PDF Form Filler — Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to use PDF Form Filler: step-by-step instructions, settings, export options, privacy, limits and troubleshooting.
Open PDF Form FillerStep-by-step instructions
- Choose an unlocked, unsigned PDF with standard AcroForm fields, or a PDF on which to create fields.
- Fill existing fields in the field panel. Read-only fields stay unchanged.
- To create fields, open the Fields palette, add a field on an unrotated page, drag its handles to resize it, and set its name, value and options. Changes apply automatically.
- Leave Flatten unchecked to keep interactive fields, or choose it for a static completed copy. Export, download and check the fields in a PDF reader.
Supported form fields
Fill existing text fields, checkboxes, dropdowns, list boxes and radio groups. Add new text fields, checkboxes, dropdowns, list boxes and radio groups. For a radio group, give each option the same field name and a different value. Dropdowns and list boxes accept up to 50 distinct options.
New interactive fields require an unrotated source page. Existing fields can be filled on rotated pages. New field names must not contain periods or control characters. Duplicate names are rejected except for intentional radio groups. Interactive field appearance text supports Western scripts; for other scripts use a non-interactive text overlay in Edit PDF.
Preview and export
The page preview shows the original form appearance. Values entered in the existing-field panel appear in the exported PDF; previewing that export in a PDF reader is essential. New fields show a positioning box until export.
Interactive fields are retained by default. Flattening paints their appearances and removes form interactivity from the exported copy. XFA forms, encryption, signature fields, certificate signing, JavaScript calculations and remote form submission are unsupported. Existing unsupported and read-only fields are not edited. Keep your original PDF.
Device safeguards and supported files
One PDF up to 20 MB, at most 50 source pages, 200 added elements, 20,000 drawing points and 200 existing form fields. Inserted images are limited to 20 files, 8 MB each, 20 MB combined, 16 million pixels per image and 32 million pixels combined. Rendered overlays are limited to four million pixels per page; the document and artwork output budget is 60 MB.
Password-protected, XFA and digitally signed PDFs are not supported. Existing page rotations and crop boxes are respected for artwork. Extremely large or malformed pages are rejected. Work is held only in page memory, not autosaved. Previewing and editing do not use an operation; a confirmed export does.
Processing and privacy
Files and entered content are processed on your device in this browser tab. File contents and results are not uploaded to Helphonic or sent to analytics. The page still contacts Helphonic to load its tools, check access and confirm non-content usage information. Work is not saved to your account; download or copy results before leaving or reloading the page.
Access and current limits
Check the tool page for current access, remaining usage and per-operation limits. File count, per-file size, total size and page limits can depend on your access and can change. Device and processor safety limits still apply when usage is unlimited. A paid pass does not necessarily increase every processing limit.
One successful export counts as one operation. Previewing and editing do not use an operation. Daily allowances reset at 00:00 UTC. Downloads of an already-created result do not count again.
If an operation cannot finish
Use a current browser and smaller inputs if the tab runs out of memory. Some tools download a local processing library or model on first use, so an internet connection is needed even though your content stays on the device.
If the tool reports that access or limits changed, review the current policy and run it again. If usage confirmation is uncertain after an interrupted connection, a retry can count as another operation. Download completed work before reloading; this site does not keep a recovery copy.
Check the current limits
Allowances and per-operation limits can change. The PDF Form Filler page shows the policy that applies to you. Per-operation safety limits still apply when usage is unlimited. See access passes if a tool or extra usage requires paid access.
For site-wide information, read the privacy policy and security details.