How to annotate a PDF: highlight, draw, and comment
Quick answerTo annotate a PDF, open it in a browser editor and use the markup tools: highlight passages, draw freehand, add shapes and lines, drop sticky notes, and place stamps. Everything stays on your device and is saved into the downloaded file.
The annotation tools
- Highlight: drag across text to mark it in any color.
- Draw: sketch freehand to circle or underline by hand.
- Shapes and lines: frame content or point to it.
- Sticky notes: leave a typed comment anywhere on the page.
- Stamps: drop ready-made badges like Approved or Confidential.
Steps to annotate
- Open your PDF in the editor.
- Pick a markup tool and choose a color.
- Mark up the page; drag annotations to reposition or resize them.
- Download the annotated PDF.
Editing and undoing
Every annotation is movable and deletable, and full undo and redo are available, so it's easy to refine your markup before saving.
Try it yourself — free and private
Edit your PDF in the browser. No upload, no signup, no watermark.
Open the editorTools for this
- Highlight text in a PDF — Mark up any PDF with highlights, drawings, shapes, and notes — all in your brows…
- Draw on a PDF — Sketch, circle, and annotate freehand directly on any PDF. Add shapes and lines …
Frequently asked questions
Can I remove an annotation after adding it?
Yes. Select it and press Delete, or use the Eraser. Undo and redo are always available.
Are my annotations saved into the PDF?
Yes. When you download, the annotations are written into the exported PDF so they appear in any viewer.