Open the scanned PDF file.
Last updated on
Aug 16, 2025
Learn how to edit scanned PDFs in Acrobat and follow best practices to ensure accurate text recognition, formatting, and layout preservation.
Edit scanned PDFs
Windows
Select Edit from the top menu.
Acrobat automatically applies OCR to your document and converts it to an editable PDF copy.
Select the text element that you want to edit and start typing.
The new text matches the original font in your scanned PDF.
Go to Menu > Save as to save the edited PDF.
Specify the location for the file and select Save.
macOS
Open the scanned PDF file.
Select Edit from the top menu.
Acrobat automatically applies OCR to your document and converts it to an editable PDF copy.
Select the text element that you want to edit and start typing.
The new text matches the original font in your scanned PDF.
Go to File > Save as to save the edited PDF.
Specify the location for the file and select Save.
Tips for editing scanned PDFs
Ensure accuracy and maintain formatting with these best practices:
- Check OCR output
Double-check the text for accuracy before editing. If needed, use Scan & OCR > Recognize Text to rescan and improve OCR results. - Improve image quality
For blurry or low-resolution images, use the Enhance scanned file or the Enhance camera image tool before editing. For details, refer to Scan documents to PDF. - Match font and formatting
Ensure edited text matches the original style. If a font is missing, learn how to add fonts to your computer. - Remove security restrictions
If you can’t edit the PDF, check for security restrictions and unlock the PDF if necessary. - Avoid editing complex elements
Minimize edits to tables, graphs, or images to preserve the layout. - Check for app compatibility
Make sure your Acrobat version supports the scanned PDF. If issues arise, update the app. Refer to the system requirements. - Save a backup
Keep a copy of the original file if you need to revert changes.
