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How to edit the text in a PDF on a Mac

To change the words already in a PDF on a Mac, open it in a PDF text editor such as Latte PDF, choose Edit Text (⌘E), click the line you want to change and type. The new words take the original font, size and position. Save As then writes a new PDF and leaves the original untouched. Preview, the app that comes with macOS, can add text boxes and notes on top of a PDF, but Apple's own guide says it can't edit the text already there.

Updated October 2026. The steps match the current Latte PDF for Mac.

Edit the text, step by step

  1. Open the PDF

    Drop the file on the Latte PDF window, or choose File › Open… (⌘O). The file is read once; it is never written to.

  2. Turn on Edit Text

    Choose Edit › Edit Text (⌘E), or click Edit text. Every block of text gets a thin outline, so you can see what can be changed.

  3. Click a line and type

    Click a block, then click into its text and type right on the page. The page updates as you type; press Esc when you are done. Tab moves to the next block.

  4. Fine-tune it if you need to

    The side panel shows the selected text's font and size, with sliders for thickness, lightness, letter spacing and line spacing, and arrows to nudge its position. Revert puts a block back the way it was.

  5. Check the page

    Choose View › Preview (⇧⌘P) to see the page as the saved PDF will look, without the outlines.

  6. Save a new copy

    Choose File › Save As… (⇧⌘S) and give the copy a name. You get a new PDF with your changes; the original stays exactly as it was.

Latte PDF is free to try: every step above works without a licence except the last. A licence unlocks saving.

When the font isn't on your computer

Many PDFs carry only the letters they use, so a new word may need a letter the file doesn't have. If Latte PDF can't find the font, choose another one in the side panel, or add the font file yourself with File › Add Font… (a .ttf or .otf file).

Adding new text instead

To put new words where there were none, such as a note or a date, choose Edit › Add Text Box (⌘T) and type. To fill in a form's own boxes, use Fill Form.

Scanned pages

A scan is a picture of a page, so there is no text to click until it is read. Latte PDF reads scanned pages on your computer with the Mac's own text recognition, then lets you edit those words the same way; the new words are drawn to match the scan, and the old ones are removed from the saved picture.

Other ways to do it on a Mac

  • Preview is free and comes with macOS. It is the right tool for adding text boxes, notes and other markup on top of a page, and for filling in forms. Apple's guide says it can't edit the text that is already there.
  • Adobe Acrobat edits existing text too and does much more, as a subscription. See Latte PDF vs Adobe Acrobat.
  • Online editors work in a browser, but they upload your PDF to their servers first. For contracts, medical or financial papers, an app that edits on your computer keeps the file in your hands.

Questions

Will the edited text match the rest of the page?

Latte PDF keeps the original font, size and position. If the font isn't available, pick another in the side panel or add the font file with File › Add Font…, then adjust thickness and spacing to match.

Does editing change my original PDF?

No. Latte PDF never writes to the file you opened. Save As always makes a new PDF, and it refuses to replace the original under any name.

Do I need an internet connection?

Not to edit. Opening, editing, reading scans and saving all happen on your computer, offline. The app goes online only when you click a button for it: Activate once to unlock saving with a licence, or Check for updates.