How do I change words in a PDF document?

Click 'Edit' in the top bar. Click on the text you want to change. Type your new words. Check that the new text matches the old text style.

What is the difference between editing text on a normal PDF and a scanned PDF?

Normal PDF Scanned PDF. Text is already readable by the computer. Acrobat must first 'read' the text using OCR. Editing usually works smoothly. OCR can make mistakes, especially with numbers or letters that look alike (like '0' and 'O'). Direct text changes are common. Sometimes it's better to add new text boxes over the old text to keep the layout clean.

If I edit text, how can I make sure the new text looks exactly like the old text?

Match the font type (e.g., Arial, Times New Roman). Match the font size (e.g., 12pt, 10pt). Match the text color. Match the text alignment (left, center, right).

◆ Acrobat · edit

Last-Minute Contract Changes

Partner agencies have returned memoranda of understanding in different formats and one proposed amendment would push o…

1ready prompt

1real task

3roles

See the prompt↓More edit workflows

When to use it

real situations

A lawyer needs to fix a typo in a legal contract before signing.
A student wants to update a date on a school report.
A business owner has to change a price in a product catalog.

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

CDecide — “help me choose”Partner agencies have returned memoranda of understanding in different formats and one proposed…+

Partner agencies have returned memoranda of understanding in different formats and one proposed amendment would push our quarterly report earlier. I don't know if the amendment materially increases our risk or just shifts deadlines. Help me decide which MOUs can be routed straight to signatures, which need legal review, and whether to accept the amendment now or pause. Give me a short justification I can show my director for either choice.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat.
2
Select the Edit PDF tool from the right pane or the toolbar.
3
Click on the text you want to edit in the PDF.
4
Type to add, delete, or change the text as needed.
5
Click outside the text box or press Esc to finish editing.
6
Save the PDF to keep your changes.
Best practiceIf you notice formatting issues after editing, try adjusting the font size or spacing for better alignment.

In the appWith the API

You can undo text edits immediately by pressing Ctrl+Z or using the Undo option in the Edit menu.

This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.

Glossary

words on this page

OCROCR stands for Optical Character Recognition. It is technology that turns images of text into real text you can search and copy.ExampleAfter scanning a paper invoice, OCR allows you to copy the vendor's name from the image.

FontA font is the style of letters and numbers used in writing, like Arial or Times New Roman.ExampleChanging the font from Arial to Times New Roman altered the look of the entire report.

EmbedTo put something, like a file or image, inside another file.ExampleYou can embed a short video clip directly into your presentation slide.

Who does this

3 roles

Administrative AssistantContent EditorLegal Secretary

FAQ

about this task

Click 'Edit' in the top bar.
Click on the text you want to change.
Type your new words.
Check that the new text matches the old text style.

Acrobat needs the font installed on your computer to let you edit text using that font, even if the font is already inside the PDF. If it's not installed, Acrobat can't use it. You can fix this by installing the missing font on your computer or choosing a different, common font that you do have.

Normal PDF	Scanned PDF
Text is already readable by the computer.	Acrobat must first 'read' the text using OCR.
Editing usually works smoothly.	OCR can make mistakes, especially with numbers or letters that look alike (like '0' and 'O').
Direct text changes are common.	Sometimes it's better to add new text boxes over the old text to keep the layout clean.

Match the font type (e.g., Arial, Times New Roman).
Match the font size (e.g., 12pt, 10pt).
Match the text color.
Match the text alignment (left, center, right).

If text looks strange, it often means there's a problem with the font. First, try to install any missing fonts on your computer. If that doesn't work, you might need to use a different, very common font for your edits. For scanned documents, always proofread carefully after OCR, as it can sometimes confuse similar characters and make text look garbled.

Last-Minute Contract Changes

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Video

Other guides

When it fails