How to use Flatten PDF
- Choose a PDF that has form fields.
- Press Flatten PDF.
- Download the locked copy.
Why flatten
Fillable fields can display differently — or not at all — in some phone apps and printers. Flattening bakes the answers into the page, so what you see is what the recipient sees.
Before you flatten
It cannot be reversed in the new file, so check your answers first, and keep the original fillable copy in case something needs correcting.
Other names for this job
Flattening is also described as locking a PDF form, making a fillable PDF non-editable, making form fields permanent, or saving a filled form so it cannot be changed. It is the usual fix when a filled-in PDF shows empty boxes on another device or prints without the answers.
Free, private and without a watermark
Flatten PDF runs in your browser, so the file is not uploaded and no watermark is added. You can open a file and try the tool without signing in. To download the result, create a free Bol Ke Likho account — an email address and a six-digit code, no password and no card.
Questions people ask
What if my PDF has no form fields?
The tool tells you. There is nothing to flatten in an ordinary PDF.
Can the answers be edited afterwards?
Not as form fields. They are now normal page content.
Is it uploaded?
No.
How do I make a fillable PDF non-editable?
Fill in the form, open it here, and press Flatten PDF. The answers become part of the page and the fields can no longer be edited.
Why do my form answers disappear when I print or send the PDF?
Some apps do not display form fields. Flattening turns the answers into ordinary page content, so they show everywhere.
Is Flatten PDF free? Is there a watermark?
Yes, it is free, and no watermark is added to your file. You can try the tool without an account; a free Bol Ke Likho account is needed to download the result. No payment details are asked for.
Is it safe to use Flatten PDF online here?
Your file is processed inside your own browser and is not uploaded to our servers, which is the main risk with online PDF tools. Close the page and nothing is kept.
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- Split PDFCut one PDF into several files by page ranges, or one file per page.
- Delete PDF pagesRemove the pages you do not want and keep the rest.