Flatten a PDF
Burn form fields and comments into the pages – nothing can be changed afterwards.
- Stays on your device
- No limits
- No watermark
- No account
How can I check that nothing is uploaded?
Your files are processed in this browser tab. This page has no function that sends files to a server, and its security rules (Content Security Policy) forbid connections to other servers.
Check it yourself: load this page, then switch on flight mode or disconnect Wi-Fi and run the tool. It still works – because everything happens on your device.
Good to know
How it works – step by step
Choose your PDF
Select one or more filled-in forms or annotated PDFs.
Choose what to flatten
Forms, comments or both – and whether links stay clickable. For stubborn files there is the “As image” method.
Flatten and save
Tap “Flatten”. The values are now part of the page and look the same in every program.
Why FaLe?
Text stays text
Clean flattening copies each field’s visible appearance into the page. Text stays searchable and sharp.
Accents included
If filled-in fields lack an appearance, it is regenerated – characters such as ä, é, ß and € are shown correctly.
Keep links
If you like, links stay clickable while forms and comments become fixed.
Image fallback
If a file causes trouble, every page is saved as an image – exactly as it is displayed.
| FaLe Tools | Typical online tools | |
|---|---|---|
| Where are files processed? | In your browser, on your device | Usually on the provider’s server – the file is uploaded |
| Account needed? | No | Often for larger files or more runs |
| Limits | No artificial limits | Often daily limits or size caps in the free version |
| Watermark | Never | With some providers in the free version |
| Works offline | Yes, after the first visit | No |
| Ads and tracking | None | Often banner ads and analytics services |
Frequently asked questions
What does flattening a PDF mean?
Form fields and comments sit on a separate layer above the page and can be changed. Flattening copies their look into the page itself and removes the fields. Afterwards nobody can edit the values.
Are my files uploaded?
No. Flattening happens entirely in your browser. Nothing leaves your device.
Does the text stay searchable?
With clean flattening, yes. With “As image” every page becomes a picture – the text can no longer be selected or searched, and links are dropped.
Why is a comment missing after flattening?
Some programs save comments without an appearance. Clean flattening cannot take those over; you get a notice. Use “As image” in that case.
What about password-protected PDFs?
You type the password on the file. The flattened PDF is protected again with the same password.
More features in the FaLe PDF app
Sign, fill in forms, scan with text recognition and more than 40 other tools – free, no account and offline, too.