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PPDF123

Flatten a PDF

Flatten PDF turns annotations and form-field appearances into fixed page content with qpdf, so they can no longer be edited. It is not rasterization: text that was already page content stays selectable.

Drag and drop files here, or click to choose

Accepts PDF · up to 500.0 MB per file · up to 20 files at once

You can also paste a file with Ctrl/Cmd+V, or from the clipboard menu.

Flatten runs `qpdf --flatten-annotations=all`. Appearance streams for annotations become page content. The form field `flattenOnlyForms` is ignored; there is no forms-only mode.

Widgets may stop being fillable. Comments and markup that qpdf can flatten become ink on the page. Password-protected files are unlocked for you on this page once you enter the password; API callers run Unlock first.

This is not rasterization and not Print to PDF. Text that was already page content stays selectable when the structure allows.

If you needed to drop annotations instead of baking them in, that is a different sanitize-style job.

Features

  • qpdf `--flatten-annotations=all`
  • `flattenOnlyForms` unused
  • Not a raster flatten
  • Anonymous API at /api/v1/misc/flatten

When to use this tool

  • Freeze filled form appearances before an archive
  • Turn review markup into page content
  • Stop a viewer from showing editable widgets

How do I flatten a PDF?

  1. Upload a PDF that has annotations or form appearances you want baked in.
  2. There are no options; every annotation qpdf can flatten is included.
  3. Click Process and download the PDF.
  4. Try to edit a former field. It should no longer behave as a widget.

Limits and edge cases

  • No forms-only mode
  • Can invalidate signatures
  • Password-protected files need the password; API callers run Unlock first
  • Upload limit on this website: 500 MB per file, sent in chunks above about 95 MB. A single direct API request body is capped at 100 MB.

Examples

  • A filled AcroForm often becomes static text and borders on the page
  • Comments and markup on the page are flattened together with the form fields

Privacy for this tool

Files are uploaded over HTTPS, processed in memory or a short-lived temporary directory on our servers, and deleted when your result is ready. We do not keep copies for later browsing, training, or advertising profiles. See the Privacy Policy for retention details and AdSense cookie disclosures.

Frequently asked questions

Can I flatten forms but keep comments?
No. There is no forms-only mode; every annotation qpdf can flatten is flattened.
Will signatures still validate?
Flattening appearances usually breaks cryptographic signatures. Validate first if that matters.
Is this the same as printing to PDF?
No. qpdf merges annotation appearances into content. It does not reprint the page as an image.
What if there are no annotations?
You still get a qpdf rewrite. Visual change should be none.

Last updated:

Call this from code

Every tool on this site is a plain REST endpoint - no account or API key needed for anonymous use. Built for AI agents and developers as much as for browsers.

curl -X POST "https://pdf123.xyz/api/v1/misc/flatten" \
  -F "[email protected]" \
  -o output.pdf

Also available as an MCP tool for agent clients that speak Model Context Protocol (JSON-RPC 2.0 over POST /mcp). Full API reference

Use it from an AI agent

Skill

Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and other AI agents can run Flatten for you with this skill: /skills/pdf123-flatten.md

All agent skills

Files are used only for this processing job and deleted automatically afterward.