Introduction:
Whether you are a teacher, lawyer, or any other professional who oftentimes needs to review PDF documents and provide feedback on them, it might be your daily work to annotate PDFs. By adding annotations to a PDF file, you can clearly mark up which content to be deleted, modified, or supplemented. However, making any change to PDFs is easier said than done. Do you know how to annotate a PDF?

If you are new to annotating PDF files and haven’t known the best way to do that, read this post. We will explain to you how to annotate a PDF for free using the five top PDF annotators on Windows, Mac, and the web, along with step-by-step guides.

  1. SwifDoo PDF
  2. Adobe Acrobat
  • SwifDoo PDF
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader

What Does It Mean to Annotate a PDF?

First things first, understanding what an annotation is or what it means to annotate a PDF is important for you to better choose your PDF annotation software and the right annotation method.

An annotation in a PDF is a markup or note added to specific text or other content of the document. It is the addition of any object to a PDF. Therefore, when it comes to annotating a PDF, it normally means you can add notes, draw lines and shapes, highlight, strikethrough, underline text, and do more in the file. An annotation is also called a comment commonly.  

After going through the meaning of PDF annotation, let’s start to learn how to annotate a PDF on different devices with SwifDoo PDF, Adobe Reader, Preview (the built-in PDF viewer on mac OS), and online tools.

Software Operating system Features
SwifDoo PDF  Windows Annotate, edit
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC Windows and Mac eidt, convert

How to Annotate a PDF on Windows

SwifDoo PDF

If you are looking for any software to annotate PDF files for free, take a look at SwifDoo PDF. The program is a lightweight and powerful PDF annotator available on Windows 11/10/8.1/7/XP. It allows you to highlight, underline text, add sticky notes, shapes, stamps, and attachments to a PDF, etc. Apart from annotating PDFs, the handy software can convert, merge, split, and edit existing PDFs. 

Free Download

Now let’s see how to annotate a PDF for free on Windows PC or laptop with SwifDoo PDF.

Step 1: Free download and install the software, then open your PDF file with it;

Step 2: Tap the Annotate menu on the top and click Highlight in the secondary toolbar. Choose your preferred highlight color and select a piece of text to highlight it;

Top 7 PDF Organizers (Offline & Online)

A PDF or PDF page organizer is a software program or app used to add, delete, extract, replace, rearrange PDF pages, or do something more.

READ MORE >

FAQs about How to Annotate a PDF for Free on Windows/Mac/Web

How do I annotate a PDF in Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Firefox browser?

Anyone who wishes to annotate PDF files in a browser may consider using an extension. The above-mentioned Kami app helps annotate PDFs in Google Chrome and the unofficial Hypothesis extension allows you to do that in Firefox. As for how to annotate a PDF in Microsoft Edge, just open your file with the browser and use the built-in PDF annotator to add annotations without turning to other software.

How Can I Annotate PDFs on Android and iPhone?

There are many apps developed to annotate PDFs on Android phone and iPhone. Among them, the iAnnotate app is good for iPad and iPhone, and the Xodo PDF Reader & Editor for Android and iOS.

kkk

测试1111