How to flatten a pdf form to lock fields before sending
- Step 1Complete the PDF form — Fill all required fields in your PDF form using a PDF viewer or form tool.
- Step 2Upload the filled form — Drop the completed form PDF into the flatten tool.
- Step 3Flatten the form — The tool converts all interactive fields to static text and images.
- Step 4Send the flattened form — Download and send the locked form to the recipient.
Frequently asked questions
Can a recipient edit a flattened PDF?+
No — flattened form content is static page content. It cannot be altered without a full PDF editor.
Will my signature still appear after flattening?+
Yes — signature fields are converted to static images and remain visible exactly as filled.
Is flattening reversible?+
No — flattening permanently removes the interactive layer. Keep the original filled form before flattening if you may need to update it.
Privacy first
All PDF processing runs locally in your browser using PDF-lib and pdf.js. No file is ever uploaded — only metadata counters are saved for signed-in dashboard stats.