The simplest way to edit a PDF on Mac is Preview, the app already on your computer

You do not need to buy software or read anything. Open the PDF in Preview (the default app when you double-click a PDF), click the markup toolbar icon in the top right, and you can add text, draw, highlight, or sign directly on the document. When you are done, save the file — Preview saves your changes to the original PDF by default, though you can choose "Export As" to save a copy instead.

Preview handles the most common edits: adding your signature, filling in forms, crossing out text, drawing boxes or arrows, and adding typed notes. It does not let you rearrange pages, delete text from the middle of a paragraph, or change fonts — those tasks need different tools. But for marking up a document, signing it, or adding information to a form, Preview is fast and already there.

Key Takeaways

  • Preview, built into every Mac, can add text, signatures, highlights, and drawings to any PDF without installing anything.
  • To edit, open the PDF in Preview, click the markup toolbar button (looks like a pen tip in a circle), and choose your tool.
  • Preview saves changes to the original file by default, but you can export a copy to keep the original untouched.
  • Preview cannot delete or rearrange text, move pages, or change fonts — those tasks require a different app or online tool.
  • If you need to edit text inside a PDF regularly, a dedicated tool like Adobe Acrobat or an online editor may save time.

How to add text, signatures, and markup in Preview

Open your PDF in Preview. If it does not open in Preview by default, right-click the file, select "Open With," and choose Preview from the list. Once the PDF is open, look for the toolbar at the top of the window. On the right side, you will see a circle with a pen tip inside it — click that to show the markup tools.

The markup toolbar gives you several options. The "T" icon lets you click anywhere on the page and type text. The pen icon draws freehand. The highlighter marks text in color. The signature tool lets you draw your signature or use one you have already created. The shapes tool adds boxes, circles, arrows, and lines. Click the tool you want, then click or drag on the PDF to use it.

Each markup you add appears as a separate layer. You can click any markup to select it, then drag it to move it or press Delete to remove it. If you make a mistake, press Command+Z to undo. When you are satisfied, save the file by pressing Command+S or going to File > Save.

Saving your edits: keeping the original or making a copy

By default, Preview saves your changes directly to the original PDF file. This means the original is replaced. If you want to keep the original untouched and save your edits as a separate file, use "Export As" instead. Go to File > Export As, choose a new filename or location, and click Save. This creates a new PDF with your edits while leaving the original alone.

If you have already saved changes and want to undo them, you cannot use Command+Z after closing the file. Instead, close the PDF without saving (File > Close), and Preview will ask if you want to save changes. Click "Don't Save" to discard your edits. The original file stays unchanged.

What Preview cannot do, and when to use something else

Preview is limited to marking up and annotating. It cannot delete or edit text that is already in the PDF, rearrange pages, merge multiple PDFs, or extract images. It also cannot change fonts or formatting of existing text. If your PDF is a scanned image (not searchable text), Preview can still add markup on top of it, but it cannot edit the scanned content itself.

For those tasks, you have two main options. Adobe Acrobat Pro (paid subscription, around $180 per year) can edit text, rearrange pages, merge files, and handle complex PDFs. Online PDF editors like Smallpdf, ILovePDF, or PDFtk let you do many of these tasks for free or a small fee, though they require uploading your file to the internet — a trade-off if your PDF contains sensitive information.

Using online PDF editors on Mac

If you need to edit text or rearrange pages and do not want to pay for software, online editors work on any Mac with a web browser. Go to the editor's website (Smallpdf.com, ILovePDF.com, or similar), upload your PDF, make your edits in the browser, and read the result. Most offer a free tier with limits on file size or number of edits per month.

The trade-off is privacy. Your PDF is uploaded to someone else's server, processed there, and then deleted (most reputable services delete files after a few hours). If your PDF contains confidential information, read the service's privacy policy first. Some services encrypt files in transit and delete them when ready; others may keep logs. For sensitive documents, Preview or a paid desktop app keeps everything on your Mac.

Filling out PDF forms on Mac

If your PDF is a form with fillable fields (text boxes, checkboxes, dropdown menus), Preview can fill them in. Open the form in Preview, click the markup toolbar, and use the text tool to click inside each field and type. For checkboxes, you can draw a checkmark or use the shapes tool to add a filled box.

Some forms are designed to be filled digitally and will recognize your input automatically. Others are just images of forms, and you are drawing on top of them. Either way, Preview handles both. Once the form is filled, save it as described above. You can then print it, email it, or submit it online depending on what the form requires.

Keyboard shortcuts and tips for faster editing

Learning a few shortcuts makes editing faster. Command+S saves your changes. Command+Z undoes your last action. Command+Shift+A opens the annotation tools if the toolbar is hidden. Command+= zooms in; Command+- zooms out. If you use your signature often, create it once in Preview (Tools > Annotate > Signature > Manage Signatures), and it will be available every time you edit a PDF.

If you are working with a large PDF, use the sidebar on the left to jump between pages. Click the page thumbnail you want to edit, and Preview takes you there. This is faster than scrolling through a long document. You can also rotate pages in the sidebar by right-clicking a page and selecting "Rotate Clockwise" or "Rotate Counterclockwise."

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit text that is already in the PDF using Preview?

No. Preview can only add new text, markup, and annotations on top of a PDF. It cannot change, delete, or reformat text that is already part of the document. To edit existing text, you need Adobe Acrobat Pro or an online editor like Smallpdf.

Does Preview work on all Macs?

Yes. Preview is built into every Mac running macOS. You do not need to read or install anything. It works the same way on older and newer versions of macOS, though the toolbar layout may look slightly different.

What happens if I close a PDF without saving my edits?

Preview will ask if you want to save changes before closing. Click "Save" to keep your edits, or "Don't Save" to discard them. If you click "Don't Save," the original PDF stays unchanged and your edits are lost.

Can I merge two PDFs or rearrange pages in Preview?

No. Preview cannot merge files or move pages around. For those tasks, use an online editor or Adobe Acrobat Pro. Some Mac users also use free tools like PDFtk or command-line utilities, but those require more technical knowledge.

Is it safe to upload my PDF to an online editor?

Most reputable online editors encrypt your file during upload and delete it after a few hours. However, your file does leave your computer. If your PDF contains sensitive information like financial records or medical details, read the service's privacy policy first, or use Preview or a desktop app to keep everything on your Mac.