Mark up a PDF in OneDrive for iOS

The annotation tool in OneDrive for iOS lets you add notes, text, pictures or freehand markup to PDF files on your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch.

The annotation tool  can be found at the bottom of the screen with other common PDF commands.

Add annotations to a PDF in OneDrive for iOS

  1. Open the OneDrive for iOS app and open the PDF you want to annotate.

  2. At the bottom of your screen, tap Annotation 

  3. Tap the tool you want to use from the annotation toolbar (from left to right: Done, Undo, Redo, Note, Text, and  for more options):

    OneDrive for iOS PDF Markup Navigation Menu​​​​​​

    Tip: Swipe up, down, left, or right to navigate your way through the PDF to the place where you want to make your annotations.

  • Tap Note to insert a comment. Tap where you want the note, type your message, then tap away to close it.

  • Tap the Text icon to insert a text box into the PDF and enter the text you want to add to the PDF.

  • Tap to expand options like Shapes, Signature, Image, and Date.​​​​​​​ From Shapes, choose a square, circle, line, or arrow to add to your PDF.

  • Tap then Signature to create a digital signature for the PDF. When you're satisfied with it, tap Done and the signature will be added to the PDF. You can then tap and drag the corners of the signature box to resize it as necessary. ​​​​​​​ OneDrive for iOS PDF Markup Signature box and options

  • At the bottom are (from left to right) your Eraser, three Pens, and a Highlighter.OneDrive for iOS PDF Markup Eraser, Pen, and Highlighter options

  • Tap the Eraser to erase your freehand markups made with the Pen or Highlighter function. You can do this freehand with a pencil, stylus or your fingertip.

  • Tap the Pen to draw or write freehand, with a Pencil or stylus, or your fingertip. To customize your pen's look, tap the small circle in the bottom right, then select the color, size, and transparency of your pen. You can customize all three pens differently as needed.

    OneDrive for iOS PDF Markup Pen Styles

  • Tap the Highlighter to highlight freehand, with a Pencil or stylus, or your fingertip to accent text or images. To customize your highlighter's look, tap the small circle in the bottom right, then select the color, size, and transparency of your Highlighter. You can also set your highlighter to either Text or Freehand. Text will only highlight text, while freehand lets you highlight icons, images, and other non-text information in the PDF.

How to access more PDF editing options in OneDrive for iOS

Tap and hold over text to access more editing options (tap the left or right triangles to see additional options):

  • Copy - Copies the selected text (this can then be pasted into a Note, for example, by adding a Note, pressing and holding within the Note, and selecting Paste).

  • Define - Accesses a dictionary to provide the definition of the selected word.

  • Highlight - Highlights the selected word using your current Highlighter settings.

  • Underline - Underlines the selected word.

  • Strikethrough - Adds a strikethrough over the selected word.

Change or delete PDF markup in OneDrive for iOS

  1. At the bottom of your screen, tap Annotation 

  2. Tap any annotation to select it.

  3. A set of tools and commands also appears, with options including Copy and Delete.

    Tip: The tools that appear will be different depending on the type of annotation you're changing. For example, the tools offered to change freehand markup are different than those for text markup.

Learn more

Features available for PDFs in OneDrive in Web and mobiles/iPads

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