How to Add Text Boxes to PDFs in Helperbird

Learn how to use Helperbird's add text boxes to pdfs in helperbird. Complete guide for improving web accessibility and reading support.

·

What are PDF Annotations?

PDF Annotations let you add text boxes directly onto PDF documents. You can write notes, add comments, or fill in forms. The annotations become part of the PDF and can be saved and shared.


Who is This For?

This feature is helpful for:

  • Students who want to add notes to study materials
  • Anyone who needs to fill out PDF forms
  • People who want to add comments to documents for review
  • Researchers who need to annotate academic papers
  • Anyone who wants to mark up PDF documents

Step 1: Open a PDF in Helperbird

When you view any PDF in your browser, look for the green button that says "Open PDF in Helperbird - Click to Open" at the bottom of the page.

Click this button.

The PDF will open in Helperbird's PDF Reader with a clean interface and navigation tools at the top.


Step 2: Enable Annotation Mode

In the toolbar at the top of the PDF Reader, click the Add Textbox button (the document icon with a plus sign) in the toolbar at the top.

A text box will be added to the current page. You can drag it to any position and resize it.


Step 3: Add Text Boxes

Click the Add Textbox button again to add more text boxes. Each new text box is slightly offset from the previous one.

Type your text inside the box. The text box will expand as you type.

You can also type text in the Notepad (click the Notepad button in the toolbar to open it) and then click Add text to PDF to insert your notepad content as a text box on the current page.


Step 4: Download Your Annotated PDF

When you are finished adding your annotations, click the Download PDF button (download icon with arrow) in the toolbar at the top.

An Options menu will appear with three choices:

  • Download Note – Save just your annotations as a separate file
  • Download PDF – Download the original PDF without any annotations
  • Download PDF with Annotations – Download the PDF with all your text boxes included

Click Download PDF with Annotations.

A green notification will confirm "PDF downloaded with annotations". Your browser will download the annotated PDF with all your text boxes permanently embedded.

Tip: Your annotations are saved as part of the PDF, so anyone who opens the file in any PDF reader will see your text boxes. This makes it perfect for adding comments, notes, or feedback to documents. You can also use the Drawing Tools to add freehand drawings, shapes, and arrows alongside your text boxes.



Video Tutorial


Need Additional Help?

If you have any questions or run into any issues, please contact the Helperbird support team. You can reach us at Helperbird support. We are happy to help you get the most out of Helperbird.

What People Are Saying

Join over 1,000,000 people who use Helperbird every day.

I am getting such great support from Robert. I enjoy working with him. He answers my questions very quickly. Thanks so much for your great support and a great product.

Terry Martin

Terry Martin

Assistive technology specialist

the BEST addon for accessibility on Firefox. I very much love using its Reading Ruler, and sometimes its Reading mode/voice too.

Colin

Colin

Firefox user

Saw it mentioned at Cast last night! Love Immersive Reader.

Taylor Coffee

Taylor Coffee

Firefox user

Brilliant extension! Have tired it for my daughter and she has come on leaps in school. While there are plenty of free features, the paid ones are only 30 USD a year. Can't recommend this enough.

Gary O'Connor

Gary O'Connor

Helperbird user

Making such an useful tool, replying to every single comment or review and giving support to people's issues as soon as possible?? Carefully, he is a hero.

Martin Bui

Martin Bui

Helperbird user

I've been meaning to write this review for a while now. My daughter is newly diagnosed with dyslexia and I heard an interview with Robert on a Newstalk podcast and sought it out. I wasn't sure if I had it installed correctly on her laptop and Robert was on straight away to help. He was amazing. This app has changed everything for my daughter. Everything is accessible to her and everyday tasks and schoolwork are so much easier. She also has visual stress so the coloured overlay feature is a game changer for her. I would highly recommend this app to anyone, she couldn't be without it now!

James Summer

James Summer

Helperbird user

Helperbird logo: Stylized owl with large yellow eyes and a beige face, against a green background.

Download Helperbird

Make browsing easier and more accessible with tools like Text to Speech, Immersive Reader, and more.