Remove PDF Annotations Online — Free & Secure
Delete comments, highlights, links, drawings, stamps and file attachments from a PDF. Choose exactly which kinds to remove, and whether it applies to every page or just the ones you list.
- 1 Upload
- 2 Choose Settings
- 3 Download
Step 1 of 3: Upload your PDF
Drop your PDF file here
or choose a file from your device
PDF only • Up to 50 MB
Drag & drop • Click to browse • No signup required
Your file is processed securely and is automatically removed after processing. Your original is never changed.
- 1 Upload your PDF
- 2 Choose what to remove
- 3 Confirm and remove
- 4 Download the clean PDF
Reading your PDF…
- Sent over an encrypted HTTPS connection
- Deleted automatically, normally within 60 minutes
- No registration needed · Privacy Policy
Remove PDF Annotations
Pick the kinds of annotation to remove, then download a clean copy.
- 1 Upload
- 2 Choose Settings
- 3 Download
Step 2 of 3: Choose what to remove
- Tip: choose Custom Pages to clean only a few pages.
- Tip: leave Form fields unticked unless you really want them gone.
Removing annotations…
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Uploading your file…
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Here’s a look at your finished PDF.
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Result Summary
Save to Cloud (Optional)
Keep your file safe and accessible from anywhere.
Pick a folder in your own account, or share the file straight from here.
Useful Tips
- Open the result and check the pages you cleaned.
- Highlights are removed as annotations — text that was highlighted stays as plain text.
- Need to remove everything hidden before sharing? Try Clean PDF.
✨ Did you know? You can also compress, crop, merge and more — all in one place!
Explore All ToolsWhat would you like to do next?
Remove comments, highlights, links and more from a PDF.
Getting started
- Upload your PDF.
- Tick the kinds of annotation to remove, and choose the pages.
- Confirm and download the clean PDF.
Key concepts
- Annotations
- Things added on top of a page: comments, highlights, links, drawings, stamps and attachments. They are separate from the page text.
- Form fields
- Fillable boxes are annotations too, but they are kept unless you tick Form fields.
- Custom Pages
- Only the pages you list are cleaned, e.g.
1-3, 7. - Your original
- It is never changed.
Tips & shortcuts
- Use Flatten PDF to keep what was typed into form fields.
- The result screen counts what was removed for each kind.
- Enter confirms · Esc closes a dialog · ? opens this panel.
Did you know? Switching to another tool in the sidebar carries your file over automatically — no need to re-upload.
Still stuck? Read the questions below or contact support and we'll help.
What Is Remove PDF Annotations?
Remove PDF Annotations deletes the markup that sits on top of your pages — comments, highlights, underlines, links, drawings, shapes, stamps and file attachments — while leaving the page text and pictures exactly as they were.
You decide which kinds to remove and which pages to clean. The result screen reports how many annotations of each kind were removed, so you know what changed. Fillable form fields are kept unless you choose to remove them.
When to Use It
- Remove reviewers’ comments and highlights before sending a final copy
- Delete links from a PDF you are republishing
- Strip pen drawings and stamps from a marked-up scan
- Remove attachments pinned to pages
- Clean only a few pages and leave the rest untouched
Step-by-Step Guide
Upload your PDF.
Tick the kinds of annotation to remove and choose the pages.
Confirm and remove.
Download the clean PDF and check it.
Tips
- Highlighted text stays as ordinary text; only the highlight colour goes
- Leave Form fields unticked to keep fillable boxes working
- Use Custom Pages to clean a few pages only
- To keep form entries, use Flatten PDF instead
- To remove hidden data as well, use Clean PDF
Troubleshooting
Problem: Nothing was removed
Solution: The file may have no annotations of the kinds you ticked. Tick more kinds, or check that the markup is not part of the page itself.
Problem: Highlights are still visible
Solution: They may be drawn into the page rather than added as annotations, for example in a scan. Those cannot be removed here.
Problem: Form fields disappeared
Solution: Form fields were ticked. Run it again from your original with Form fields unticked.
Problem: My file will not upload
Solution: Confirm it is a real PDF under 50 MB. Unlock password-protected files first with Unlock PDF.
Remove PDF Annotations FAQ
What counts as an annotation?
Comments, highlights, underlines, strikethroughs, links, drawings, shapes, stamps, text boxes and file attachments added on top of a page.
Will the text under a highlight be removed?
No. Only the highlight itself is removed. The text stays as normal text.
Can I remove annotations from only some pages?
Yes. Choose Custom Pages and list the page numbers or ranges, e.g. 1-3, 7.
Are form fields removed?
Only if you tick Form fields. They are kept by default.
Can I get the annotations back?
Not from the new file. Your original is never changed, so keep it if you may need them.
Are my files kept?
No. Your uploads and the result are deleted automatically a short time after processing.
Privacy & Security
Your files are handled securely
Uploads are transferred over an encrypted connection and processed in an isolated job folder. Your original files are never modified — the result is always a new, separate file. Files are deleted automatically a short time after processing. For very sensitive documents, read our Privacy Policy.
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It is free and takes just a few seconds.
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