You can manage PDFs and images in the Preview app on your iPad. You can save the file and return to the main menu, copy the PDF or image to the Clipboard, or export a PDF or image in a different format. You can also create a duplicate, move the file, or rename it.

1. Go to the Preview app on your iPad.
2. Open a PDF or image.
3. Do any of the following:
   • Save the file and return to the main menu: Tap the Back button.
   • Rename the file: Tap the Actions Menu button next to the filename and tap Rename. Enter a new filename and tap the Done button on the onscreen keyboard.
   • Copy the PDF or image to the Clipboard: Tap the Share button, then tap Copy.
   • Create a duplicate: Tap the Actions Menu button next to the filename. Tap Duplicate.
   • Export PDF or image in a different format: See Export or compress PDFs and images.
   • Move the file: Tap the Actions Menu button next to the filename and tap Move. Tap the Actions Menu button next to Preview and select a new location.

See also

• Print PDFs or images in Preview on iPad

You can export a PDF or an image as an HEIC, JPEG, PDF, PNG, or TIFF file in the Preview app. You can compress the file, too. You can also manage PDFs and images, add, delete, rotate, move, or crop PDF pages, and edit an image in Preview.

1. Go to the Preview app on your iPad.
2. Open a PDF or image.
3. Tap the Actions Menu button next to the filename. Then tap Export.
4. Select a file format.

   Available formats are HEIC, JPEG, PDF, PNG, and TIFF.

5. Optionally, use the slider to adjust the file size.

See also

• Manage PDFs and images in Preview on iPad
• Add, delete, rotate, move, or crop PDF pages in Preview on iPad
• Edit an image in Preview on iPad

You can scan a document to create a PDF in the Preview app. iPad automatically captures the page, or you can capture the scan yourself instead of automatically, and you can scan additional pages. You can crop, rotate, or adjust the coloring of the scan, and add, delete, or move PDF pages in Preview, too.

1. Go to the Preview app on your iPad.
2. Tap Scan Documents.
3. Position the iPad camera so the text or document appears on the screen.

   iPad automatically captures the page. To capture the scan yourself instead of automatically, tap Auto (the label changes to Manual), then tap the Shutter button.

4. Repeat the step above to scan additional pages.
5. Tap the thumbnails at the bottom of the screen to crop, rotate, or adjust the coloring of the scan.
6. Tap the Done button when you’re finished scanning.

See also

• Add, delete, rotate, move, or crop PDF pages in Preview on iPad
• Manage PDFs and images in Preview on iPad

You can add, delete, rotate, reorder, or crop pages in a PDF in the Preview app on your iPad.

You can insert a blank page, insert a PDF or image, or insert a scanned document, and you can delete the selected page. You can also rotate a page left or right, move a page above or below another one, and crop a page to the area you select. And if you change your mind, you can undo a change.

Add or delete pages

1. Start the Preview app on your iPad.
2. Open a PDF.
3. Tap the Toggle Sidebar button and then touch and hold a thumbnail.
4. Do any of the following:
   • Insert a blank page: Tap Insert Blank Page.
   • Insert a PDF or image: Tap Insert from File.
   • Insert a scanned document: Tap Scan Pages, scan the document, then tap the Done button. See Scan text and documents.
   • Delete the selected page: Tap Delete Page.

Rotate a page

1. Start the Preview app on your iPad.
2. Open a PDF.
3. Tap the Rotate Left button in the toolbar. You can also tap the More button. Then choose Rotate Left or Rotate Right.

Move a page

1. Start the Preview app on your iPad.
2. Open a PDF.
3. Tap the Toggle Sidebar button and touch and hold a thumbnail until menu options appear. Drag the page thumbnail above or below another one.

Crop a page

1. Start the Preview app on your iPad.
2. Open a PDF.
3. Select a page and tap the Crop button.
4. Drag the blue handles to select an area and tap within the selected area. Then tap Crop.

To undo a change, tap the More button, then tap Undo.

See also

• Annotate a PDF or image in Preview on iPad
• Print PDFs or images in Preview on iPad

You can print a PDF or image from the Preview app on your iPad. You just open a PDF or image, select a printer, and print it, and you can also annotate a PDF or image or manage PDFs and images in Preview.

1. Go to the Preview app on your iPad.
2. Open a PDF or image.
3. Tap the Actions Menu button next to the filename. Then tap Print.
4. Select a printer, then tap the Print button.

See also

• Open and view PDFs and images in Preview on iPad
• Lock PDFs in Preview on iPad
• Export or compress PDFs and images in Preview on iPad

Learn how to use the Preview app to fill out and sign PDF forms, scan documents, and make changes to PDF documents and images. You’ll scan document pages with the iPad camera to create a PDF file. You can also fill out a form with AutoFill, and remove the background from an image to focus on what’s important.

Fill out PDF forms

To fill out a PDF form in Preview, tap the AutoFill button at the top of the screen, then select a field. Enter text, or tap a suggestion that appears above the onscreen keyboard. Use your finger or Apple Pencil to add a signature.

Scan and save documents to create a PDF file

Tap Scan Documents, then position the iPad camera to capture document pages. You can crop, rotate, and adjust colors before saving the scanned document as a searchable PDF.

Remove the background from an image

You can remove image backgrounds to focus on what’s important. Tap the More button at the top of the screen, then choose Remove Background.

Protect a PDF document with a password

You can lock a PDF with a password. Open a PDF, tap the Actions Menu button next to the filename, then tap Lock. Turn on Require Password, then enter a password in the Password and Verify fields.

