How to Edit a PDF: Change Text, Add Images, and More

You've received a PDF that needs changes. There's a typo in the third paragraph, an image that needs replacing, and a date that's wrong. You could open the original document, make the changes, and re-export it — but you don't have the original file.

Editing a PDF directly is the answer. With the right tool, you can modify text, add images, and make changes to any PDF — even if you don't have the source file.

What you can edit in a PDF

• Text: Change wording, fix typos, or add new text.
• Images: Replace photos, add new images, or remove existing ones.
• Formatting: Change fonts, colors, and sizes.
• Layout: Move elements around on the page.
• Annotations: Add comments, highlights, or sticky notes.

The fastest way to edit a PDF

You don't need to convert to Word, edit, and convert back. A browser-based PDF editor lets you make changes directly.

1. Open a tool like PDFly's PDF Editor.
2. Upload your PDF.
3. Click on any text to edit it — just like a Word document.
4. Add images, shapes, or annotations as needed.
5. Click process and download your edited PDF.

What kind of PDFs can be edited?

Not all PDFs are created equal when it comes to editing:

• Digital PDFs: These contain actual text and can be edited directly. Most PDFs fall into this category.
• Scanned PDFs: These are images of pages. You need OCR first to extract text before editing.

Editing vs. annotating

• Editing: Changes the actual content of the PDF. Text is modified, images are changed.
• Annotating: Adds notes, highlights, or comments without changing the underlying content.

A PDF editor can do both. You can make permanent changes or just add temporary notes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit a scanned PDF?

You'll need to OCR the PDF first to extract the text, then you can edit it. Some tools combine OCR and editing in one step.

Does editing a PDF affect the formatting?

A good editor preserves formatting. Text changes shouldn't shift the layout, and images can be resized or positioned as needed.

Can I add images to a PDF?

Yes — most PDF editors let you insert images anywhere in the document.