PDFToolkit

View & Edit PDF

Live tool

Remove PDF Annotations

Removes supported annotation objects. It is not a redaction tool.

InputPDFOutputPDFLimit25 MB per filePagesUp to 100ProcessingBrowser processing

Core tools can be used without creating an account.

Supported formats and limits are shown before processing.

Processed locally in your browser. Your file is not uploaded to our server.

Updated 2026-07-10. This workflow is processed locally in the browser and has passed the core file, processing, and download check.

Choose files

PDF - up to 25 MB

PDF

Browser processing limit

Files stay on your device. The result is created in this browser session.

  • Supported annotation objects can be removed; flattened markup remains normal page content.
  • Page text, metadata, attachments, hidden layers, and document info are not cleaned by this tool.
  • Removing a link annotation removes the click target, not the visible link text.

Choose files to process locally

or click to choose from your device

No files selected yet.

Annotation types to remove

Choose annotation types and page ranges, then reopen the output to confirm the expected markup is gone.

Status: Waiting for files

  1. Reading file
  2. Validating PDF
  3. Processing locally
  4. Creating result
  5. Ready

Files stay on your device. The result is created in this browser session.

Use cases

Cleaning review comments

Removing highlights before sharing

Cleaning supported comments and markup

Checking annotation counts

Limits

Annotation removal is limited to supported annotation objects and should be reviewed separately from redaction, metadata cleanup, and page-content editing.

  • Supported annotation objects can be removed; flattened markup remains normal page content.
  • Page text, metadata, attachments, hidden layers, and document info are not cleaned by this tool.
  • Removing a link annotation removes the click target, not the visible link text.

Steps

  1. Choose a PDF from your device.
  2. Select the annotation types and pages to clean.
  3. Remove supported annotation objects locally and download the cleaned PDF copy.

File handling

Annotation removal runs locally in the browser. File contents are not sent to the PDFToolkit server for this tool.

  • Supported annotation types are named before processing.
  • The page states that annotation removal is not redaction.
  • The result is created in the current browser session.

Related tools

PDF Metadata CleanerView supported PDF document properties and remove selected metadata fields locally in your browser.Protect PDFAdd password protection to a PDF and review password strength guidance before processing.Watermark PDFAdd text watermarks to selected PDF pages for drafts, review status, or internal distribution.

Helpful guides

Remove PDF comments and highlights before sharingA safety checklist for cleaning supported PDF annotations without confusing it with redaction or metadata removal.Remove PDF metadata before sharingA privacy checklist for reviewing supported PDF document properties before sending a file.

Remove PDF Annotations FAQ

Can flattened highlights be removed?

No. Markup that has already become normal page content cannot be removed as an annotation object.

Does removing a link annotation delete the visible text?

No. Removing a link annotation removes the clickable target while the visible link text remains normal page content.

Will form fields remain after annotations are removed?

Form behavior can vary by PDF structure. Reopen the output and test important fields before sharing it.

Does removing comments also remove metadata?

No. Metadata, document properties, attachments, hidden layers, and page text require separate review or cleanup.