Flatten PDF
Lock form fields and annotations. Deep mode rasterizes every page so the content is completely uneditable.
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About Flatten PDF
A filled in PDF form is not as finished as it looks. The values you typed live in interactive form fields layered over the page, and they remain editable. Anyone who opens the file can change a figure in a completed application, and different readers sometimes display or print those fields inconsistently.
Flattening merges that layer into the page itself, which locks the form fields permanently. The content looks identical and is now non-editable, prints reliably everywhere, and displays the same in every reader regardless of how well it supports forms.
There are two modes. Standard flattening merges form fields and annotations into the page while leaving the rest of the document as it is, so text stays selectable and file size barely changes. This is the right choice almost always.
Deep mode rasterises every page, turning the whole document into images. It guarantees nothing anywhere is editable, but it also makes text unsearchable and usually increases file size substantially. Reach for it only when you specifically need the entire document to be uneditable, not merely the form fields.
How to flatten pdf
- Load the completed form
Drop in the PDF with its fields filled in.
- Choose the mode
Standard for form fields and annotations, which suits nearly every case. Deep only when the whole page must be uneditable.
- Download
The flattened document is written locally and saved to your device.
Frequently asked questions
What does flattening actually do?
It merges interactive elements such as form fields, comments and stamps into the static page content, so the values become part of the page rather than a separate editable layer.
Which mode should I use?
Standard, in nearly all cases. It keeps text selectable and file size unchanged. Deep mode rasterises everything, which makes the document unsearchable and larger, and is only worth it when nothing at all may be editable.
Is a flattened form legally final?
Flattening prevents casual editing but is not a digital signature and does not prove authorship or detect tampering. For an agreement that needs to be verifiable, a proper signature workflow is the right tool.
Will my filled in values survive?
Yes. Flattening preserves exactly what the fields display and bakes it into the page. Check the result if the form used unusual fonts.