How to fill out a PDF form on a Mac, and make sure it saves
Type into a PDF form on a Mac with Preview, fill forms that have no boxes, and check the answers are still there when someone else opens the file.
Most forms sent as PDFs can be filled in on a Mac without printing. How you do it depends on whether the form has fields built in.
Forms with fields
- Open the PDF in Preview.
- Click into a box and type. Press Tab to move to the next field.
- Tick boxes and choose options by clicking them.
- On recent versions of macOS, Preview shows a form filling bar and can AutoFill your name, address and other details from your contact card.
- Choose File > Save.
Forms with no fields
If clicking does nothing, the form is a flat page, often a scan. Show the Markup toolbar with View > Show Markup Toolbar, click the Text tool, and a text box appears. Drag it onto the line and type. Repeat for each answer.
Check it before sending
Close the file and open the saved copy in a different app, such as a web browser. If your answers are there, they will be there for the person who receives it. If they are missing, choose File > Print, then PDF > Save as PDF, which saves the pages as they look, answers included.
The one click way
Simply PDF's Fill and Sign fills forms and adds your saved signature, then writes everything into the page, so the answers show up in every app. Results are shown before you save.
Questions
How do I fill in a PDF form on a Mac?
Open it in Preview, click into each box and type. If there are no boxes, use the Text tool in the Markup toolbar to add your answers.
Why did my answers disappear from a PDF form?
Some apps do not show what other apps typed into fields. Saving a copy with File > Print > Save as PDF fixes the answers onto the page.
Can I fill a PDF form without printing it?
Yes. Preview fills forms with fields directly and adds text boxes to forms without them.