How do I create a fillable PDF form in Adobe Acrobat?

Open Acrobat and click 'All tools'. Select 'Prepare a form' and choose your document. Acrobat will try to find fields, then you can add or change them. Add text boxes, checkboxes, or dropdowns as needed.

What is the difference between a text box and a dropdown in a PDF form?

Feature Purpose. Text box Allows users to type any text, like a name or address. Dropdown Gives users a list of choices to pick from, like a state or country.

Proof Of Alignment Adjustment in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

CDecide — “help me choose”I adjusted the alignment in the field and need to create a quick markup showing exactly where…+

I adjusted the alignment in the field and need to create a quick markup showing exactly where and how much I changed so engineering can review remotely. Tell me the simplest markup (labels, measurement notes, before/after arrows) to include on the existing schematic and write the short message to engineering that explains the correction and asks the single question I need answered to close the loop.

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 Adobe Acrobat Pro on your computer.
2
Select the Tools tab.
3
Find and select Prepare Form under Forms.
4
Choose an existing file to use as your form, or select the option to create a new one.
Best practiceIf your form is not already a PDF, convert it to PDF before starting this process.
5
Click Start to let Acrobat detect form fields automatically, or manually add fields as needed.
Best practiceLetting Acrobat auto-detect fields can save time, but always review and adjust the detected fields for accuracy.
6
Use the toolbar to add, move, or delete form fields such as text boxes, checkboxes, and drop-down lists.
7
Double-click any form field to edit its properties, such as name, tooltip, and appearance.
8
When finished, use File > Save to save your fillable PDF form.

In the appWith the API

You can quickly test your form by switching to Preview mode in the Prepare Form tool to see how users will fill it out.

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

Glossary

words on this page

Form fieldA place in the PDF where someone can type, pick, or check something.ExampleClick on the form field labeled 'Name' to type in your full name.

TooltipA small message that appears when you point to something, helping people understand what a form field is for.ExampleHovering over the 'Submit' button reveals a tooltip saying 'Click to send your completed form'.

Accessible PDFA PDF that people with disabilities can use, often with tools like screen readers.ExampleAn Accessible PDF allows a visually impaired user to have its content read aloud by a screen reader.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

Engineering asked for proof I adjusted the alignment and they're waiting for my markup before they sign off.

FAQ

about this task

Open Acrobat and click 'All tools'.
Select 'Prepare a form' and choose your document.
Acrobat will try to find fields, then you can add or change them.
Add text boxes, checkboxes, or dropdowns as needed.

Making PDF forms accessible means everyone can use them, including people with disabilities who use screen readers. This ensures your form is usable by a wider audience and meets important accessibility standards. An accessible form has proper labels, tooltips, and correct tab order, making it easy to navigate and understand for all users.

It's best not to use Word's own form tools. While you can convert a Word document to PDF, Word's form fields do not export to accessible PDF fields correctly. Instead, start with a well-structured Word document without form fields, then use Acrobat's 'Prepare a form' tool to add all your form fields directly in Acrobat. This ensures they are properly tagged and accessible.

Feature	Purpose
Text box	Allows users to type any text, like a name or address.
Dropdown	Gives users a list of choices to pick from, like a state or country.

By default, users of the free Adobe Reader cannot save changes to a PDF form. You must use the 'Reader Extended PDF' option in Acrobat to enable saving and other tools for Reader users. This step gives them the necessary permissions to fill out your form and save their work, which is important for many workflows.

Proof Of Alignment Adjustment

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Video

Other guides