Annotate a PDF in Preview on Mac
Although you can’t edit the text of a PDF in Preview, you can use the markup tools to provide feedback or write down something you want to remember. The editing tools in the Markup toolbar are ideal for collaborating — use them to suggest changes to a PDF and to respond to suggestions.
Go to the Preview app
on your Mac.Open the PDF you want to annotate.
Click
(if the Markup toolbar isn’t showing).Use the tools in the toolbar to mark up the PDF.
Note: To save a PDF and allow annotations to be edited later, choose one of the following: File > Save, File > Export, or File > Export to PDF. (PDFs are also saved with editable annotations when they’re saved automatically.) To save a PDF and flatten annotations (so that they can’t be edited), choose File > Print, then select Save as PDF.
Tool
Description
Text Selection
Select text to copy or delete. See Select and copy text in a PDF.
Rectangular Selection
Select a rectangular area in an image to copy or delete.
Redaction Selection
Select text to permanently remove it from view. You can change the redaction as you edit, but once you close the document, the redaction becomes permanent.
Sketch
Sketch a shape using a single stroke.
If your drawing is recognised as a standard shape, it’s replaced by that shape; to use your drawing instead, choose it from the palette that’s shown.
Draw
Draw a shape using a single stroke. Press your finger more firmly on the trackpad to draw with a heavier, darker line.
This tool appears only on computers with a Force Touch trackpad.
Shapes
Click a shape, then drag it where you want. To resize the shape, use the blue handles. If it has green handles, use them to alter the shape.
To rotate a shape, place the pointer over it, lightly place your thumb and a finger on the trackpad, then pivot them around each other as if you’re turning a jar lid. Shift-click to select multiple shapes and rotate them together.
To highlight or zoom in on an area of the page, click
, then click one of these tools:Highlight
: Drag the highlight where you want. To resize it, use the blue handles.Zoom
Text
Type your text, then drag the text box where you want.
Sign
If signatures are listed, click one, then drag it where you want. To resize it, use the blue handles.
To create a new signature, click the Sign tool, click Create Signature if shown, then click how you want to create your signature:
Use a trackpad: Click the text when asked, sign your name on the trackpad using your finger, press any key when you’ve finished, then click Done. If you don’t like the results, click Clear, then try again.
If your trackpad supports it, press your finger more firmly on the trackpad to sign with a heavier, darker line.
Use your Mac computer’s built-in camera: Hold your signature (on white paper) facing the camera so that your signature is level with the blue line in the window. When your signature appears in the window, click Done. If you don’t like the results, click Clear, then try again.
Use your iPhone or iPad: Click Select Device to choose a device (if more than one is available). On your device, use your finger or Apple Pencil (on iPad) to sign your name. If you don’t like the results, tap Clear, then try again. When you’re ready, tap Done.
Your devices must meet Continuity system requirements. See the Apple Support article Continuity features and requirements on Apple devices.
If you use VoiceOver, the built-in screen reader on Mac, you can add a description of a signature when you create one. This is especially useful if you create multiple signatures and need to distinguish between them to ensure you use the intended signature. Before you click or tap Done, click the Description pop-up menu, then choose a description, such as Initials, or choose Custom to create your own description. When you’re ready to sign a PDF document, navigate the list of signatures using VoiceOver. When you hear the description of the signature you want to use, press VO-Space bar to select it.
If you use iCloud Drive, your signatures are available on your other Mac computers that have iCloud Drive turned on.
To delete a signature, move the pointer over it, then click
(to the right of the signature). The signature is no longer available to use in any app where you can add a signature.See Fill out a PDF form.
Note
Type your text. To change the note colour, Control-click the note, then choose a colour. To move the note, drag it to a different location.
Shape Style
Change the thickness and type of lines used in a shape, and add a shadow.
Border Colour
Change the colour of the lines used in a shape.
Fill Colour
Change the colour that’s used inside a shape.
Text Style
Change the font or the font style and colour.
Crop
Hide part of an image. Drag the corner handles until just the area you want to keep is shown within the frame’s border. You can also drag the frame to reposition it. When you’re ready, click Crop.
