How do I fill out a PDF form using the Fill & Sign tool?

Open your PDF form in Adobe Acrobat. Go to 'All tools' and select 'Fill & Sign'. Click on the form where you want to type and add your text. If there are no special fields, the tool lets you place text boxes anywhere. Save your document when you are done.

What is the difference between an interactive PDF form and a flat PDF form when using Fill & Sign?

Form Type How to Fill. Interactive PDF Form You click directly into pre-made fields and type your information. Flat PDF Form You use the Fill & Sign tool to place new text boxes anywhere on the page and then type.

What kind of tasks can I do with the Fill & Sign feature in Acrobat?

Filling in any type of PDF form, whether it has special fields or not. Completing application forms for jobs, schools, or services. Typing information into official documents that need your details. Adding your signature to a document after filling it out.

Fill Shipping Forms in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Complete and sign the routine shipping certificate for [shipment=S-337] and upload it to the…+

Complete and sign the routine shipping certificate for [shipment=S-337] and upload it to the carrier portal so the carrier can accept the load today — confirm commodity codes and weights are accurate before signing.

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

BImprove — “do it better”Reduce carrier delays by pre-filling the certificate for the carrier operations lead: surface…+

Reduce carrier delays by pre-filling the certificate for the carrier operations lead: surface HS codes and total gross weight at the top, ensure consignee contact is correct, and call out any special handling instructions that could hold paperwork up.

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 the PDF form you want to fill in Adobe Acrobat.
2
Select the Fill & Sign tool from the right pane or the Tools menu.
3
Click in a form field to activate it, then type your information.
4
For checkboxes or radio buttons, click directly on the box or circle to select your choice.
5
Continue entering information in all required fields.
6
When finished, save the filled form by choosing File > Save or Save As.
Best practiceIf a form field is not interactive, use the Fill & Sign tool to add text by clicking where you want to type on the form.

In the appWith the API

You can use the Fill & Sign tool to complete both interactive and flat PDF forms directly in Acrobat.

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

Glossary

words on this page

Interactive fieldsAreas in a PDF form where you can click and type directly.ExampleThe form has interactive fields for your name, address, and phone number.

Flat formThis is a PDF that looks like a form but does not have special areas for typing; you add text anywhere on it.ExampleOn a flat form, you can add text anywhere on the page, not just in specific boxes.

Reader-Extended PDFA PDF that lets people save their filled-in data using free Acrobat Reader.ExampleYou can fill out and save a Reader-Extended PDF form even if you only have free Acrobat Reader.

Who does this

4 roles

Office AdministratorHR SpecialistStudentCustomer Service Representative

FAQ

about this task

Open your PDF form in Adobe Acrobat.
Go to 'All tools' and select 'Fill & Sign'.
Click on the form where you want to type and add your text.
If there are no special fields, the tool lets you place text boxes anywhere.
Save your document when you are done.

You often cannot save typed information in free Acrobat Reader because of how the form was created. The person who made the form needs to save it as a 'Reader-Extended PDF' to allow saving. If they don't, Reader will let you fill it, but not save your changes. This is not a problem with Reader itself, but a setting from the form's creator.

Form Type	How to Fill
Interactive PDF Form	You click directly into pre-made fields and type your information.
Flat PDF Form	You use the Fill & Sign tool to place new text boxes anywhere on the page and then type.

If you cannot type into a form field, first check if the document is set to 'Read Only'. Sometimes, this setting prevents you from making changes. You might need to uncheck 'Read Only' in the document's properties or settings to enable typing.

Filling in any type of PDF form, whether it has special fields or not.
Completing application forms for jobs, schools, or services.
Typing information into official documents that need your details.
Adding your signature to a document after filling it out.

Fill Shipping Forms

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

When it fails