Folbrio

How to edit text in a PDF

Updated September 17, 2026

A PDF is designed to keep its page layout. Editing a sentence therefore depends on what the file actually contains: real text, an image of text, or letter shapes drawn as graphics. Folbrio lets you change supported existing text on the page and use on-device OCR when a page needs recognition.

Folbrio is free on the App Store for iPhone, iPad and Mac.

Change an existing paragraph

• Open your PDF in Folbrio. The app creates a working copy so the original imported file remains separate.
• Choose Edit, then select the paragraph you want to change.
• Place the cursor and type your replacement text directly on the page.
• Open Aa if you need to adjust formatting. Check the font appearance and line wrapping.
• Choose Done, then Export to save a finished copy.

Use Edit when you want to replace words that already exist. Use Text when you want to add a new annotation, such as a short note or a date. An annotation does not remove the text beneath it.

Why editing works by paragraph

A PDF does not always contain the continuous text structure of a word processor document. Folbrio edits a selected text box and reflows text inside that box. It does not automatically move all later paragraphs or pages when you insert more words. For a short correction, keep the replacement close to the original length and check the result at normal reading size.

When a PDF says there is no editable text

A scanned page can look exactly like typed text while containing only a picture. Letters converted to vector outlines are also graphics. Open more tools and choose Recognize & edit page to review an OCR preview. Apply it only after checking the recognized words. Read the guide to scanned PDFs for a fuller checklist.

Keep formatting changes under control

Complex layouts, embedded fonts and unsupported PDF content can affect editing. OCR may use a substitute font. Compare the changed paragraph with nearby text and review the size, weight, color and line breaks. If the change pushes beyond the available box, shorten it or adjust the text box and formatting carefully.

Check the exported PDF

Reopen the saved PDF after export, especially when you changed a name, amount or date. Confirm the old words were replaced, the new words fit, and neighboring content remains readable. Keep the original and your exported copy until you are satisfied.

Need to put a logo beside the text? See adding images to PDFs. For troubleshooting, visit Folbrio support.