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There are plenty of excellent productivity apps for the Mac. What many users don't know, however, is that macOS Sonoma offers a built-in PDF editor. This enables you to annotate, redact, sketch, insert text, sign, and do more in a PDF file without needing to rely on third-party solutions. These features are available on all the latest Macs, and below, you'll find the steps you need to follow to use them.

How to edit or combine PDF files on a Mac: The first steps

macOS gives users the option to do some PDF editing without needing to download additional, third-party software. While there are some limitations on what a user can edit, the built-in editor still offers decent functionality. Whatever you plan to do with your PDF file, there are common first steps:

  1. Launch the built-in Finder app.
  2. Navigate to the PDF file(s) you want to edit or combine.
  3. Double-click on the PDF file you want to deal with to open it in the Preview app.
  4. Click on the Markup icon to show its toolbar. It's the first icon, to the left of the search bar.
    The markup button selected in the PDF editor

How to redact text in a PDF file on a Mac

Redaction is a great way to hide certain text displayed on the PDF file.

  1. Tap the third icon on the Markup Toolbar.
    redaction button in pdf toolbar
  2. Click, hold, and move the cursor across the text you want to redact, like you'd usually select text.
    redacted sentences in the pdf
  3. Once you quit the PDF document, the changes will be saved, and the text will remain redacted.

How to sketch or draw in a PDF file on a Mac

You can draw or sketch on the PDF file to insert custom doodles or annotate.

  1. Tap on the fourth or fifth icons on the Markup Toolbar to sketch or draw respectively.
    toolbar buttons in pdf for drawing and adding sketches
  2. Click, hold, and move your cursor around the PDF.
  3. A sketch allows you to draw and then optionally transform your doodle into an accurate geometrical shape, such as a circle. In contrast, drawing allows you to just doodle in a freestyle manner.
    random doodles have been added to the pdf

How to insert shapes and arrows in a PDF file on a Mac

Inserting shapes is another way to mark up a PDF file, and you can do so by following these steps:

  1. Click on the sixth icon on the Markup Toolbar, which is a dropdown menu.
    toolbar button to add shapes to pdf
  2. Choose the shape or arrow you want to insert.
    choosing which shape to add to pdf from toolbar
  3. Drag and resize it as you see fit.
    a square has been added to the pdf
  4. You could even insert a magnification circle to bring a certain part of the PDF to the spotlight.
    added a magnifier to pdf to enlarge certain text

How to add text to a PDF file on a Mac

Adding text can come in handy when filling out a PDF form. Here's how to do it:

  1. Click on the seventh icon on the Markup Toolbar.
    button in the pdf toolbar for adding text
  2. Type the text you want to add in the text field that appears.
    added a sample text to the pdf
  3. Drag it anywhere you want to place it.
    a sample text has been inserted on the pdf
  4. You can even change the font size, type, and color using the button at the very end of the Markup Toolbar.
    text settings such as font and color in pdf toolbar

How to sign a PDF file on a Mac

macOS offers three different ways to sign a PDF. To do so:

  1. Tap the eighth icon on the Markup Toolbar.
    signature button in pdf toolbar
  2. Choose one of the following options:
    • Trackpad if you want to trace your signature on the Mac's trackpad.
      creating a signature on pdf using trackpad
    • Camera if you want to scan your signature from a white piece of paper, using your Mac's webcam.
      creating a signature on pdf using camera
    • iPhone if you want to use your iPhone's touch screen to sign.
      creating a signature on pdf using iPhone

  3. Hit Done.
  4. Click on it in the signature drop-down menu.
  5. Drag it to the respective signature place.

How to add a sticky note to a PDF file on a Mac

You can add a floating, collapsible sticky note to the PDF if you want to remind yourself of something.

  1. Tap the ninth icon on the Markup Toolbar.
    sticky note button in the pdf toolbar
  2. A floating sticky note will appear. Type what you'd like to add.
  3. Click anywhere to get it minimized.
    a sample sticky note has been added to the pdf
  4. Drag the minimized note to where you see fit.
    the sticky note on the pdf has been minimized

How to rearrange the pages of a PDF file on a Mac

You can also change the order of the PDF's pages:

  1. In the sidebar, drag the page thumbnail you want to relocate to the desired location inside the actual sidebar.
  2. This will reorder the pages in the final document.
    dragging one page of the pdf over the other in the sidebar

How to merge two PDF files on Mac

If you have two PDF files, you can merge them into one quite easily:

  1. Open both PDF files you want to merge into one.
  2. Select all or individual page thumbnails from one PDF's sidebar.
    two pdf docs opened side by side
  3. Drop them in the sidebar of the second PDF file.
    adding a page to the pdf's sidebar
  4. Rearrange them as you see fit, if necessary.
    the pdf now has four pages instead of two
  5. That's it! Your two PDF files will be merged into the one you've dropped into. You can then delete the one you've dragged from if you want to keep one PDF only.

The bottom line: Editing PDF files on macOS is simple

macOS offers plenty of tools to edit PDF files without needing any additional software. While it doesn't support all kinds of editing, it's enough for most basic needs users tend to come across during their daily lives. As our guide reflects, most of these actions are executable through the toolbar at the top. Thanks to its clearly marked buttons, you can easily find the functionality you seek by glancing at the toolbar. Whether you're signing, filling, annotating, or doodling on a PDF, your Mac can handle it just fine.