How to Convert a Fillable PDF to a Regular (Flat) PDF

Still sharing fillable PDFs when you really shouldn’t? Stop accidental edits and tampering by turning them into static files.

Generally, if you want to make a fillable PDF non-interactive, you need to flatten the PDF or convert it to an image-based version. For this, there are 3 best ways:

• PDFgear’s online PDF flattener: A free tool to flatten all PDF form fields (making them non-interactive) in one click while maintaining the searchability.

• Print to PDF: An inbuilt feature on Windows and Mac that basically creates an image-based version of the original PDF.

• Adobe Acrobat Pro: A paid tool that offers similar features to PDFgear but also allows techy users to fully control the layers to be flattened.

Flatten a PDF Online for Free

To convert a fillable PDF (which contains interactive form fields) into a regular PDF (with static, non-editable content), the best method is PDF flattening.

Why PDF Flattening Makes a PDF Non-Fillable

PDF flattening is the process of converting interactive elements within a PDF document, such as form fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, dropdowns, annotations (like comments or highlights), and even digital signatures, into a permanent, unalterable part of the document’s content.

Instead of existing as separate, editable objects, these fields become part of the page’s visual data, similar to text or images. This process removes the underlying field definitions and scripting, so viewers can no longer click, type, or change data in those fields.

Free Online PDF Flattener

PDFgear Online PDF Flattener is a free and incredibly convenient online tool for quick flattening, requiring no software download or installation. It features an industry-leading client-side processing that processes users’ files locally in web browsers, without uploading them to servers, which significantly boosts security and speed.

How it works:

1. Open your web browser and go to the PDFgear Online PDF Flattener.
2. Click the “Select PDF File” button to open the PDF.
3. Choose to Flatten all content or Flatten only form fields, and click Flatten.
4. Click Download File to download the non-fillable PDF file.

Pros of PDFgear Online Flattener:

• Free and Web-Based: No cost or software installation needed, accessible from any device with internet.
• Simplicity: Designed for ease of use with a straightforward interface.
• Client-Side Processing: PDFgear’s online tools process users’ files locally in web browsers instead of uploading to the web server.
• Internet Independent: Unlike any other online PDF tools, PDFgear doesn’t even require an active internet connection to function.

Cons of PDFgear Online Flattener:

• Lack of Layer Control: PDFgear currently doesn’t allow you to selectively flatten certain layers in the PDF.

Using the Built-in Print to PDF Feature on Your Device

Print to PDF is a universally available method that works on almost any device and operating system, offering a quick and simple way to flatten a PDF without extra software. It creates an image-based copy of your PDF, which works like taking a screenshot of the original one.

Unlike dedicated flattening in PDFgear and Adobe Acrobat, which intelligently merges interactive elements while preserving bookmarks, layers, and searchable text, printing to PDF often loses advanced PDF features.

1. Open your fillable PDF using any PDF viewer (e.g., PDFgear, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Preview on Mac).
2. Go to File > Print (or use the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + P on Windows, Cmd + P on Mac).
3. Select PDF Printer: In the print dialog box, instead of choosing a physical printer, select a “Print to PDF” option. This will typically be named:
   • “Microsoft Print to PDF” (on Windows)
   • “Save as PDF” (on macOS’s print dialog, usually found in a dropdown menu)
   • “Save as PDF” (in web browsers like Chrome, often the default destination).
4. Click “Print” or “Save.”
5. You will then be prompted to choose a location on your computer and provide a file name for your new, non-fillable PDF.

Pros of Print to PDF:

• Universal Availability: Works on almost all modern operating systems and web browsers without needing any additional software installation.
• Simplicity and Speed: An intuitive and very fast method for flattening.
• Visual Fidelity: Generally preserves the visual appearance of the filled form very well.

Cons of Print to PDF:

• Loss of PDF features: The PDF will no longer be editable/searchable, and it will lose all editable layers.

• Metadata Changes: Can sometimes strip out or alter some PDF metadata from the original file in the new, “printed” version.

Using Adobe Acrobat Pro’s Flattner Preview

Adobe Acrobat Pro offers a specialized “Flattener Preview” feature within its Print Production tools. It makes your fillable PDF forms no longer fillable a similar way as PDFgear’s online flattener, and it lets users preview and selectively flatten interactive elements—like form fields, annotations, and layers—into static content.

Here’s how Adobe Acrobat works:

1. Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
2. Click Tools in the top menu, scroll down, and select Print Production.
3. Click on Flattener Preview in the Print Production panel.
4. In the Flattener Preview window:
   • Check Convert All Text to Outlines (optional, mainly for fonts).
   • Ensure Rasterize All Vector isn’t checked unless needed.
   • Most importantly, check Flatten form fields and annotations (if available).
5. Click Apply.
6. Save the PDF under a new name to keep a backup.

Pros of Adobe Acrobat Pro:

• High Control: Provides the most granular control over the flattening process, including advanced quality and optimization settings.
• Robust Features: Handles complex forms with scripting and intricate layouts reliably.
• Extensive Flatten features: Adobe Acrobat provides a variety of features (Flattener Preview, Optimized PDF, Preflight Tool, and Print to PDF) to flatten PDFs in different ways.

Cons of Adobe Acrobat Pro:

• Cost: Typically requires a paid subscription, making it a more significant investment.
• Software Installation: Requires installation on your computer.

Which Method is Best for You?

Having trouble choosing the best way to make fillable PDFs non-fillable anymore? This section may be helpful to you.

PDFgear’s primary strength lies in its free, web-based nature, meaning no software installation is required, and it can be accessed from any device with an internet connection. Its explicit control allows users to choose to flatten all content or specifically target only the fillable form fields. Moreover, unlike any other online services, it doesn’t upload your document to a third-party server, making it a great choice for confidential files.

The “Print to PDF” method, on the other hand, is built directly into most operating systems and web browsers, making it accessible to virtually anyone without needing to download additional software or rely on external websites. It’s incredibly straightforward, but its simplicity comes with a trade-off in control; it doesn’t offer specific options like flattening only fields versus the entire document’s content, and it results in the loss of PDF features.

Finally, Adobe Acrobat Pro‘s Flattener Preview, as a feature within a professional, paid desktop application, has its primary advantages in robustness and precision. The “Flattener Preview” tool provides granular control over how layers, transparencies, and interactive elements are merged, allowing users to fine-tune settings like raster/vector balance and even preview the flattened outcome before committing. This level of detail is invaluable for complex documents, those with intricate graphics, or forms with extensive JavaScript and calculations, ensuring the highest fidelity in the flattened output.