How to Edit PDF File in Laptop Free & Easy Guide
Don’t want to destroy the authenticity of your PDF while editing? Learn how to edit PDF file in laptop with the 4 best paid and free tools of 2025.
How to Edit PDF File in Laptop Free & Easy Guide

A key benefit of PDFs is that they keep a document’s format the same on any device or system.
- However, when you want to know how to edit PDF file in laptop, you would want them to retain their format.
- For this purpose, you require the best PDF Editors as mediocre tools will destroy the authenticity of the document.
- Multiple PDF editing solutions exist in the digital environment between paid advanced tools and no-cost tools for web and desktop use.
Through this guide you will learn about 4 well-known PDF editing solutions. We’ll also share each tool’s advantages and drawbacks along with practical usage steps to effectively support any PDF editing requirement.
Method | Security | Success Rate | Scope of Application |
High, offers encryption and password protection, digital signatures, cloud storage | High | OCR, Editing, converting, annotating, compressing PDFs, AI summarizer, screenshot recorder | |
Adobe Acrobat Reader | High, password protection, digital signatures, cloud storage | High | Editing, form-filling, annotations, PDF security, OCR |
Microsoft Word | Moderate, No built-in encryption for PDFs | Varies (depends on layout complexity) | Basic text and image edits, converting PDFs to Word and back |
iLovePDF (Online) | Low, vulnerable to phishing, data breaches | High | Online PDF editing, annotations, text formatting |
Part 1: How to Edit PDF on a Laptop in Windows 10 & 11
If you want to learn how to edit PDF file in laptop Windows 11/10, Tenorshare PDNob is an excellent Adobe Acrobat alternative in every way. For once, it’s a user-friendly and free tool. Secondly, it has comprehensive PDF editing tools to offer.
PDNob can convert, merge, edit, and compress PDFs, and also enables you to add annotations, highlights, comments, background, watermarks, and images. Moreover, the tool offers an OCR tool to edit scanned PDFs with 99% accuracy. Here’s how to edit PDF file in laptop Windows 10/11 with Tenorshare PDNob:
Edit PDF on a Laptop:
Step 1: Execute Tenorshare PDNob on your laptop. Then, choose “Open PDF” to upload the PDF which you wish to edit.
Step 2: Head to “Edit” in the above menu. Then, choose to edit text, images, background, etc. You can also pick “Comments” from the toolbar to annotate the text.
Step 3: Head to “File.” Then, tap “Save as” to export the modified PDF.
Change PDF to Word on Laptop:
If you want to convert your modified PDF to a Word document, then here’s how to change PDF to Word on laptop with Tenorshare PDNob:
Step 1: Execute Tenorshare PDNob on your laptop. Then, choose “Open PDF” to upload the PDF which you wish to convert to Word.
Step 2: Head to “Convert.” Then, choose “To Word.” Hit “Convert.” Next, save the converted file.
More Features:
- 99% OCR Accuracy - Converts scanned PDFs into editable, searchable text with 99% accuracy, keeping the original layout intact.
- 100+ Edits: Text - Allows precise text, image, watermark, and background edits, as well as compressing, merging, and protecting PDFs.
- 30+ Formats Convert - Supports conversion to/from 30+ formats, including Word, Excel, PPT, images, EPUB, and PDF/A.
- 200+ Annotations - Add highlights, shapes, stamps, or notes with 200+ annotation options.
- Image Editing - Insert, replace, or adjust images with ease.
- Batch Processing - Supports large volumes of files, up to 1 million, without size limits.
- AI Assistance - Uses GPT-4 for quick summaries, insights, and answers, even for lengthy documents.
- Responsive Customer Tech Support - Responsive tech support ensures a smooth experience.
- Screenshot Capability - Easily capture the entire editing or redaction process.
- Multilingual Support - Operates in 16+ languages, including English, Chinese, and French.
Part 2: How to Edit PDF on a Laptop in Adobe Reader?
Adobe Acrobat Reader provides various tools for editing PDFs. You can add, delete, or modify text, fix typos, change fonts, and adjust alignment. Images and objects can also be resized, moved, rotated, cropped, or replaced. Moreover, the tool provides an OCR technology that allows scanned documents to become editable. You can fill out PDF forms, add annotations like text boxes, sticky notes, highlights, and drawings, and update headers, footers, backgrounds, and watermarks.
Edit PDF in Adobe:
Here’s how to edit PDF file in laptop Adobe Reader:
Step 1: Execute Adobe Acrobat Reader on your laptop. Then, head to “File.” Next, tap “Open” and select the PDF you want to edit.
Step 2: Head to “Tools” in the above menu. Next, use the “Edit PDF” tool to start editing. You can add new content like text or images, or move, resize, or replace images.
