Create PDF forms

How creating a PDF form works

These steps mirror the workspace higher on this page. They are written as a numbered outline so readers, search engines, and assistants can restate the flow without guessing.

1. 1

   Upload an unprotected PDF

   Choose a PDF from your device. Password-protected, corrupted, and XFA (dynamic XML) files are rejected.

2. 2

   Add fields on the preview

   Place text fields, checkboxes, and radio buttons. Drag to move, use corner handles to resize. Radio buttons that share a group name belong to one choice set.

3. 3

   Name the fields

   Each text and checkbox needs a unique name. Radios share a group name and need a unique option value. Optional: multiline text, a default value, or a checked checkbox.

4. 4

   Download a fillable PDF

   The original page content stays. New AcroForm widgets are added so recipients can type, check, and choose in a PDF reader.

Create PDF forms — FAQ

Scoped to this URL. For site-wide questions, use the homepage FAQ.

Are the boxes on the preview the actual form fields?

They show size and position. The download contains real AcroForm widgets. Open the file in a PDF reader to type into them. The on-page preview is not an interactive filler.

Can I add JavaScript, dropdowns, or calculations?

No. This tool only creates text fields, checkboxes, and radio buttons. There is no form scripting, validation, submit button, or list/combo field.

What about PDFs that already have a form?

You can add fields if names do not collide with existing ones. XFA (dynamic XML forms) is rejected. Saving with pdf-lib may drop some scripts or extras already in the file. To type into fields afterward, use Fill and sign PDF.

Are encrypted PDFs supported?

No. Unlock the file first with Unlock PDF, then add fields. Protect the result afterward if you still need a password.

Looking for how the whole site works (URLs, accounts, roadmap)? Continue to the questions section on the homepage.

Related tools

• Fill and sign PDFUpload an unprotected AcroForm PDF, fill text/checkbox/radio fields, optionally stamp a signature image, and download. Encrypted and XFA files are rejected. Not a digital certificate.
• OCR PDFUpload an unprotected PDF, choose English, French, German, or Spanish, and download a searchable copy. Pages that already have text are skipped. Encrypted and XFA files are rejected. Not handwriting recognition.
• Add signature to PDFThe workspace below is built for contracts, forms, and sign-and-return tasks. Upload your PDF, add your signature, align it on the live preview, then choose whether it applies to the current page only, a custom page range, odd/even pages, or the full document. The same engine also powers our related stamp and logo pages.
• Add stamp to PDFUpload your PDF, then add your stamp as an image (transparent PNG works well) or draw a simple mark. Position it on the preview, choose which pages receive it—single page, range, all, or odd/even—and download. If you describe the task as signing instead of stamping, use Add signature to PDF; the underlying workspace is shared.
• Add logo to PDFUpload your PDF and your logo file (PNG with transparency or JPEG). Position and scale it on the preview—header, footer, or cover area—then apply to one page, a range, or all pages. For circular seals, see Add stamp to PDF; for handwritten marks, see Add signature to PDF.
• Batch stamp PDFUpload your PDF and your stamp image. Position it once on the preview, then use page scope options to cover a range or the entire document in a single apply step. You still work on one PDF file per session; the “batch” value is applying the same stamp across many pages without repeating clicks per page.
• Stamp PDF multiple pagesAfter you upload your PDF and stamp image, use the page controls to limit stamping to this page, a custom from–to range, all pages, or odd/even sets. The preview shows the active page so you can verify placement before you apply across the selected set.
• Apply stamp to all pages PDFUpload your PDF and stamp image, position it on the preview, then select the all-pages apply mode before you run apply. You get one output PDF with the stamp merged on each page at the same relative location. For partial coverage, use Stamp PDF multiple pages or Batch stamp PDF.