Flatten a PDF

Fillable PDF forms are interactive PDF, which means we can fill out. Fillable forms are very useful and can be used in different ways, such as schools, colleges, pools, companies, etc. But the main disadvantage of interactive PDF is that the file can be edited, which is not good if you don't want them to remain interactive when distributing the file to the audience or online.

Flattening a PDF means eradicating the ability to edit and add values on the file by separating form data and adding it as an image or text, so the PDF file will no longer be interactive. The PDF file still looks the same and can still be opened on different devices, even after conversion.

Flatten a PDF using Adobe Reader

• Open your fillable PDF file on Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.
• Go to the File menu and choose Print or press Ctrl+P.

• Select Microsoft Print to PDF printer and then click on the Print

• Define the name and location to save your flatten PDF. Your file will be saved on the defined location.

Your file is now flattened, and no one can alter the data.

Flatten a PDF using Web Browser

If you don't have adobe reader, then you can use web browsers. The web browsers have an inbuilt PDF reader, which also allows us to print a PDF.

• To open the PDF in a web browser, go to the location of the PDF and right-click on the PDF.

• Select Open with menu and choose your appropriate browser. Your PDF file will open in your selected browser.
• Click on the print 🖶 icon from the top right corner of the window.

• This will open a print dialog box with different options. Select Save as PDF

• Now, click on the Save

• Define the name and location to save the file. Your Flattened PDF will get save on the defined location.

Flatten a PDF using Online Tools

There are many online tools available to flatten a PDF, such as smallpdf, sejda, etc.

Here, we will use the sejda tool.

• Go to the given link. You will get the page like below:

• Click on the Upload PDF files

• Select your file which you want to flatten then click Open.

• You will see two options:
  • Flatten everything
  • Flatten only form fields

Choose one option accordingly. Here, I am going to choose to Flatten everything.

• Click on the Flatten PDF

• Now, your flatten document is ready to download. Click on the Download button to download the file on your computer.