How to Edit a PDF on Mac

Editing a PDF on a Mac might sound tedious, but it’s actually as simple as cropping a screenshot! Whether you wish to add text, remove some sensitive information, or simply fill out a form, your Mac offers built-in tools like Quick Look and Finder that let you edit PDF documents on Mac for free. Also, some worthy third-party apps come in handy when you want a more comprehensive solution. In this article, we’ll discuss all the ways to edit PDFs on macOS. Let’s begin!

Edit PDF on Mac using Preview

Apple macOS offers a free built-in PDF editor named “Preview”. It is the default PDF viewer on macOS unless you have another PDF viewer installed on your device. This versatile tool allows basic PDF editing and markup tools, so you can open, view, and comment on your PDF files. However, you edit the pre-existing text in Preview.

Here’s how you edit PDF on Mac for free using Preview:

• In the Finder window, find the PDF you want to edit and double-click it. The PDF file will automatically open in Preview.
• If in case, Preview does not open, right-click on the PDF file, then click Open with -> Preview.
• Here, click on the Markup tool (Pencil icon) from the top toolbar.

• It will bring up all the available PDF editing tools at the top of the PDF document.

We will cover each available editing tool in detail in the later sections.

Edit PDF on Mac Using Quick Look

Quick Look is a pre-installed app on your Mac that lets you quickly preview files using your keyboard. While many believe that a Quick Look window only offers a preview of your PDF, the truth is that it also provides editing tools similar to Preview.

Here’s how you can use Quick Look to edit a PDF on Mac for free:

• In the Finder window, select the PDF file you want to edit and hit the Space Bar on your Keyboard. This will bring up a quick preview of the PDF.
• To begin editing, click the Pencil icon at the top center.

• You’ll now see all available PDF editing tools at the top.

It’s worth knowing that the editing process in both the programs (Finder and Quick Look) is the same. You’ll get the same set of editing tools, including but not limited to the ability to add texts, shapes, and signatures to the previewed PDF file.

Let’s move to the below sections and see how to add elements to the previewed PDF file on your Mac.

Add Text in a PDF on Mac

• To add text to the PDF, click the Text tool represented by A in a box in the toolbar.

• Now, the word Text will appear on your screen, select the text box and enter your desired text.
• By default, the text you add will appear in red. To change the text color, click on the Text Style (aA icon) at the top, then click on the Red box and choose your desired color.
• From the same menu box, you can also change the font style of the text. Simply then click on the up-down Arrow icon next to the font style name and choose the desired font from the drop-down menu.

• To change the font size, click on the Up and Down arrow next to the size. You can also click on the size and enter the number manually.
• From the bottom of the menu box, you can also change the text alignment.
• Once you get your preferred text style and size, click and hold the text, then move the text anywhere on the PDF file.

Add Signature in a PDF on Mac

• To add a signature to your PDF document, click the Signature icon in the toolbar, then choose a Signature from the list that appears.

• If you want to add a new signature, click the Create Signature button at the bottom.
• Now, you will get three different options to add a new signature.

• First is TrackPad which lets you use your finger or stylus to make your signature on the Mac’s trackpad.
• Second is the Camera option where you hold a blank piece of paper with your signature in front of your Mac’s camera so the Mac can scan your signature.
• Third is the iPhone or iPad option which prompts you to use either device’s (signed in with the same Apple ID as on your Mac) screen to write your signature.

Add Shapes to a PDF on Mac

• To add shapes to the PDF file, click the Shapes icon (an overlapping circle and square).
• It will show you different available shapes, including a square, curved-corner square, circle, speech bubble, star, or hexagon. Simply click on the shape you want to add.

• You can adjust the size and structure of the added shape by dragging the dots on either side.
• To adjust the thickness of the shape’s edges, click on Shape Style (multi-line icon) in the top menu, then choose an option from the drop-down list that appears.

• To change the border color of the added shape, click the Border Color tool at the top and pick your desired color.
• You can also fill color in the shape by using the Fill Color tool available at the top.

While editing a PDF, if you don’t like the changes, simply click on Revert from the top-right. To save the edits, click on Done.

Rearrange PDF Pages on Mac

While all the things discussed above can be done through both Preview and Quick Look, you will have to use Preview to rearrange the pages of the PDF file. This functionality isn’t available in Quick Look.

• Click on the View icon, present on the left side of the PDF name.
• Here, click on the Thumbnails option.

• This will show all the pages of the PDF file as thumbnails on the left side of the Preview window.
• To rearrange the pages of the PDF file, simply click and drag the individual PDF file page’s thumbnail up or down.

• To delete a page from the PDF file, click the Page Thumbnail and press the Delete button on your Mac’s keyboard. You can also right-click on the thumbnail and select the Move to Trash option.

Other Markup Tools Available

In addition to the above markup tools, Preview and Quick Look also offer other options to edit PDFs on a Mac. Let’s have a quick look at them:

Tool	Description
Redaction Selection (only in the Preview app)	Select a text to permanently remove it from the PDF.
Sketch	Sketch a shape on your PDF with a single stroke.
Draw	Draw a shape on your PDF
Highlight Selection	Select a text to highlight it.
Note (only in the Preview app)	Add a note to PDF
Rotate	Rotate an item to the left or right.
Crop	Hide a part of a PDF.
Form Filling	Type text in the fields of a PDF form.

Use Third-Party Apps to Edit a PDF on Mac

If you’re looking for a full-fledged PDF editor for Mac that lets you delete the existing text and offers other advanced tools, you can find some excellent third-party apps. Some popular PDF editors include Adobe Acrobat DC, PDF Expert, and Foxit PhantomPDF. The best choice depends on your specific needs, such as basic editing, advanced features, or budget constraints. It’s always a good idea to compare their features and pricing to find the one that suits your needs the best. Many professionals prefer Adobe Acrobat PDF software (free trial) that can do pretty much everything one can expect from a PDF editor.

We also like PDF Expert for its well-designed interface, ease of use, and powerful markup tools. Besides basic editing features, you can also combine multiple PDFs into a single one, split a PDF into separate files, and erase private information from your documents. The AI-powered “Enhance” feature, built-in converter, multiple themes and state-of-the art index searching are some of the unique features of this PDF editor for Mac.

That’s how you edit a PDF on Mac. Whether you opt for the free Preview and Quick Look tools or any other specialized third-party app, editing PDFs on your Mac has never been more convenient. With these capable PDF editors at your disposal, you can easily handle any PDF editing task that comes your way.