Highlight, underline, or strike through text

You can highlight, underline, or strike through text in a PDF. Open a PDF, then select text. Tap Highlight, then tap a highlight color, the underline button, or the strike through button.

There’s much more Preview can do, as these guides show:

• Fill out and sign PDF forms in Preview on iPad
• Scan text and documents in Preview on iPad
• Remove the background from an image in Preview on iPad
• Lock PDFs in Preview on iPad
• Annotate a PDF or image in Preview on iPad
• Open and view PDFs and images in Preview on iPad

You can lock a PDF document with a password to prevent others from editing or deleting your work. You just lock it in the Preview app, and to keep a copy that’s not password-protected, you can duplicate it first. You can also open and view PDFs and images in Preview.

1. Go to the Preview app on your iPad.
2. Open a PDF.

   Important: To keep a copy that’s not password-protected, tap the Actions Menu button, then tap Duplicate.

3. Tap the Actions Menu button next to the filename and tap Lock.
4. Turn on Require Password. Enter the same password in the Password and Verify fields.
5. Tap Done.

See also

• Open and view PDFs and images in Preview on iPad
• Export or compress PDFs and images in Preview on iPad

You can fill out and sign PDF forms in the Preview app on your iPad. You just enter information in a blue field, or select contact information in the bar above the onscreen keyboard, then add a signature or a text box. You can create a signature with an Apple Pencil or draw with your finger.

1. Start the Preview app on your iPad.
2. Open a PDF form.
3. Tap the Form Fill button.
4. Tap a blue field and then enter information (or select contact information in the bar above the onscreen keyboard).
5. Tap the Add button to add a signature or a text box.

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

See also

• Annotate a PDF or image in Preview on iPad
• Add, delete, rotate, move, or crop PDF pages in Preview on iPad
• Fill out forms, sign documents, and create signatures on iPad

In Preview, you can browse and open PDFs and images directly, without opening the Files app first. You’ll find files you opened recently in Recents. Once a file is open, you can find text in a PDF, view information about the PDF or image, and view an Apple Reference Image.

Open a PDF or image

You can browse and open PDFs and images directly in Preview, with no need to open the Files app first.

1. Start the Preview app on your iPad.
2. Do any of the following to find a file:
   • View files you opened recently: Tap Recents.
   • View shared files: Tap Shared.
   • Browse available files: Tap Browse.
   • Choose a location to browse: Tap the Toggle Sidebar button, then tap an option under Locations in the sidebar.
   • Browse by tag: Tap the Toggle Sidebar button, then tap an option under Tags in the sidebar.
3. Optionally, tap the More button. Then select how items appear (icons or list) or how items are sorted.
4. Tap a file to open it.

Quick tip: When someone emails you a PDF form to fill out, tap the attached file in the Mail app, and you can open and complete the form in Preview. Then reply to the sender with the completed form attached. Read our guide, Reply to an email with a PDF attachment.

View a PDF or image

1. Start the Preview app on your iPad.
2. Open the PDF or image that you want to view.
3. Do any of the following:
   • Zoom in or out: Pinch two fingers open or closed on a page or image.
   • Open or close thumbnail view for a PDF: Tap the Toggle Sidebar button.
   • Scroll pages in a PDF: Swipe up or down.
   • Go to a specific page in a PDF: Tap the More button and tap Go to Page. Enter a page number and tap Go.

View an Apple Reference Image

For a photo that includes an Apple Reference Image, Preview can display the reference image and its information, letting you verify whether the photo has been altered or edited.

1. Start the Preview app on your iPad.
2. Open the PDF or image that includes an Apple Reference Image.
3. Tap the Info button and then tap Reference Image to view the unedited image.
4. Tap the Info button again to see the information about the Reference Image data.

Find text in a PDF

1. Start the Preview app on your iPad.
2. Open a PDF you want to search.
3. Tap the Search button.
4. Optionally, tap the Search Options button in the search field and do any of the following:
   • Exclude matches where the search text is part of another word: Select Whole Word.
   • Only include results that match the capitalization of the search text: Select Match Case.
5. Enter a word or phrase in the search field.

   If you enter a phrase, Preview searches for that exact phrase.

6. Tap the Next Result button or the Previous Result button to go to the next or previous search result.
7. Tap the Done button to close the search results.

View information about a PDF or image

The Preview app can give you information about PDF documents and images, like creation date, filename, and more. And if location information is available for a photo, you can view the latitude and longitude where it was taken.

1. Start the Preview app on your iPad.
2. Open a PDF or image.
3. Tap the Info button to view information about the file.
4. To add or change a caption, tap Add a Caption (or the current text), enter text, and then tap the Done button on the keyboard.
5. Tap the Info button to close the Info window.

See also

• Annotate a PDF or image in Preview on iPad
• Fill out and sign PDF forms 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.

You can draw with an Apple Pencil on a compatible iPad, or with your finger. Any change can be undone, too, and text you copy can be pasted into another document or app.

Here’s how to annotate a PDF or image in Preview on iPad.

Select and copy text

1. Start the Preview app on your iPad.
2. Open a PDF.
3. To select text, touch and hold the first word and 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

1. Start the Preview app on your iPad.
2. Open a PDF.
3. Drag to select text and then tap Highlight.
4. Choose a highlight color, or tap the underline or strike through button.

Add an annotation

1. Start the Preview app on your iPad.
2. Open a PDF or image.
3. Tap the Markup button at the top of the screen and tap the Add button at the bottom of the screen. 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.

See also

• Print PDFs or images in Preview on iPad
• Draw and handwrite with Markup on iPad