for changing the content itself.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.