How to add text anywhere on a PDF on a Mac

You can add text to any PDF on a Mac for free in Preview, without Adobe: show the Markup toolbar, click the Text tool and type. Here is how to style it, line it up, and make sure the person you send it to sees it.

How do I add text to a PDF on a Mac?

1. Open the PDF in Preview and choose View > Show Markup Toolbar.
2. Click the Text tool. A box with the word Text appears in the middle of the page.
3. Drag it where you want it, double click the word Text and type.
4. Choose File > Export as PDF to save a copy.

How do I add text to a PDF on a Mac without Adobe?

Use Preview, as above. It comes with every Mac and adds text boxes for free, with no account and no watermark. Filling in a form whose boxes cannot be clicked? See fill in a PDF that is not fillable.

How do I change the font and size?

Select the text box and click the A button in the Markup toolbar to choose the font, size and colour. Drag the box's edges to make it wider or narrower.

Tips for lining text up

• Zoom in to line text up with printed lines.
• Copy a finished box with Command C and paste it to reuse its style.
• Use the Speech Bubble in the Shapes menu for a callout with a pointer.

Will others see the text I added?

Usually, but not always. Preview's text sits on top of the page as an annotation, and some apps hide annotations. Before you send, open the saved copy in another app, such as a web browser. If it must show everywhere, File > Print then Save as PDF saves the page as it looks, text included.

Can I change the text that is already in a PDF?

Not with the Text tool, which only adds new text on top. To change words already on the page, see edit the text in a PDF on a Mac.

The one click way

Simply PDF's editor adds text you format like a note, mixing bold and regular on one line, then writes it into the page when you save so it shows in every app. Editing needs a key; opening and reading are free.