How do I make a PDF form that people can fill in?

Open Acrobat and click 'All tools'. Select 'Prepare a form' and choose your file. Acrobat will try to find fields, then you can add or change text boxes, dropdowns, and other fields. Remember to save your form to keep your changes.

What are the most important things to check for accessibility after making a PDF form?

Every field needs a clear label and a Tooltip for screen readers. Ensure all fields have a tag so assistive technologies can read them correctly. Check that the tab order is logical, so users can move through the form easily. Keep field fonts simple (like Arial or Times) and at least 11pt for readability. Always run the Accessibility Checker in Acrobat before sharing your form to find and fix problems.

Create Fillable Form in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Create a fillable PDF data-collection form following our field template, include mandatory…+

Create a fillable PDF data-collection form following our field template, include mandatory fields for date, region, and metric IDs, and save it to the forms library so field teams can submit consistent metrics starting Monday.

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

BImprove — “do it better”Before releasing the form to field teams, reduce bad submissions—make key fields required with…+

Before releasing the form to field teams, reduce bad submissions—make key fields required with input validation for dates and numeric ranges, add short helper text for ambiguous fields, and provide an example filled row so reviewers accept entries without chasing clarifications.

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

Fillable formA digital document with spaces where you can type information or make choices.ExampleThe job application was a fillable form, allowing you to type all your details directly.

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'.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

Create a fillable data-collection form for field teams so incoming metrics arrive in a consistent format

FAQ

about this task

Open Acrobat and click 'All tools'.
Select 'Prepare a form' and choose your file.
Acrobat will try to find fields, then you can add or change text boxes, dropdowns, and other fields.
Remember to save your form to keep your changes.

Word's form tools do not create accessible PDF fields. This means people using screen readers might not be able to use your form correctly. Always use Acrobat's 'Prepare a form' feature to ensure your form fields are accessible and work well in a PDF.

A 'Tooltip' is a short description that shows when you move your mouse over a form field. It matters because it helps all users understand what information to put in that field. For people using screen readers, the Tooltip is read aloud, making the form usable for them. It is a key part of making your form accessible.

By default, Adobe Reader users cannot save filled forms. To allow them to save, you must enable special rights. Go to 'File', then 'Save as Other', then 'Reader Extended PDF', and choose 'Enable More Tools'. This step is important for people who need to fill out your form and save their progress.

Every field needs a clear label and a Tooltip for screen readers.
Ensure all fields have a tag so assistive technologies can read them correctly.
Check that the tab order is logical, so users can move through the form easily.
Keep field fonts simple (like Arial or Times) and at least 11pt for readability.
Always run the Accessibility Checker in Acrobat before sharing your form to find and fix problems.

Create Fillable Form

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Video

Other guides