Plenty of forms arrive on a phone: a school permission slip, a rental application, a medical questionnaire, a work expense form. You do not need a computer to fill them in. Here is how to do it on Android, and what to do when a form misbehaves.
Check whether the form is fillable
Open the PDF. If you can tap a box and a keyboard appears, the form has fillable fields. If tapping does nothing, it is a flat PDF, essentially a picture of a form, and you will need to add text on top. See making a PDF fillable for background.
Using Google Drive's PDF viewer
Many Android phones open PDFs in Google Drive's viewer, which supports filling simple fillable forms:
- Open the PDF in Google Drive or the Files app.
- Tap a field and type.
- Use checkboxes and dropdowns where the form has them.
- Save a copy, so the original stays blank.
Options and menu names vary between Android versions and phone makers, so look for a Fill form or edit option if fields do not respond straight away.
Using a browser-based editor
If the built-in viewer cannot handle the form, or it is a flat PDF, open it in a browser-based editor. Docento.app works in Chrome on Android and lets you place text, tick marks and a signature on top of the page, which is the reliable way to complete a flat form. It processes the file on your device rather than uploading it, which matters for forms with personal details. For more, see how to edit a PDF on Android.
Adding a signature
Many forms need a signature. Draw it with your finger, or better, a stylus. Zoom in so the signature box fills the screen and you have room to write. See how to sign a PDF on Android.
When the form will not save your entries
Some forms appear to accept typing but lose it when saved or sent. Common causes:
- The viewer cannot save changes back into the file. Use "Save a copy" or a different app.
- The form uses an older format (XFA) that many mobile apps do not support. See XFA forms explained.
- The form is protected against editing.
Our guide to a fillable PDF form not saving walks through each fix.
Flatten before sending
After filling, consider flattening the form so the values cannot be changed and display the same everywhere. See how to flatten a PDF.
Sending the completed form
Share the saved PDF by email or upload it to the portal. Check the file before sending: open it in a different app and confirm your entries and signature appear. Some viewers show entries that are not actually saved in the file.
Takeaway
Tap a field to see if a form is fillable, use Google Drive's viewer for simple forms or a browser editor for flat or stubborn ones, sign with a stylus if possible, save a copy, flatten, and check the file in another app before sending. The iPhone version of this guide is how to fill a PDF form on iPhone.