Step 4: Click “File.” Then, head to “Save” to export the edited PDF to your laptop.
Fill Out a PDF Form on a Laptop:
Here’s how to fill in a PDF form on laptop with Adobe Acrobat:
Step 1: Open the PDF form in Acrobat. Then, head to “All tools.” Choose “Fill & Sign.”
Step 2: Click “Fill in form fields ,” select a field, and type your text. Next, click and drag the text box to align it properly.
Step 3: Click inside the text box to modify the text. Then, use the “A” icons to adjust size.
Step 4: Select a color from the toolbar. Then, tap “ellipsis ( … ).” Choose “Character Spacing” to evenly space letters.
Step 5: Repeat for all fields and format as needed.
Pros:
- Create, convert, and edit PDFs easily.
- Comment, review, and share documents smoothly.
- Offers password protection, digital signatures, and redaction.
- Converts scanned documents into editable text.
- Works with Adobe apps, Google Drive, and OneDrive.
- Identifies text fields, checkboxes, and radio buttons.
- Enter information in forms and add signatures easily.
- Send completed forms and store them securely in Adobe Cloud.
- Fill in interactive and non-interactive forms.
Cons:
- High cost, especially for individuals and small businesses.
- Can be overwhelming for beginners.
- May slow down older computers.
- Some prefer a one-time purchase over a subscription.
Part 3: How to Edit PDF File on a Laptop for Free?
If you want to know how to edit PDF file in laptop for free, you can edit PDFs in Microsoft Word. It allows you to open PDFs by converting them into editable documents. You can then, modify text, images, and formatting just like a regular Word file. After editing, you can save it back as a PDF. Word also offers formatting tools for fonts and layouts, as well as annotation features like comments and highlights. Here’s how to edit PDF file in laptop in Word:
Step 1: Open Word on your laptop. Then, head to “File.” Tap “Open,” select the PDF, and let Word convert it.
Step 2: Edit text, images, or other elements as needed. Then, head to “File.” Choose “Save As.” Next, click “PDF,” and save.
Pros:
- Convert PDFs to Word for quick content changes.
- Simple and familiar interface.
- Functions well with Excel and PowerPoint.
- Supports screen readers and keyboard shortcuts.
Cons:
- Complex layouts may not convert perfectly.
- Passwords and digital signatures may be lost.
- Some fonts and graphics may not appear correctly.
Part 4: How to Edit PDF File on a Laptop Free Online?
If you want to learn how to edit PDF file in laptop online, iLovePDF is a decent tool to edit text while keeping the original format. You can add comments, change fonts, and adjust text style and color or insert, resize, rotate, and position images. iLovePDF also allows you to use freehand drawing with different colors and thicknesses. You can even add shapes like lines, rectangles, and ellipses, customizing their size, color, and transparency. Here’s how to edit PDF file in laptop for free online with iLovePDF:
Step 1: Open iLovePDF Edit PDF tool on your laptop. Then, click “Select PDF file” or drag and drop it.
Step 2: Add text, shapes, images, comments, or highlights. Then, tap “Edit PDF” to apply changes.
Step 3: Save the edited file or upload it to Google Drive/Dropbox.
Pros:
- Simple drag-and-drop interface.
- Supports text formatting, image editing, and annotations.
- Offers encryption, two-factor authentication, and regular updates.
- Built-in sharing options for teamwork.
- Many tools are available at no cost.
Cons:
- Cannot be used offline.
- Merging files may disrupt order.
- Possible server, network, or browser issues.
- Vulnerable to phishing, malware, and data breaches.
FAQs About How to Edit PDF File in Laptop
1. How do I edit a PDF on my laptop without Acrobat?
You can edit a PDF on a laptop without Acrobat with Tenorshare PDNob. It offers a comprehensive set of tools for editing, converting, merging and compressing PDFs, OCR function, AI Summarizer, etc.
2. How do I enable editing on a PDF on my laptop?
You can enable editing on a PDF on your laptop with Microsoft Word. Go to File > Open, select the PDF, and Word will convert it for editing. Make your changes and save it as a PDF again.
It’s Good to Chat
You can learn how to edit PDF file in laptop through desktop software applications, Microsoft Word, or online editing solutions. Adobe Acrobat stands as a powerful solution, which comes with high prices, yet Word provides free use at the expense of potential formatting glitches. While iLovePDF gives users convenient access, although an online dependency exists.
The best and user-friendly PDF editing solution can be found in Tenorshare PDNob. You can access top-class editing functionalities and optical character recognition (OCR) capabilities through this product while saving money on the costly Adobe Acrobat. Furthermore, the tool offers an AI summarizer to extract insights, a screenshot recorder, converter, and various PDF management tools.