How to edit a PDF on an iPhone

An iPhone edits PDFs through Markup, the pen-icon tool inside Files, Mail and Safari: drawing, text boxes, shapes and a signature. Page-level changes live in the Files app, and anything beyond that needs a real editor, which Safari can run.

The built-in way on an iPhone or iPad: Files and Markup

  1. 01

    Open the PDF in the Files app and tap the Markup button (the pen tip in a circle) in the top corner.

  2. 02

    Tap + at the bottom right to add Text, a Signature, a Magnifier or Shapes; pick a pen from the palette to draw or highlight.

  3. 03

    Drag an element to move it, or tap it and choose Delete. Tap Done to save the changes into the file.

  4. 04

    To rotate, delete or insert pages, tap the page thumbnail sidebar while viewing the PDF, then tap ⋯ on a page.

Where it falls short

  • Existing text cannot be changed, only drawn or typed over.
  • Markup saves directly into the file with no version to go back to.
  • Precise placement is difficult on a phone screen, and there is no alignment help.

Do it in the browser instead

The same Edit PDF tool as the main page, running in Safari on an iPhone or iPad. Nothing is installed and the file is processed on your device.

Processed in your browser. This file never leaves your device.

  1. 01

    Open the PDF

    Open the tool in Safari, tap Choose file, and pick the document from Files or Photos.

  2. 02

    Pick a tool

    text, highlight, box, freehand or image

  3. 03

    Download the result

    Tap Download. The file is saved to Files with the edits written into the pages.

Files and Markup or the browser tool?

 Files and MarkupPDF Spree
CostFree, built inFree, no account
Text stays selectableYesYes
File leaves your deviceNoNo — processed in the browser
Works on other devicesNo, this platform onlyYes, any modern browser

Edit PDF on an iPhone or iPad: questions

The same task on other devices

More PDF tasks on an iPhone or iPad

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