Worked example · 3 minute guide

How to remove PDF annotations

Review comments and highlights are often separate annotation objects in a PDF. SonuPDF can remove supported types without repainting the whole page. This walkthrough removes a yellow highlight and a sticky note from a fictional checklist while leaving the document text in place.

By SonuPDF · Updated October 28, 2026 · English

Open Remove Annotations →

Step-by-step walkthrough

Screenshots show the SonuPDF website in Chrome. The final-step screenshot shows the completed example reopened in Get Info on PDF. The separate before/after images are rendered from the sample PDFs.

1.Select the annotated PDF

Open Remove Annotations and choose review-copy.pdf. Work on a copy if you need the review history later.

How to remove PDF annotations: Select the annotated PDF — Step 1: Select the annotated PDF Select image to enlarge.

2.Choose which annotation types to remove

Keep Highlights & Markups and Sticky Notes selected for this sample. The default selection also removes supported free-text comments, stamps and drawings. Leave Hyperlinks unchecked if you want to keep clickable links.

How to remove PDF annotations: Choose which annotation types to remove — Step 2: Choose which annotation types to remove Select image to enlarge.

3.Remove annotations and check the report

Click Remove Annotations. The sample contains two supported annotations, so the result should report 2 removed. Downloaded output is a separate file; the source on your device is unchanged.

How to remove PDF annotations: Remove annotations and check the report — Step 3: Remove annotations and check the report Select image to enlarge.

4.Open the cleaned PDF

Compare the downloaded file with the review copy. The yellow highlight and note should be gone, while both checklist sentences remain. Inspect important links and any forms before sharing.

How to remove PDF annotations: Open the cleaned PDF — Step 4: Open the cleaned PDF Select image to enlarge.

Before and after

Review copy with highlight and note Select image to enlarge.

Cleaned copy with the page text retained Select image to enlarge.

Compare the downloadable PDFs as well as these previews. Appearance and performance depend on your source document and device.

What to check before using the result

Marks flattened into page content or baked into a scan are not separate annotations. This tool cannot remove them as comments or recover the text underneath.
Only supported annotation types selected in the interface are removed. A zero count can mean the mark is flattened, unsupported or not selected.
Form widgets are preserved rather than removed as ordinary review annotations. This tool is not a form-field remover.
Removing visible annotations is not secure redaction or a guarantee that all private information, metadata or revision history has been sanitized.
Keep the original review copy. Modifying a digitally signed PDF can invalidate its signature.

Common questions

Why is a highlight still visible?

It may be part of the page artwork or a scanned image rather than a PDF annotation. Check the removal count and the selected types; do not repeatedly process a file expecting flattened marks to disappear.

Can I keep hyperlinks?

Yes. Leave Hyperlinks unchecked. After downloading, test any links you need to retain.