What does flattening a PDF do?

Flattening converts interactive form fields into fixed page content. The values you entered become part of the page's image or text layer, so they display exactly the same way in every PDF viewer and can no longer be edited or interacted with.

Will flattening change how my PDF looks?

No. Flattening preserves the visual appearance of your filled-in fields — checkboxes, text, and selections all look the same. The only difference is that they're no longer interactive form controls.

Does this tool remove all annotations automatically?

Form field flattening always happens. Removing non-form annotations (like sticky notes, highlights, or stamps) is optional — check the box before flattening if you want them stripped out too.

Can flattening be reversed?

No. Once a PDF is flattened and saved, the original interactive fields are gone. Keep a copy of your original file if you might need to edit the form again later.

Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?

No. Flattening happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript — your file is never sent to a server, so it stays completely private.

Why would a signed PDF need flattening?

Digitally signed or notarized forms are often flattened afterward so the final values can't be altered without invalidating the signature, and so the document renders identically for every recipient regardless of their PDF viewer.