How to Edit a Scanned PDF (Text, Dates and Signatures)

Published 5 November 2026

A scanned PDF looks like a document but is really a photo of paper. That is why you cannot select the words or change them. You still have good options.

Check if your PDF is a scan

Open it and try to select a word. If nothing highlights, or the selection covers the whole page, it is a scan.

Cover the old text and type the new one

1. Open EditPDFFree and add your scan.
2. Choose Whiteout and drag a box over the words you want to replace. The default colour is white. If the paper is not white, pick a matching colour with Color.
3. Choose Add text, click on the covered area and type the new words.
4. Match the size and font to the surrounding text as closely as you can.
5. Click Download PDF.

On a clean white scan the result can look very natural. On a coloured or textured background, the box may be visible.

Other things you can do with a scan

• Add your signature.
• Fill in a form that was scanned.
• Rotate sideways pages.
• Delete blank pages or reorder them.

What this tool does not do

It does not read the text in a scan, which is called OCR (optical character recognition). That means the editor cannot find words on a scanned page for you, and the saved PDF will not become searchable. If you need a searchable PDF, use an OCR tool first, then edit the result.

Tips for better scans

• Scan at 200 to 300 dpi for clear text.
• Keep the page flat and the lighting even.
• Use a plain white background when you photograph a page.

Be honest in what you change

Altering a scanned official document and presenting it as the original can be illegal. Use these tools for legitimate corrections, such as your own forms and drafts.

Edit your scanned PDF. Free, private and no signup.