iPad User Guide

Annotate a PDF or image in Preview on iPad

You can copy, highlight, underline, or strike through text in a PDF file. You can also annotate a PDF or image with stickers, signatures, shapes, or text.

Select and copy text

  1. Go to the Preview app 👁 Image
    on your iPad.

  2. Open a PDF.

  3. To select text, touch and hold the first word, then move the grab points.

  4. To copy the selection, tap Copy.

    You can then paste the text into another document or app. See Select, cut, copy, and paste text.

Highlight, underline, or strike through text

👁 A PDF in the Preview app showing highlighted text, available highlight colors, and the underline and strike through tools.

  1. Go to the Preview app 👁 Image
    on your iPad.

  2. Open a PDF.

  3. Drag to select text, then tap Highlight.

  4. Choose a highlight color, or tap the underline or strike through button.

Add an annotation

👁 An image open in the Preview app. A menu shows options that can be added to it, such as stickers and text. The Markup, Info, Share, and More buttons appear at the top of the screen, and annotation tools appear at the bottom of the screen.

  1. Go to the Preview app 👁 Image
    on your iPad.

  2. Open a PDF or image.

  3. Tap 👁 the Markup button
    at the top of the screen, tap 👁 the Add button
    at the bottom of the screen, then choose an option, such as a sticker, signature, shape, or text. For images, you can also add an image description or a loupe.

    Tip: You can use an Apple Pencil (with a compatible iPad) or draw with your finger. See Apple Pencil compatibility with iPad models.

To undo a change, tap 👁 the Undo button
to the left of the annotation tools.

Thanks for your feedback.