iTrustPDF
Flatten PDF
Flatten a PDF online for free. Turn fillable form fields into fixed text, or flatten every page into an image so nothing can be edited. Everything runs in your browser, so your PDF is not uploaded.
Form fields (text boxes, checkboxes, drop-downs) become part of the page and can no longer be edited. Text stays selectable and the file size barely changes.
Private by design
Your PDF is processed by your browser. It is not uploaded to our servers.
Flatten form fields
Lock filled-in forms so the answers become part of the page and can't be changed.
Flatten to images
Merge everything visible on each page, including annotations, into a single picture.
How to flatten a PDF
- Upload: Drop your PDF into the box above or click to choose it.
- Pick a method: "Form fields only" is best for filled-in forms. "Everything" turns each page into an image, which also flattens annotations, stamps and layers.
- Flatten: Click Flatten PDF. For image mode you can choose the resolution.
- Download: Save the flattened PDF.
What does it mean to flatten a PDF?
A PDF can contain interactive or separate layers, such as form fields you can type into, comments and stamps, or other annotations. Flattening merges those layers into the page itself, so what you see is fixed and can no longer be edited with the original fields or tools.
Form fields only vs. everything
Form fields only keeps the page as it is and converts the form fields into plain page content. The text stays selectable and searchable and the file size hardly changes. Everything renders every page as an image and builds a new PDF from those images. It flattens all visible content, including annotations, but the text is no longer selectable or searchable and the file is usually larger. Choose a higher resolution for sharper text and a lower one for a smaller file.
Flattening is not security
A flattened PDF is harder to edit, but flattening does not encrypt a file or make it tamper-proof. If you need to restrict access, use PDF password protection, and to permanently remove confidential content use a proper redaction tool.
Related free PDF tools: PDF Editor, Unlock PDF, Protect PDF, Compress PDF, Crop PDF, Merge PDF.