PDF TOOLS
Annotate PDF
Add simple local markup to a PDF with text notes, highlights, boxes and freehand drawing.
Quick answer: Choose a page, drag a markup region or draw with the pointer, review the preview, and download a new annotated copy.
Use Annotate PDF ↓Loading the tool…
How to use Annotate PDF
- Choose a PDFSelect the file and page.
- Add markupAdd text, highlights, boxes or freehand drawing.
- DownloadReview the annotated copy.
About this tool
Reviewing a draft usually needs a few simple marks: a highlight here, a note there, a circle around a figure. This tool lets you add those on a page preview and saves a new PDF with the markup drawn onto the page.
Common uses: Mark up drafts, review reports, call out changes, add short notes or draw attention to a region before sending feedback.
Practical example: Choose a markup type, draw on the page preview, use a readable color and opacity, then inspect the downloaded PDF in a second viewer.
Important limitation: This creates visible PDF content rather than a full standards-based annotation/comment system. It does not provide collaboration, author identity or an audit trail.
Markup is drawn onto the page in your browser; the PDF stays on your device. Read the privacy information.
How it works
Highlights, text, boxes and freehand strokes are drawn onto the selected page as visible content in a new PDF.
Real-world uses
- Marking up a proof for a colleague
- Highlighting key passages in a study document
- Adding notes to a drawing
Annotating for review and feedback
Pick one color per type of comment, for example yellow for questions and red for corrections, and keep notes short and specific. Place text next to the thing it refers to rather than over it, and use boxes or highlights to show which words you mean.
The marks are drawn onto the page content. That makes them visible in every viewer and in print, but it also means they are not a comment thread: there is no author name, reply or resolve button, and the recipient cannot remove them selectively. For that kind of collaboration use the comment tools in your usual PDF reader.
If you may need the unmarked version later, always keep the original and give the annotated copy a different file name.
Tips for better results
- Use highlights sparingly; too many reduce legibility.
- Annotations here are visible page content, not editable comments.
- Download after each page of significant edits.
Frequently asked questions
What markup can I add?
The focused workspace supports text notes, translucent highlights, rectangles and freehand lines.
Are annotations added to the original PDF?
No. The tool creates a new annotated copy and leaves the source file unchanged.
Are my files uploaded?
Markup is drawn onto the page in your browser; the PDF stays on your device.
Can others edit my annotations?
The markup is added to the page content, so it is not an editable comment thread.
What markup is supported?
Text, highlights, rectangles and freehand drawing.
Can the recipient edit or remove my annotations?
The marks are part of the page, so they appear in every viewer. They can be covered by other tools, but they are not separate comment objects that can be toggled off.
Can I add a text note?
Yes. Place a text note, choose the color and size, and it is drawn on the page. Keep text short so it remains legible when printed.
Does annotating reduce quality?
No. Existing content is left as it is and the markup is added on top.