Documents
January 20, 2022
1
 min read

How To Repair PDF Files

PDFs can contain multiple layers and interactive elements like checklists or radio buttons, which may cause problems when you try to use them in other apps or print them. Here's how to fix this.

How To Repair PDF Files

Table of contents

PDF files (Portable Document Format) can contain multiple layers with different content on each one. They can also have interactive elements, such as drop-downs, checklists, or radio buttons. The data for these elements is stored in a separate area to the text on the page.

Such rich, complex PDF files can sometimes cause problems when you try to open or use them in other apps or when you try to print them.

For example it can sometimes happen that such a complex PDF is not recognized by Xodo Sign. The way this manifests itself is that you, for instance, cannot upload it or the document gets stuck in the signing process.

The solution to this problem is to flatten the PDF.

What is flattening a PDF?

Flattening involves taking the text, images and shapes from superimposed layers of the PDF and merging them into one single layer.

The PDF will still look the same but the user can no longer interact with the forms, which makes it usable with Xodo Sign.

When you flatten a PDF, the following happens:

  • Interactive elements such as checkboxes, text boxes, radio buttons, drop-down lists are no longer fillable and take the current selection
  • Annotations become “native text”
  • Multiple layers of text, images, page numbers, and header styles become one single layer

Where to flatten your PDF

There are many online tools that help you flatten your PDF files. We recommend Xodo, which you can use to flatten your PDF for free online.

After flattening your PDF, you should be able to use it with Xodo Sign. Should you have any other problem, don't hesitate to contact our friendly customer service team.

Xodo Sign
Xodo Sign
Read more posts by this author.

Read Similar Posts

Introducing Xodo Sign AI Summarizer: Smarter Document Review, Built into Your Workflows
Documents
August 11, 2025
3
 min read

Introducing Xodo Sign AI Summarizer: Smarter Document Review, Built into Your Workflows

Our new AI Summarizer is now built into Xodo Sign’s Advanced Editor. Highlight key points, flag sensitive content, and streamline the review process. Go from reviewing drafts to signing approvals faster with Xodo Sign.

Xodo Sign
Xodo Sign
Introducing Advanced Document Editing in Xodo Sign
Documents
May 30, 2025
5
 min read

Introducing Advanced Document Editing in Xodo Sign

Speed up approvals with advanced document editing, seamless collaboration, and secure e-signing all within the Xodo Sign platform.

Xodo Sign
Xodo Sign
How to Convert PDFs to Word
Documents
February 20, 2023
5
 min read

How to Convert PDFs to Word

Word Wondering how to turn your PDF into an editable Word document? Here's how to convert PDFs to Word with Xodo online.

Xodo Sign
Xodo Sign