How to edit a PDF on Android

You can edit a PDF on Android by opening it in a PDF editor app, tapping the text or image you want to change, and saving a new copy. Small changes such as fixing a typo, swapping a logo or adding a line of text work well on a phone. Big rewrites are easier if you convert the PDF to Word first.

What "editing a PDF" can mean

People use the word "edit" for very different jobs. It helps to name yours first, because each one uses a different tool:

Changing existing text, such as a wrong date or a misspelt name.
Adding new text on top of the page, such as a note or a reference number.
Replacing or adding an image, such as a logo, a stamp or a photo.
Changing the pages themselves: reordering, rotating, deleting or cropping.
Filling in a form or adding a signature.
Marking up with highlights and comments.

A PDF is built to look the same everywhere, so it does not store text like a word processor does. Each line is placed at a fixed position on the page. That is why editing text in a PDF works best for small changes, and why long rewrites can make lines overlap.

How to edit text in a PDF on Android

Open your PDF editor and choose the file.
Pick the edit-text tool, then tap the line you want to change.
Type your correction. Keep it a similar length to the original, so it still fits the line.
Check the font and size look close to the surrounding text.
Save. A good editor writes a new file and keeps your original untouched.

If the text will not select at all, the PDF is probably a scan. A scanned page is a picture, so there is no text to edit. Run OCR first, or retype the line as new text on top. Our guide to making a scanned PDF searchable explains OCR.

How to add text, images or a logo

Adding is usually easier than changing, because you are not trying to fit inside existing lines.

Choose the add-text or add-image tool.
Tap where you want it on the page.
Type your text, or pick an image from your gallery.
Drag to position it and pinch or use the handles to resize.
Save the new copy.

For a signature, use a signing tool rather than a plain image. It is designed for the job and lets you reuse the same signature. See how to sign a PDF on your phone.

When to convert to Word instead

If you need to rewrite whole paragraphs, add a new section or change the layout, editing the PDF directly becomes fiddly. A better route is:

Convert the PDF to a Word (.docx) file.
Make your changes in a Word editor, where text flows and reflows naturally.
Export or save it back to PDF.

This also suits documents you will update often, such as a price list or a CV. The PDF to Word on Android guide covers what survives conversion and what to check.

Edits that change pages, not words

When people search for how to edit a PDF on Android, many of their jobs are really page jobs. You might need to remove a blank page, rotate a sideways scan, trim wide margins or reorder pages that came out of the scanner in the wrong order. These are quick on a phone because you work with thumbnails. Look for tools named organise pages, crop or rotate.

Tips to edit a PDF on Android's small screen

Zoom in before you tap. It is easy to select the line above or below.
Turn your phone sideways for wider pages such as tables.
Match the font size to nearby text, or the edit will stand out.
Edit a copy, not the only version of an important document.
Flatten when finished if you are sending a final version, so form fields and added text cannot be moved by accident.

Are there edits you should not make?

Editing a PDF is normal. Changing a document to mislead someone is not. Altering a payslip, bank statement, certificate or official letter and presenting it as genuine can be fraud in most countries. Many organisations now check documents for signs of editing, so it is also likely to be spotted.

Editing PDFs with PDF Burrow

PDF Burrow has an Edit PDF tool that lets you tap to edit text in place or swap photos right on the page. You can also stamp new text with Add Text, place a logo or photo with Add Image, and fix pages with Organize Pages and Crop / Trim Pages. For bigger rewrites, PDF to Word and the Word Editor let you change the text and save it again. The editing happens on your phone, so the file is not uploaded.

Frequently asked questions

Why can I not select any text in my PDF?

The PDF is almost certainly a scanned image or a photo saved as a PDF. Run OCR to add a text layer, or add new text on top of the page instead of editing the old text.

Will editing a PDF change its fonts?

It can. If the original font is not embedded in the file, the editor substitutes a similar one. For a small fix this is rarely noticeable, but check the result before sending.

Can I edit a password-protected PDF?

Only after you open it with the password. If the file has editing restrictions, you need the owner's permission or the password to remove them.

Can I add comments without changing the document itself?

Yes. Highlights, sticky notes and drawings sit on top of the page as annotations. The highlight and annotate guide explains how to use them.