How to add comments and sticky notes to a PDF on a Mac
Leave comments on a PDF for a colleague on a Mac with Preview's notes, see every comment in one list, and make sure the other person can read them.
The problem
You are reviewing a draft or a contract and want to leave questions in it, without changing the pages themselves.
How do I comment on a PDF on a Mac?
- Open the PDF in Preview and click Show Markup Toolbar.
- Click the Note button, or choose Tools > Annotate > Note.
- A note appears on the page. Type your comment.
- Drag the note next to the text it is about.
How do I see every comment in a PDF?
Choose View > Highlights and Notes. Every note and highlight is listed in the sidebar; click one to jump to it.
Will Windows users see my Preview notes?
Usually yes. Preview saves notes as standard PDF annotations, which most PDF apps show. If someone cannot see them, ask what they open the file with.
Our take
Highlight the passage, then add the note. A note alone is a small icon a reader can miss, and it may sit beside the wrong line after a reflow; a highlight shows exactly which words the comment is about in every app, even one that hides notes.
More on highlighting: highlight a PDF on a Mac. Every Markup tool: Preview's Markup toolbar.
In Simply PDF
Simply PDF's Note tool adds comments next to the text, and its Activity panel jumps to every change in a long document.
Questions
How do I comment on a PDF on a Mac?
In Preview's Markup toolbar, click Note, or choose Tools > Annotate > Note, and type your comment.
Will Windows users see my Preview notes?
Usually yes. Preview saves notes as standard PDF annotations, which most PDF apps show.