Fill Out PDF on iPhone: Complete Guide Without Printing

How to Fill Out a PDF Form on Your iPhone

You received a PDF form by email. You need to complete and return it. You don't have a computer nearby or simply prefer using your phone. Good news: your iPhone has everything you need to fill out PDF forms without printing.

Here's every method, from free built-in options to powerful apps.

Method 1: Using the Files App (Free, Built-in)

Your iPhone includes PDF filling capabilities right out of the box.

Steps:

1. Open the Files app
2. Navigate to the PDF (in iCloud Drive, On My iPhone, or a connected service)
3. Tap the PDF to open it
4. For fillable PDFs: Tap any field and start typing
5. For non-fillable PDFs: Tap the Markup icon (pen tip) → tap + → select Text
6. Position the text box and type your content
7. Tap Done when finished

Adding signatures:

1. In Markup mode, tap +
2. Select Signature
3. Draw your signature or use a saved one
4. Drag to position and resize

Saving: The Files app saves changes automatically. You can also use Share to send the completed PDF via email, Messages, or other apps.

Limitations

• The Files app works well for basic forms but lacks advanced features
• Text positioning on non-fillable PDFs requires manual adjustment
• No form field validation or auto-formatting

Method 2: Using Apple's Preview Features (iOS 15+)

iOS includes increasingly sophisticated PDF handling built into the system.

Using Quick Look:

1. Open any PDF from Mail, Messages, or Safari
2. Tap the Markup icon
3. Add text, signatures, shapes, and drawings
4. Save or share when done

AutoFill Integration: When filling forms, your iPhone may suggest saved information from your Contacts card:

• Your name and address
• Phone number and email
• Signature (if you've saved one)

Tap the suggestions that appear above the keyboard to quickly fill matching fields.

Method 3: Google Drive (Free)

If you use Google services, Drive offers solid PDF filling.

Steps:

1. Open the Google Drive app
2. Navigate to your PDF (or upload one)
3. Tap to open it
4. If the PDF is fillable, tap Fill out form at the bottom
5. Complete the fields
6. Tap Save when done

Limitations:

• Only works with properly structured fillable PDFs
• Non-fillable PDFs can't be edited, only viewed
• Requires uploading to Google's servers

Method 4: Adobe Acrobat Reader (Free App)

Adobe's free app is the most feature-rich option for PDF forms on iPhone.

Steps:

1. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader from the App Store
2. Open your PDF (from email, Files, or within the app)
3. Tap the Fill & Sign icon (pen and signature)
4. Tap anywhere to add text
5. Use the toolbar for signatures, initials, checkmarks, and dates
6. Tap the back arrow and save

Advantages:

• Works on fillable AND non-fillable PDFs
• Saved signatures and initials for quick reuse
• Cloud sync across devices with free Adobe account
• Better font rendering and field detection than built-in tools

Limitations:

• Some features require Acrobat Pro subscription
• App can feel heavy/slow on older iPhones

Method 5: Specialized PDF Apps

For frequent PDF work, dedicated apps offer more power.

PDF Expert ($):

• Professional-grade PDF editing
• Excellent Apple Pencil support (iPad)
• Fast and responsive
• Subscription or one-time purchase options

PDFelement ($):

• Fill forms, add text, annotate
• Convert PDFs to other formats
• Cloud storage integration
• Free trial available

Xodo (Free with limits):

• Fill and sign PDFs
• Annotate and markup
• Sync with cloud services
• Free tier handles basic form filling

Method 6: Online Tools via Safari

You can use web-based PDF tools directly from your iPhone browser.

Smallpdf:

1. Open Safari and go to smallpdf.com
2. Select Edit PDF
3. Upload your PDF
4. Add text, signatures, and shapes
5. Download the completed file

iLovePDF: Similar process at ilovepdf.com. Both work well on iPhone Safari.

PDFgear: Fully free at pdfgear.com with no account required. Works on mobile browsers.

Online Tool Considerations

• Requires uploading your document to external servers
• May have daily usage limits on free tiers
• Depends on internet connection quality
• Good for occasional use, less convenient for frequent form filling

Tips for Better iPhone PDF Filling

Zoom in for accuracy. Pinch to zoom before placing text on non-fillable PDFs. It's much easier to position text correctly when you can see the fields clearly.

Use landscape mode. Rotate your phone for more screen space when filling wide forms.

Save signatures once. Both the Files app and Adobe Acrobat let you save signatures for reuse. Set this up the first time and skip drawing your signature repeatedly.

Enable keyboard shortcuts. Create text replacement shortcuts in Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement for frequently used information (email, address, etc.).

Check the result. After saving, reopen the PDF to verify your entries saved correctly. Some apps display edits that don't persist after closing.

When iPhone PDF Filling Falls Short

Mobile PDF filling works well for occasional forms. It becomes frustrating when:

• The PDF has dozens of fields — Tapping each one on a small screen is tedious
• You have multiple similar forms — Entering the same data repeatedly wastes time
• The PDF is a scan — Mobile apps struggle with field detection on scanned documents
• You need batch processing — One form at a time is the only option

For these cases, AutoFillPDF offers a better approach. Upload your PDF from any device (including iPhone via Safari), provide your information once, and the AI fills the fields automatically. It works on scans, flat PDFs, and properly structured forms alike.

Comparing iPhone PDF Filling Options

Fill PDFs on iPhone Without the Hassle

AutoFillPDF works on any device with a browser—including your iPhone. Instead of tapping through fields one by one, upload your PDF, enter your information, and download the completed form. The AI handles field detection and positioning, even on scanned documents.

No app to install. Works in Safari.

No manual positioning. AI places text accurately.

No format restrictions. Scans, flat PDFs, and fillable forms all work.

Try it free: AutoFillPDF

Related Guides

• Fill Out a PDF Form Online
• Type on PDF
• Fill Non-Fillable PDF
• Add Signature to PDF

FAQs

Can I fill out a PDF on my iPhone for free? Yes. The built-in Files app, Google Drive, and Adobe Acrobat Reader (free version) all let you fill PDF forms at no cost.

How do I sign a PDF on my iPhone? Use the Markup tools in any PDF app. Tap the + icon, select Signature, draw your signature, and place it on the document. Most apps let you save signatures for reuse.

Why can't I type in a PDF on my iPhone? The PDF may not have fillable form fields. Use Markup mode to add text boxes on top of the document, or use Adobe Acrobat Reader's Fill & Sign feature.

What's the best free app to fill PDFs on iPhone? Adobe Acrobat Reader offers the most features in its free tier. The built-in Files app is convenient for quick, simple forms. For completely free online use, PDFgear works well in Safari.

Can I fill out a PDF that was emailed to me? Yes. Tap the PDF attachment in Mail, then tap Markup to add text and signatures. Or tap Share and open in a PDF app like Adobe Acrobat for more features.