How do I type on a PDF?
Use a new text box when you need to add a date, a reference number, an answer or a note. You can place it on a normal PDF or on top of a scanned page. Start with a copy of the document and choose a clear area for the addition so it does not hide information that the reader needs.
- Open Edit PDF and choose a PDF from your device. You can start as a guest without Google sign-in.
- Choose Add Text in the toolbar, then click or tap the place where the new text should appear.
- Type into the text box. Select your addition to adjust its font, size and color in Properties.
- Move the selected box into place and check it at a comfortable zoom level. Use Undo if needed.
- Choose Download PDF and open the saved file in a PDF reader to check the position and spelling.
Try it: add a review note to a fictional report
Use the downloadable A4 portrait report to practice without uploading a personal document. The worked result below was exported with Folio’s annotation engine. It keeps the original Portrait report heading and adds a separate, selectable note in the blank lower half. The sample date is part of the exercise, not a record of a real review. Your placement can differ; the important checks are readable text, no overlap, and an unchanged original heading.
- Download the A4 portrait practice PDF below. Open it in Edit PDF and choose Open in editor after its preview loads. This starts a private cloud workspace, including for guests.
- Choose Add Text and click in the blank lower half. Replace the placeholder with Reviewed by Sam / 30 October 2026.
- In Properties, set the text to 14 points and a dark color. Move the box if it touches existing content. Leave the original heading unchanged.
- Choose Download PDF and open the result in your usual PDF reader. Find the new note and check that the page still contains the original report. Compare with the worked result below.
Can I add text without changing the original PDF text?
Yes. Add Text creates a separate addition; it does not replace the words beneath it. That makes it useful for a response beside a paragraph or a date in a blank space. If you need to correct an existing sentence, choose Edit Text instead and select a supported original block. Downloading original-text replacements is free. A scan contains an image of text, so adding a new box does not make its printed words editable or searchable.
How do I make added text fit the page?
Use a readable font size and a color with enough contrast against the page. Match the nearby text only when that helps the reader distinguish the new information. Review long names and reference numbers carefully: a box that looks correct at a small zoom may overlap another line when you inspect it closely. For a form that other people will complete, use a fillable text field instead of a fixed text annotation. For a signature, use the Sign tool’s draw, type or image options.
Fix a text box that does not look right after export
Check the downloaded PDF at a readable size before changing settings. A PDF viewer’s zoom changes what you see on screen, while the annotation’s font size changes the exported letters. A long reference number may need a wider box; reducing every answer to tiny text makes the page harder to read. Keep the editor tab open until your download is checked.
| What you see | Check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| The new answer overlaps a line | The box position, width, and font size. | Move the box into a clear area, widen it, or use a shorter answer. Recheck the export. |
| The original wording is still there | Whether you used Add Text or Edit Text. | Use Edit Text for a supported original block. Adding a box does not replace the source words. |
| A photographed label cannot be selected | Whether the page contains an image instead of text. | Add an answer in a blank response area. OCR in another app is needed to recognize the printed words. |
| The recipient needs to fill in the answer | Whether you need a reusable form rather than fixed wording. | Create a fillable text field, then test the interactive download in the recipient’s reader. |
Is the finished download free and without a watermark?
Folio does not add a watermark to free annotation downloads. A document containing added text, highlights, images, shapes, signatures, form fields and page changes can be downloaded for free. If you also replace original PDF text, the combined download is free. The preview and the downloaded PDF should both be reviewed; saving a cloud draft and downloading a finished copy are separate actions.
How do I keep the changes for later?
Folio’s editor uploads the PDF and saves a recovery draft to private cloud storage. Wait for All changes saved before refreshing or leaving, or use Save now to request a save. Guests have 100 MB of storage and a 24-hour file expiry; signing in lets you keep files in an account and open them across devices. Download your finished copy before a guest file expires. Adding a white cover over sensitive words does not securely redact them, and changes to an already digitally signed document can invalidate that signature.