Many PDFs are “fillable” — meaning the blank lines are actually little text boxes you can type into. You don’t need to print, write on it, and scan. Here’s how to tell and how to do it.
Is the PDF fillable?
Open the PDF. Hover your mouse over a blank line or a checkbox. If the cursor turns into a thin blinking vertical bar ( | ), the PDF is fillable. Just click and start typing.
If the cursor stays as a regular arrow, the form isn’t fillable — skip to the bottom of this guide for what to do in that case.
On a Windows or Mac computer
Open the PDF in your browser
Your computer’s default browser (Edge on Windows, Safari on Mac, or Chrome/Firefox) can open PDFs. Double-click the file.
Click inside a text field
Click the blank line where you need to type. A blinking cursor appears. Type your answer. Press Tab to jump to the next field.
Handle checkboxes and radio buttons
To check a box, click it once. A check mark or X appears. To pick a radio button (the round circles — usually for Yes/No or Male/Female), click the circle next to your choice. Only one can be selected at a time in each group.
Save your filled form
Hold Ctrl (or ⌘ on Mac) and press S. Name the file something like “tax-form-filled.pdf” and save it to your Desktop. Don’t overwrite the blank copy — you may want to start fresh later.
On an iPhone or iPad
Open the PDF in the Files app
Tap and hold the PDF and pick Open. It opens in Apple’s built-in PDF viewer.
Tap a blank line
If the form is fillable, a cursor blinks and your on-screen keyboard appears. Type away.
Tap Done, then the Share button to save or email
When you’re finished, tap Done at the top-right. Then tap the Share button to save a copy to Files, email it, or print it.
On an Android phone
Open the PDF in Google Drive or Adobe Reader
Google Drive’s built-in viewer lets you tap into fields and type. If the PDF won’t let you type, install the free Adobe Acrobat Reader app from the Play Store and open the PDF there instead — it handles more form types.
Tap each field
Tap a field, type, and tap the next one. Drive automatically saves as you go.
What if the form isn’t fillable?
You have three good options:
- Use a free, safe online tool. The free browser-based tool has an Edit PDF option that lets you add text boxes on top of the form, place an X in checkboxes, and even draw your signature. Nothing is uploaded.
- Install a free app that works offline. PDFGear is a free desktop app for Windows and Mac that handles non-fillable forms nicely — type anywhere, add checkmarks, draw a signature, then save. See our Windows install guide, Mac install guide, and basics walkthrough.
- Print, fill by hand, and scan. Our scan guide shows how to turn paper back into a PDF using your phone’s camera.
What’s next
Ready to send the filled form? See our email a PDF guide.