How to Change Text in a PDF for Free (Step by Step)

Published 5 November 2026

You have a PDF with a typo, an old date or the wrong amount, and you do not have the original Word file. You can still fix it. This guide shows how to change text in a PDF for free, in your browser.

Before you start

The method depends on what kind of PDF you have.

• A PDF made from a document, invoice or e-mail contains real text. You can click a line and change it directly.
• A scan or photo saved as PDF is only a picture of a page. There is no text to click. See how to edit a scanned PDF instead.

Not sure which one you have? Open the file and try to select a word with your mouse. If the word highlights, it has real text.

Change a line of text

1. Open EditPDFFree and drop your PDF onto the page.
2. Choose Edit text in the toolbar.
3. Click the line you want to change. The old line is covered and a text box opens in its place.
4. Select the text, type the new version and click outside the box.
5. Click Download PDF.

Match the look of the original

The editor guesses the size and font style of the line you clicked. If the new text looks slightly different, click it with the Select tool and adjust:

• Size to make it larger or smaller.
• Font to switch between Helvetica (sans-serif), Times (serif) and Courier (typewriter).
• Bold and Color if the original line was bold or coloured.

Drag the text a little with the mouse until it lines up with the text around it.

Things to check before you send it

• Zoom in and compare the edited line with its neighbours.
• Check that the new text is not longer than the space it replaces, so it does not run into other content.
• Keep a copy of the original file. The edited file is saved as a new copy, so your original stays untouched.

A limit to know about

Editing text this way places new text over the old line. The old words are hidden but may still exist inside the file. Do not use it to hide private information. Read Whiteout vs redaction to see what to do in that case.

Try it

Open EditPDFFree and fix your PDF in a minute. No signup and your file is not uploaded.