How to fill PDF forms on Android

To fill a PDF form on Android, open it in a form-filling tool, tap each box and type your answer, tick the checkboxes, pick from the dropdowns, then save a new copy. If the form has no tappable boxes, place text on top of the page where each answer goes. Either way, you can finish the form without printing it.

Two kinds of PDF form

It helps to know which kind you have, because they fill differently.

Interactive forms have real fields built in. When you tap a box, a keyboard appears. They can include text boxes, checkboxes, radio buttons (pick one of several) and dropdown lists. Many government, bank and school forms are made this way.

Flat forms are just pictures of a form, or a PDF where the lines and boxes are printed but not interactive. Scanned forms are always flat. Tapping a box does nothing, so you add your answers as text on top.

To tell them apart, open the PDF and tap inside a box. If a cursor or keyboard appears, it is interactive.

How to fill an interactive PDF form

1. Open the PDF in a form-filling tool.
2. Tap the first field and type your answer.
3. Move to the next field. Many tools have a next button, so you do not need to scroll.
4. Tick checkboxes and choose radio buttons by tapping them.
5. Open each dropdown and pick an option.
6. Review every page for empty required fields.
7. Save the filled form as a new file.

How to fill a flat PDF form

1. Open the PDF in an add-text tool.
2. Zoom in on the first box.
3. Tap where the answer should go and type it.
4. Adjust the size so the text fits inside the box.
5. For tick boxes, add a single "X" or tick mark.
6. Repeat for each field, then save.

Keep the text size the same throughout, and align answers to the left of each box. It looks neater and is easier for the person processing it to read.

Tips that save time on long forms

• Read the whole form first. Some later questions change what you need earlier.
• Gather documents before you start, such as your ID number, address history and bank details.
• Use the exact format asked for. If the form wants a date as DD/MM/YYYY, follow it.
• Use capitals only if asked. Some paper-style forms request block capitals.
• Save as you go on very long forms, in case the app closes.
• Fill a PDF form in one sitting if it has a deadline, so you do not forget a half-finished copy.

For forms with many questions, answering by voice can be quicker than typing. See filling a form by voice.

Signing and finishing the form

Most forms end with a signature and a date. Fill in every field first, then add your signature. Our guide to signing a PDF on your phone explains how.

Before sending, consider flattening the form. Flattening turns the fields and your answers into a fixed part of the page. That stops answers being changed by accident and makes the form look the same in every PDF reader. Some organisations want to receive the interactive version so they can read the field data automatically, so check their instructions. The flatten PDF guide covers both cases.

Problems you might run into

The fields will not take typing. The form may be flat, or it may use an older form technology that many mobile apps do not support. Fill it as a flat form with added text instead.

Text is too small to read. Some fields shrink text to fit. Shorten your answer or use abbreviations the form allows.

Answers disappear after saving. Make sure you save a new copy and open that copy, not the original.

A field is locked. Some forms lock fields that the sender fills in. Leave those as they are.

Filling forms with PDF Burrow

PDF Burrow has a Fill Forms tool for interactive PDF forms, with support for text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons and dropdowns. For flat or scanned forms, Add Text stamps your answers onto the page. You can also use Fill Form by Voice, sign with Sign PDF, and lock the result with Flatten PDF. The form is filled on your phone, so it is not uploaded.

Frequently asked questions

Can I save a partly filled form and finish it later?

Yes. Save a copy with the answers you have so far, then open that copy later and carry on.

Why does my filled form look empty on someone else's computer?

Some readers do not show field contents correctly. Flattening the form before sending fixes this, because the answers become part of the page.

Can I fill a form that came as a photo?

Yes. Turn the photo into a PDF first, then place your answers on top as text. It works like any other flat form.

Do I need to print a PDF form to sign it?

No. You can sign on the screen and send the signed PDF, unless the organisation specifically asks for an ink signature on paper.