Flatten a PDF

Embed all annotations into the page so they cannot be moved, edited or removed.

Flattening merges all your annotations (highlights, text boxes, signatures, shapes, etc.) into the page image permanently. After flattening, the annotations cannot be moved, edited or deleted by anyone.

Flatten from the file manager

Flatten from the editor

Alternatively, open the Tools tab (or Tools menu on Mac/desktop), find Flatten in the Security group and run it.

The flattened PDF is saved as a copy or exported for sharing.

When to flatten

Flatten a PDF before sharing it when you want to:

• Lock in a signature — no one can move or delete the signature.
• Share a marked-up document where the annotations are final.
• Ensure compatibility — some older apps or printers display annotations inconsistently; flattening guarantees they appear exactly as you see them.