Flatten PDF — make annotations and form fields permanent
Flatten any PDF — annotations, comments, form fields all baked into the page. Free, instant, no signup.
Annotations, sticky notes, comments, and form fields all live in a separate PDF metadata layer. Flattening merges them into the page itself: visually identical, but no longer editable, removable, or recoverable.
Use this before submitting reviewed documents, archiving final versions, or sending to anyone who shouldn't be able to peek under the hood.
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Frequently asked questions
Will my annotations still be visible after flattening?
Yes — they become part of the page content. They look the same. They just can't be clicked, deleted, or edited.
Does flatten reduce file size?
Usually slightly. Annotation objects and form metadata are removed. Net change depends on document complexity.