--- title: "Make a PDF fillable by adding form fields" description: "Turn a flat PDF into a fillable form: switch to Create form, place text, checkbox, date and signature fields, set the tab order, preview and download." url: https://help.pdfbetter.com/forms/make-pdf-fillable/ collection: "Forms & fillable PDFs" section: "Building fillable forms" updated: 2026-10-18 publisher: "PDFBetter (AI Generated Inc.)" --- # Make a PDF fillable by adding form fields > Open the PDF, switch the top bar to **Create form**, pick a field type from **Add fields** and click or drag it onto the page. Set its options on the right, check it with **Preview**, then download with **Keep fillable** or publish it as a form. - Counts toward: Edited-document downloads Do it in PDFBetter: https://pdfbetter.com/app/documents/ A fillable PDF has real form fields that anyone can type into in Acrobat Reader, Apple Preview or a browser. In PDFBetter you build them in **Create form** mode. You can place every field by hand, or let [Detect fields](https://help.pdfbetter.com/forms/detect-form-fields-with-ai/) propose them and keep the ones you want. 1. **Switch to Create form**: Open the PDF in the editor and choose **Create form** in the mode switch at the top (**Build a fillable form**). 2. **Pick a field**: The **Add fields** panel on the left shows the common types first: Signature, Text, Date, Initials, Name, Email, Checkbox, Radio button, Image, Dropdown, Number and Formula. Choose **Show 14 more** for the rest. 3. **Place it on the page**: Click a field type, then click the page, or drag the type onto the page. Drag to draw a field at a specific size and use the handles to resize it. 4. **Set its options**: With one field selected, **Field options** on the right holds its **Label**, **Help text**, **Placeholder**, **Required** and **Read-only**, plus rules for that type. **Database name** is the name used in exports and formulas. 5. **Set the tab order**: Choose **Field list** in the toolbar and drag fields into the **Reading order** people should be guided through. 6. **Preview it**: Choose **Preview** to fill the form exactly as a respondent would. Values typed in preview are not saved. Choose **Exit preview** when you're done. 7. **Share it**: Choose **Done** → **Download** with **Keep fillable** for a PDF file, **Publish as form** for a link that collects responses, or **Save as template** to reuse it. To have named people sign it, [request signatures](https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/request-signatures/) instead. ## Working with the PDF's own fields If the PDF already has fields, they show up in **Create form** too. Select one and press `Delete` to remove it from the downloaded file (`Ctrl` + `Z` brings it back). Drag one, or its resize handles, and it becomes an editable PDFBetter field in its place. To strip every field at once, use [Remove PDF fields](https://pdfbetter.com/tools/remove-pdf-fields/). - **Duplicate field** (`Ctrl`/`Cmd` + `D`) copies a field with its settings, which is quicker than setting up ten identical lines. - **Change field type** keeps the name, position, rules and assignment, so a text field can become a date without starting over. - Radio buttons that share a **Group name** form one question; give each button its own **Export value**. > **Note:** Formulas and **Show only when…** rules run in PDFBetter: in the editor, on published forms and on signing pages. Other PDF readers show the fields but don't run those rules. ### Will the fields work in Adobe Acrobat Reader? Yes. Downloaded with **Keep fillable**, they are standard AcroForm fields that Acrobat Reader, Preview, browser viewers and most mobile apps can fill and save. ### Do I need an account to build a form? No. You can build and preview fields as a guest. Downloading, publishing and saving templates need a free account. ### How do I add several fields of the same type? After you place a field, the editor switches back to **Select** so you can position it. Click the type again for the next one, or select a finished field and duplicate it with `Ctrl`/`Cmd` + `D`. ## Related articles - [Detect form fields automatically with AI](https://help.pdfbetter.com/forms/detect-form-fields-with-ai.md): In Create form mode, choose Detect fields, pick the pages and run it. PDFBetter proposes a field for each blank, box and signature line; you tick the ones to keep and choose Add. Each run costs 3 AI credits. - [Form field types, required fields and validation](https://help.pdfbetter.com/forms/form-field-types-and-validation.md): Pick a field type that matches the answer (Email, Date, Number, Phone…) and its format is checked as people type. Tick Required in Field options to stop the form being submitted or signed while the field is empty. - [Publish a form as a fill link and collect responses](https://help.pdfbetter.com/forms/publish-form-fill-link.md): Build the fields, then choose Done → Publish as form, set the title and options, and select Publish form. You get a link, a QR code and embed code. Respondents don't need an account, and every submission is stored as data and as its own filled PDF. - [Save a form as a reusable template](https://help.pdfbetter.com/forms/reusable-form-templates.md): Choose Done → Save as template in the editor, or Save as template from a document's menu in My documents. Open it later from Templates with Use template: each use creates a new document and the template stays unchanged. - [Request signatures from other people](https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/request-signatures.md): Open the document and switch to Invite to sign. Add each recipient's name, email and role, choose In order or All at once, place each person's fields, then choose Send, check the title, message, reminders and expiry, and select Send. --- Source: https://help.pdfbetter.com/forms/make-pdf-fillable/ · PDFBetter Help Center · Last checked against the product 2026-10-18. Questions: support@pdfbetter.com