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Flatten PDF

Flatten a PDF's form fields into ordinary page content so answers can't be changed, or flatten everything into page images to bake in comments, stamps and layers.

Flatten PDF1 free run a dayNewPDF ToolsRuns in your browser

Works in your browser. What you paste or upload is processed on your device.

Key features of the flatten PDF

  • Field flattening with pdf-lib: values become page content, text stays selectable
  • Full flattening to page images at 150, 200 or 300 DPI
  • Bakes in comments, stamps, drawings and layers in image mode
  • Counts form fields and markup before you choose
  • Opens password-protected PDFs when you enter the password
  • Runs in your browser: the PDF is never uploaded

How to use the flatten PDF

  1. Open your PDF

    Choose or drop the PDF. The tool counts its form fields and comments.

  2. Choose a mode

    Pick Flatten form fields to keep text selectable, or Flatten everything to bake in all markup.

  3. Set the quality

    For Flatten everything, pick 150, 200 or 300 DPI.

  4. Download

    Press Flatten PDF and save the flattened copy.

What is a flatten PDF?

Flattening turns interactive parts of a PDF into plain page content. This tool has two modes. Flatten form fields uses pdf-lib to draw each field's current value onto the page and remove the field, so the answers can no longer be edited. Text stays selectable and searchable, and the file stays about the same size.

Flatten everything renders each page with pdf.js and saves it as an image at 150, 200 or 300 DPI. Form fields, comments, sticky-note icons, stamps, drawing markup and optional layers are all baked into the picture exactly as they look on screen. Use it when a print shop, portal or court system rejects files with annotations, or when you want a copy that looks identical in every viewer.

The trade-off of the image mode is that text can't be selected, searched or copied any more, and the file is usually larger. Field flattening only covers form fields; comments and markup stay as they are, which the tool tells you before you run it.

Why use a flatten PDF?

A filled form you send back should arrive the way you filled it. Unflattened fields can be changed by anyone who opens the file, some viewers show them differently or not at all, and upload portals often reject PDFs with active fields or annotations. Flattening in your browser takes a few seconds and keeps the document private.

Flatten PDF: frequently asked questions

Something else? Ask the team

What does flattening a PDF mean?

It makes interactive elements part of the page. A flattened form field shows its value as ordinary content and can't be edited. Flattening everything also turns comments, stamps and layers into part of the page image.

Will my text still be searchable?

With Flatten form fields, yes. With Flatten everything, no: each page becomes an image. Run OCR PDF on the result if you need searchable text again.

Why are my comments still there after flattening?

Field flattening only changes form fields. Choose Flatten everything to bake comments and markup into the page.

Is my PDF uploaded?

No. Flattening happens in your browser, and the file never leaves your device.

Does it work on iPhone and Android?

Yes, in Safari and Chrome. Image mode at 300 DPI on long documents needs a lot of memory, so on older phones use 150 or 200 DPI.

Can I undo flattening?

Not in the flattened file. Keep your original PDF if you might need to edit the fields again; the tool always saves a new copy and never changes your original.

Is Flatten PDF free?

You get 1 free run of this tool per day. After that, each run costs 5 credits from a free AI Rank Lab account (1 credit is 1 US cent). A run is one press of the main button; changing options, previews and editing before that are free. If a run fails, it is handed back automatically.

Want to win more AI citations?

Flatten PDF is one piece of the puzzle. See how ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews actually view your brand, and get a prioritised list of fixes, with a free AEO & GEO audit from AI Rank Lab.

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  • Scores SEO, answer-engine (AEO) and generative-engine (GEO) readiness
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fieldnote.app4,571 credits

Site audit

fieldnote.app · SEO, AEO and GEO

Illustrative data
SEO
82
+6
AEO
64
+11
GEO
58
+9
Pages
48
Fixesby impact
  • /pricing · Missing H1High
  • /blog/guide · No FAQ schemaMedium
  • /llms.txt · Not foundMedium
  • /about · Meta description too longLow

See where your whole site stands

Paste your site. The free audit scores it for SEO, answer engines and generative engines, with the fixes.