You likely have a PDF that serves as your study material, an office document handed to you, or maybe you're reading a novel in PDF format. Whether it's for remembering key points, revisiting information, or suggesting improvements, annotating the document proves to be incredibly useful. In this guide, we will walk you through three common methods on how to annotate PDF files in Google Chrome.
Why Annotate PDF Files in Google Chrome?
Learning how to annotate PDFs in Chrome can offer various advantages, but the most common reasons why annotating PDFs can be helpful are:
Chrome is an exceptionally user-friendly and readily available browser, making it a top choice for many users. Its effectiveness contributes to simplicity and collaboration, especially when opening PDFs.
Now, why would anyone choose to annotate their PDFs using Chrome? Learning how to annotate PDFs in Chrome can offer various advantages, some of the most compelling reasons are:
Efficiency in Collaboration: Chrome's built-in PDF annotation tools streamline collaborative work. Users can add comments, highlight important sections, and draw attention to specific details, making it easier to share insights and collaborate with others.
Synchronization Across Devices: Chrome's synchronization feature allows users to access annotated PDFs across multiple devices seamlessly. Annotations made on a desktop can be viewed and edited on a laptop or mobile device, providing a consistent and unified experience.
Integration with Google Services: Chrome's integration with Google services, such as Google Drive, enhances the annotation process. Annotated PDFs can be easily saved to Google Drive, facilitating efficient file management and sharing.
Versatility in Annotation Tools: Chrome offers a range of annotation tools, including text comments, highlighting, and drawing, providing users with versatile options to express their thoughts and mark important information.
Accessibility and Universality: Since Chrome is widely used, annotated PDFs created in Chrome are likely to be accessible to a broader audience. This universality ensures that collaborators or recipients can view and interact with annotations without compatibility issues.
How to Annotate PDF Files in Google Chrome?
There are various ways users can annotate PDFs in their Chrome browsers: through a Chrome PDF annotator extension, annotating in Google Drive, and using an online PDF editor. We will delve into each method to ensure you can choose the one you find easiest.
Method 1: Using Third-party Extension in Google Chrome
One of the best PDF annotator extensions is the WPS PDF Extension - a tool that empowers users to annotate, comment, and draw on their PDFs seamlessly within the Chrome browser. WPS is renowned for its robust solutions, and the WPS PDF Chrome extension lives up to this reputation, offering a comprehensive solution for individuals seeking to highlight crucial parts of PDFs, collaborate with others through comments, create personalized notes, and download PDFs locally for future use.
Let's explore how the WPS PDF Chrome extension can assist users in annotating their PDFs on Chrome:
Step 1: If you don't have the WPS PDF extension yet, you can easily install it by visiting the Chrome Web Store.
Step 2: Once installed, the WPS PDF extension will be available on the Chrome toolbar and can be accessed by clicking on the extension icon.
Pro tip: If you want quick access to all PDF tools with just a single click, pin the WPS PDF extension to make it more accessible.
Step 3: If your PDFs are still opening in the default Chrome PDF viewer, we need to change the setting. To do this, click on WPS PDF extension > Settings > Open PDFs in WPS PDF extension.
Step 4: Now open any PDF on your browser to allow the WPS PDF extension to come into play. To annotate, find the "Highlight" icon in the hover menu on the left.
Step 5: With the highlight option clicked, users can now easily annotate their PDFs.
Step 6: To save the annotated PDF documents, click on the "Save" icon on the toolbar located at the top left of the screen.
Pro tip: There are two save options available; the one on the right side of the screen will simply save the original PDF to your local files.
The WPS PDF extension is a valuable PDF tool to have in your Chrome browser- a simple and effective PDF annotator Chrome extension that allows users to edit and save their important tools but also provides advanced PDF tools just a click away.
