# Does anyone know how to add annotations to a pdf? **URL:** \ **Category:** Layout & Formatting\ **Tags:** ocr\ **Created:** [October 29, 2026, 2:58pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-add-annotations-to-a-pdf/38 "2026-10-29T14:58:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![anon\_06](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/839c29/32.png) [@anon\_06](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/anon_06)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 2:58pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-add-annotations-to-a-pdf/38/1 "2026-10-29T14:58:42Z")
I need to mark up a PDF for a class project, mainly highlighting passages and adding a few comments. How do I add annotations without changing the original text? ---
**Author:** ![ashley.cardiff](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/ashley.cardiff/32/31_2.png) [@ashley.cardiff](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/ashley.cardiff)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 3:00pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-add-annotations-to-a-pdf/38/2 "2026-10-29T15:00:15Z")
I agree, trying to mark up a PDF without changing the text can be annoying. Honestly, the simplest fix is to open a copy in a viewer you already have, like Preview on Mac or the PDF view in Edge. Highlighting and sticky notes are saved as separate annotations, so the original wording stays the same. Just save the marked copy and leave the original file alone. ---
**Author:** ![guitar\_mouse](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/guitar_mouse/32/33_2.png) [@guitar\_mouse](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/guitar_mouse)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 4:40pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-add-annotations-to-a-pdf/38/3 "2026-10-29T16:40:24Z")
Make a copy first, then open it in Microsoft Edge on Windows or Preview on a Mac and use the highlight and comment tools. On a tablet, the built-in Markup option may also work, though comments are sometimes limited. Avoid using “Print to PDF” afterward, since that can flatten the annotations or remove editable comments. ---
**Author:** ![rando72836](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/rando72836/32/25_2.png) [@rando72836](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/rando72836)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 6:40pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-add-annotations-to-a-pdf/38/4 "2026-10-29T18:40:40Z")
@guitar_mouse is spot on about avoiding the print to PDF option! I mark up vendor contracts daily and that flattening issue used to drive me completely crazy. Are you useing a tablet or a computer for your notes? ---
**Author:** ![reckless\_legend](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/reckless_legend/32/32_2.png) [@reckless\_legend](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/reckless_legend)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 9:10pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-add-annotations-to-a-pdf/38/5 "2026-10-29T21:10:26Z")
Use a PDF reader with annotation tools, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, then choose Highlight or Add comment and save it as a new copy. I’d avoid editing or converting the PDF first, as that can shift the layout and alter the original text. ---
**Author:** ![cameron2002](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/cameron2002/32/22_2.png) [@cameron2002](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/cameron2002)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 7:40am UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-add-annotations-to-a-pdf/38/6 "2026-10-30T07:40:39Z")
Annotations sit on top of the file, they don’t touch the underlying text, so you don’t need to worry about that. Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader (free), grab the highlight or comment tool from the toolbar, and mark away. Save a copy when you’re done so your notes stay editable later. ---
**Author:** ![nancy\_gray](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/nancy_gray/32/34_2.png) [@nancy\_gray](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/nancy_gray)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 1:25pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-add-annotations-to-a-pdf/38/7 "2026-10-30T13:25:25Z")
@rando72836 Good question to ask first, the device really decides which tools you get. On my school laptop I mark up scans in Edge, but on the tablet the comment tools are thin, so I mostly highlight and type notes separately. Either way I keep a backup copy of the original before touching anything. ---
**Author:** ![roisin1984](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/roisin1984/32/35_2.png) [@roisin1984](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/roisin1984)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 4:40am UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-add-annotations-to-a-pdf/38/8 "2026-10-31T04:40:22Z")
Adobe Reader (the free one) lets you highlight and add sticky note comments without touching the actual text underneath, it just sits on a separate layer. Totally safe for scanned PDFs too. ---
**Author:** ![hunterr23](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/hunterr23/32/28_2.png) [@hunterr23](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/hunterr23)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 11:55pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-add-annotations-to-a-pdf/38/9 "2026-10-31T23:55:22Z")
you can add highlights and comment notes as a separate annotation layer, so the PDF text itself stays untouched. In PDFcap, open the file, choose Highlight or Comment, then save a copy with a new name. are you doing this on a phone or computer? ---
**Author:** ![code\_boomer](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/code_boomer/32/29_2.png) [@code\_boomer](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/code_boomer)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2026, 10:55pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-add-annotations-to-a-pdf/38/10 "2026-11-01T22:55:21Z")
Honestly for highlighting and comments I just open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader, it’s free. Click the highlighter tool or the comment bubble in the toolbar on the right, mark what you need, then save a copy so the original stays untouched. Are you on Windows or Mac? ---
**Author:** ![xXCrazyXx](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/xxcrazyxx/32/30_2.png) [@xXCrazyXx](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/xXCrazyXx)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2026, 3:41pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-add-annotations-to-a-pdf/38/11 "2026-11-05T15:41:06Z")
@rando72836 I use a computer at the clinic and just open a copy in Edge to add highlights and comments. Avoid tablets for long comments since the options are usually thinner.