How to edit PDFs in Dropbox

Updated Jun 10, 2024

This article describes a feature available to all Dropbox users, unless otherwise stated.

You can make edits to PDFs when previewing a file on dropbox.com or on the Dropbox mobile app.

Try it out by previewing a PDF in your account and clicking Edit.

All Dropbox users can edit PDFs by modifying pages or adding text. However, customers on Dropbox Essentials, Business, Business Plus, or Enterprise can also edit text that already exists in the PDF.

Not yet using a PDF editor? See how Dropbox helps you effortlessly edit PDFs.

How to edit a PDF

Log in to dropbox.com.
Click + Create under the search bar.
Click Edit, then select PDF.
Click the name of the PDF file you’d like to edit. This will open the PDF in editing mode.
Click Edit PDF.
Make your edits.
- To reorder pages, click the page you‘d like to reorder in the left sidebar and drag it to a new location.
- To rotate a page, click the page you’d like to rotate in the left sidebar and click Rotate right or Rotate left.
  - To rotate multiple pages, command-click all the pages you’d like to rotate.
- To delete a page, click the page you’d like to delete in the left sidebar and click Delete page. Click Delete again to confirm.
  - To delete multiple pages, command-click all the pages you’d like to delete.
- To insert a page, click Insert page, select the PDF from your Dropbox account, and click Choose.
- To draw on a page, click Draw and use your mouse to draw where you’d like. To exit drawing mode, click Close in the upper right.
- To highlight a section, click Highlight, then click and drag over the text. You can adjust the color and opacity from the toolbar.
- To add a text box, click Add text. Then, click in the PDF where you’d like to add a text box, and type your text. You can also:
  - Change the font, size, and color of the text by interacting with the formatting toolbar at the top of the PDF preview.
  - Resize or rotate the text box by clicking and dragging the corner handles of the text box.
  - To undo a change, click the back arrow in the formatting toolbar. Or, use control-z (Windows) or command-z (Mac).
- To edit existing text, click Edit text. Then, double click on the text box you’d like to edit. Start typing to add, delete, or modify content. When you’ve finished editing text, click Close. A pop-up window will appear and you can choose to Discard changes or Apply changes.

Notes:

The option to edit existing text is only available on Dropbox Essentials, Business, Business Plus, and Enterprise.
To undo a change, click the back arrow in the formatting toolbar. Or, use ctrl+z (Windows) or cmd+z (Mac).
As well as editing existing text, you can also:
- Change the font, size, and color of the text by using the formatting toolbar at the top of the PDF preview.
- Resize or rotate the text box by clicking and dragging the corner handles of the text box.
- Customize text alignment by choosing left, right, or center.

To add your own legally-binding signature to the PDF, click Sign. Learn how to add a signature in a PDF .
To fill out an interactive form, click the fillable field you’d like to fill out and type in the text box that appears.

Note: To fill out a PDF form in Dropbox, it must be an interactive PDF with fillable fields. You’ll know if a field is fillable because you’ll be able to make changes when you click on it. For example, if you click on a text box that’s a fillable field, you’ll be able to type.

To search for text, click the search icon, then type a word, phrase, or number you’d like to search.
To zoom in or out, click + (plus sign) or - (minus sign) in the upper right.

8. Click Done.

9. Click Save a copy or Replace original.

If you choose Save a copy, your edited PDF will be saved as a new file in your Dropbox account with (edited) added to the end of the file name. People with access to the original file won’t see the changes.
If you choose Replace original, your edited PDF will replace the original file in your Dropbox account. Everyone with access to the original file will see the changes.

Note: You can only replace the original if you’re the file owner or have edit access.

People will be able to see your edits if you either:

Choose to replace the original document which is shared with other people.
Save a copy and share the new file with other people, for example by saving it in a shared folder.

Note: PDF editing on the Dropbox mobile app is not currently available for Android.

Open the Dropbox mobile app.
Tap the name of the PDF you’d like to edit.
Tap Edit.
Make your desired edits.
- To add text, tap Add text, type your text, then tap Done.
- To add a date, tap Add date, type the date in the editing field, then tap Done.
Tap Save.

Watch this video for a quick overview of how to edit a PDF.

Share feedback

You can share feedback about PDF editing with the Dropbox team, including what you think of the feature and what you’d like to see in the future. To share feedback:

Log in to dropbox.com.
Click + Create under the search bar.
Click Edit, then select PDF.
Select the PDF you want to share feedback on and click Open. This will open the PDF in editing mode.
Click Feedback on PDF editing in the bottom right of the page.
Type your feedback.
Check the box next to I’d like to participate in Dropbox user research, if you’re interested.
Click Send.