KissPDF Free Online PDF Flattener
Flatten a PDF online to make form fields read-only, or rasterize each page into an image-based PDF.
Flatten completed forms before sharing, or create image-based pages when text, links, annotations, and fields should become part of the page instead of remaining interactive.
Form-only mode preserves ordinary PDF page content, while full flattening renders each page as a single image.
Choose one PDF, select what should be flattened, and download a separate fixed copy.
Drop one PDF on the page or select it from your device.
Flatten everything for image-based pages, or flatten only detected form fields.
For full flattening, choose 75, 100, 150, or 220 DPI. The default is 150 DPI.
Process the PDF locally and save the new flattened copy.
Practical guide
Flatten a PDF online for free with this browser-based PDF flattener. Make form fields read-only, or rasterize each page into an image-based PDF at 75, 100, 150, or 220 DPI.
Flatten only form fields converts a fillable PDF into a standard non-fillable PDF. It preserves the current field values as page content and removes the editable controls, so completed answers can no longer be changed as form fields. Flatten everything renders each page as a single image, including visible text, links, form fields, annotations, and markups.
Resolution applies only when flattening everything. The default 150 DPI gives a practical balance for completed forms and normal sharing. Choose 75 DPI for the smallest output, 100 DPI for screen use, or 220 DPI when small print and fine lines need more detail.
Full flattening removes the original text layer and interactive behavior because every page becomes a JPEG image inside a new PDF. Text is no longer directly searchable, selectable, or accessible to screen readers, although OCR software may still recognize it. Form-only flattening avoids that trade-off for ordinary AcroForm documents.
KissPDF reads, renders, and rebuilds the document in browser memory. The new PDF is downloaded directly from the browser, while the source file remains unchanged on your device.
Clear answers based on how this tool actually works.
Flattening makes interactive PDF content permanent. It can remove fillable form controls while preserving the rest of the page, or convert each page into a fixed image.
Choose Flatten only form fields. KissPDF preserves the current field values as page content and removes the editable controls, creating a standard non-fillable PDF.
Select the PDF, choose full-page or form-only flattening, select a resolution when rasterizing pages, and click Flatten PDF to download the new copy.
Yes. Flatten only form fields preserves ordinary page text and vectors while making detected AcroForm values permanent and removing the fillable controls.
Use Flatten everything. Visible annotations and markups rendered by the browser become pixels in the page image and are no longer separate interactive objects.
Form-only mode preserves ordinary text and vectors. Full flattening rasterizes each page, so text, links, forms, and annotations are no longer interactive.
Use the default 150 DPI for most completed forms and shared documents. Use 75 or 100 DPI for smaller screen copies, or 220 DPI when print detail matters.
Text remains searchable when only form fields are flattened. Full-page flattening turns the text into pixels, so the original text layer is not retained.
No. Flattening prevents ordinary interactive editing but does not encrypt the file, stop screenshots, or prevent OCR and other reconstruction methods.
Use Flatten everything for XFA forms. Direct form-only rewriting is disabled because browser PDF libraries cannot safely preserve every XFA form behavior.
No. Flattening runs locally in your browser and downloads a separate PDF.