Method 2: Annotate in Google Drive
If you are a user of Google Suite, the solution doesn't involve a PDF annotator extension for Chrome, as Google Drive only allows native extensions from the Google Workspace Marketplace. However, with its native Google Docs application, users can annotate their PDF files in Chrome without the need for an extension. Let's walk through the steps that need to be followed:
Step 1: So, we will visit Google Drive on our browser where we can open a PDF already saved in Google Drive. If you wish to upload a PDF document, simply click on the "New" button on the bar on the top left side of Google Drive.
Step 2: In the hover menu, users can click on "File upload" to upload their PDF to Google Drive.
Step 3: Double-click on the PDF file, and the file will by default open in Google Docs, the native Google application.
Step 4: On the Google Docs interface, users can edit, annotate, and add comments to their PDF using the toolbar. Use your mouse to select any text, and then in the toolbar, click on the "Highlight color" icon and select the highlighter color you want.
Step 5: The document can now be downloaded as a PDF. Simply click on the File menu at the top left, and from the drop-down menu, click on Download.
Step 6: Click on "PDF Document" to download the file as a PDF. If you wish to save the file in some other format, you can do that from here as well.
Method 3: Using the Online PDF Editor
The last method involves using a free online PDF editor, a third-party software, that allows users to upload their PDFs and annotate them while staying on Chrome. Let’s go through the steps of editing your PDF using Sejda Online PDF Editor:
Step 1: To start, we will visit the official Sejda website on our Chrome browser and access the online PDF Editing tool by clicking on the "All tools" tab in the menu bar.
Step 2: You will be redirected to the Sejda online PDF editing tool. Here, simply click on the "Upload PDF File" button to upload the PDF that you wish to annotate and edit.
Step 3: Once the file is uploaded, Sejda will open the file in its built-in online PDF editor. Use the toolbar to edit your PDF. Some of the editing features include annotation, commenting, inserting shapes, and more.
Step 4: When your editing is complete, press "Apply changes" at the bottom of the screen. The PDF will be processed before it is available to download.
Step 5: Now, you can simply download the edited PDF by clicking on the “Download” button. Alternatively, you have other options such as printing, compressing, and more.
Sejda PDF saves users the trouble of downloading a separate application to annotate and edit their PDFs while on Chrome and provides sufficient PDF editing tools as well.
FAQS:
Q1. Can I Annotate PDFs Directly in Google Chrome?
Yes, you can annotate PDF files directly in Chrome. However, Chrome itself does not have a built-in PDF editing option. To annotate PDFs, you can use external options such as Google Drive, Chrome extensions, or online PDF editors, all of which are among the best choices available.
Q2. How can I enhance collaboration using PDF annotation in Chrome?
Annotating PDFs in Chrome is a valuable tool that streamlines workflows and boosts collaboration. Here is a list of advantages of using annotating PDFs in Chrome:
Efficient Communication: Enables clear and direct communication through annotations within the PDF document.
Visual Feedback: Provides a visual means of feedback, enhancing understanding and reducing the probability of misinterpretation.
Accessibility and Convenience: Enhances accessibility, allowing users to interact with and comprehend the content more conveniently.
Real-Time Collaboration: Facilitates real-time collaboration, enabling teams to work on the same document efficiently.
Q3. Is annotating PDFs in Google Chrome secure?
Annotating PDFs in Chrome is a secure process. Nevertheless, it is advisable to prioritize security by implementing password protection for confidential documents before starting the annotation. This precaution ensures that sensitive information stays safeguarded, especially when sharing or accessing documents. Additionally, keeping your browser and extensions up to date with the latest versions is crucial to benefit from the most recent security updates.
Premium Editing With WPS Office
Knowing how to annotate a PDF in Chrome will eventually help you go back to them and find what you were looking for more easily and conveniently. Chrome may be a good option, especially considering it is completely free to use. However, WPS Office is also free to use, and its standout feature is its powerful PDF capabilities. With robust editing tools and compatible AI features, you can make the most out of your documents—annotate them at the last minute, share, or view. Download WPS PDF now and experience premium documenting services.
