How to Fill in a PDF on an iPhone

With Apple’s iOS 16 update, it has never been easier to learn how to fill in a PDF on an iPhone.

Even if the form is not in a PDF fillable format, the phone is capable of reading the document and adding text fields automatically.

It also has tools in place that allow users to manually input their own text fields, and add signatures.

Accessing the feature

Accessing this feature is easy. Open the PDF document. If the document is an email attachment, tap on it in the iPhone’s native Mail app. If the document has been saved on the iPhone, find it and tap on it in the Files app.

Tap on the pencil tip icon to access the editing features.

Tap the icon of a rectangle with three dots and a pencil at the bottom right to populate the form with fillable text fields. Suggested fields are shown as blue rectangles.

Tap on each field to input the required information.

If the form has fields but the text does not line up correctly, the boxes can be moved. Tap and drag to reposition the boxes.

This image shows the original alignment and the edited alignment

To add a text box, double tap where it is to be placed. Boxes can be moved around.

Adding a Signature

Look for a + sign in a blue circle in the lower right of the screen. This gives the option to place additional text fields. The + also allows the addition of a written signature.

Choose text form box, tap to place the box. The location can be adjusted.

If the user chooses the add signature option, a menu will appear with saved signatures. It will also offer the ability to create a new signature.

Select a signature or click “Add or Remove Signature” to create one.

When creating a new signature, use your finger or a stylus to write on the black area.

Select done in the top right, then add the signature to the correct spot on the pdf.

To fill a checkbox use the plus button. Add a text box and use the “x” on the keyboard.

When finished the form will look something like the image below. From there the user can send or save the form.

It is good practice to save the form to the iphone’s Files app so it is easily accessible if needed.

If you have any questions about how to fill a PDF on an iPhone, or our terminology isn’t clear, please use our contact form to send us a message. Thanks!

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