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The Best Way to Make a PDF Fillable in 2024 (Windows & Mac)

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April 17, 2024
Last Updated
April 23, 2024
4 min read

Fillable PDFs offer many benefits for both the sender and the receiver.

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Making a PDF fillable is probably easier than you think! Read on to learn how.

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In today's digital world, PDF forms are used more than ever before. And the ability to transform static PDF files into interactive, fillable forms is a key tool for any business or organization.

Whether you're collecting information, conducting surveys, or finalizing contracts, fillable PDFs streamline your document workflow.

Fillable PDFs make it easier for the receiver to fill out and email back. Saving you time (and thus money).

The days of receiving a PDF form, printing it out, signing it by hand, then scanning it to send back are long gone.

Today, the challenge is turning a PDF form into a fillable PDF easily, and without losing formatting.

Fortunately, with the right tool, it's probably easier than you think. Keep reading to learn the easiest ways to make a PDF fillable.

Why Make a PDF Fillable?

Fillable PDFs make life easier for everyone involved.

Clients get the convenience of a PDF that they can easily interact with and fill out.

While business owners benefit from the convenience and speed in which fillable PDF forms are returned and organized.

But it goes beyond convenience. Fillable PDFs can significantly impact your workflow and how you manage all your documents and data.

Common benefits to making a PDF fillable include:

  1. Convenience and Efficiency: Users can fill out PDF forms on any device that can open and view PDF files, such as computers, tablets, or smartphones. This results in quicker responses and form submissions, since the person doesn't need to physically print, sign, and deliver the form in person.
  2. Professional Appearance: Fillable PDF forms feel and look more professional than a regular PDF form. Making them ideal for official documents that businesses and organizations can use for both internal and external communications.
  3. Accuracy and Consistency: Digital forms reduce the risk of errors associated with manual data entry and ensure consistent information collection.
  4. Eco-friendly: Fillable PDF forms reduce the need for paper and overall paper usage in an organization.
  5. Data Collection: Fillable PDFs are an excellent tool for collecting and organizing documents of any kind. Their fillable fields ensure that information is legible, and the PDF format makes it easy to organize and find information when you need it.
  6. Error Reduction: Fillable PDFs contain fillable fields, which reduce the chances of missing fields or errors when filling them out.
  7. Accessibility: Fillable PDFs are more accessible than any paper document. Screen readers, interactive fields, and the ability to zoom make fillable PDFs more accessible, especially to those with disabilities.
  8. Security and Control: Fillable PDFs can be encrypted and protected with passwords. This ensures that the document is viewed and filled out by the correct parties. PDFs can also be restricted so that users can only interact with the fillable fields; protecting your document from unwanted edits.

Overall, fillable PDFs streamline your document workflow, making them a great tool in anyone's toolkit.

How to Make a PDF Fillable with PDF Pro

PDF Pro is our all-in-one PDF editor, converter, form creator, security tool, and more. PDF Pro makes it easy and affordable to make PDFs fillable on Windows. Try PDF Pro for free today

  1. In PDF Pro, Open the PDF form that you'd like to make fillable.
  2. Click the Forms tab.
  3. Click the form fields that you'd like to add to your PDF form. (Double-click on a form field to customize it; set the Fill Color to white for a transparent field).
  4. Save the changes made to your PDF.

That's it!

How to Make a PDF Fillable with Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat is a well-known PDF editor for both Windows and Mac. While Acrobat has a reputation for bloaty software and a steep learning curve, their tools tend to be state-of-the-art and powerful.

  1. Open Adobe Acrobat.
  2. Click on the Tools tab and select Prepare Form.
  3. Select your PDF file or scan a new document. (Acrobat will automatically analyze your document and add form fields).
  4. Use the top toolbar to adjust the layout or add new form fields, if necessary.
  5. Save your PDF.

Making a Fillable PDF is Easier Than Ever

Making a PDF fillable makes it more convenient for the receiver, and usually ends with getting your form back sooner.

And thanks to tools like PDF Pro or Adobe Acrobat, making a PDF fillable is easier than ever.

For Windows users, we recommend PDF Pro, our all-in-one PDF editor, fillable form creator, converter, security tool, and more.

PDF Pro is affordable and easy to use, while not compromising on power.

PDF Pro can help you with:

Buy Now Try PDF Pro Free

FAQ

We've compiled and answered common questions about how to make a PDF fillable, for your benefit.

How do I convert a PDF to a fillable form?

You'll need to use a dedicated PDF editor like PDF Pro to add fillable form fields to your PDF.

Can I make a PDF fillable for free?

There are free online tools you can find with a quick Google search. You can also try PDF Pro for free, and use it to make your PDF fillable.

How do I make a PDF fillable without Adobe?

Use an affordable Adobe alternative, like PDF Pro.

Steps: In PDF Pro, Open your PDF form > Forms tab > Click and add fields > Save.

How do I make a fillable PDF in Word?

Create your form in Microsoft Word, then save it as a PDF. Then, use a PDF editor like PDF Pro to add fillable form fields to your PDF form.

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Digital Marketing SpecialistArron Staradub
Arron was a Digital Marketer at PDF Pro, where he wrote helpful and engaging articles for those that that used PDFs in their daily life.

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PDF Pro is a desktop software for Windows distributed by PDF Pro Software Inc. The software "PDF Pro" and the company "PDF Pro Software Inc." are in no way affiliated with Adobe. The PDF file format is an open file format published under ISO 32000-1:2008

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