PcFixin'

How to Edit PDFs and Images in Windows 11

By PcFixin' · July 17, 2026 · Windows · Windows 11, PDFs, Microsoft Edge

Use Microsoft Edge and Paint to fill, sign, crop, and annotate files, plus a free utility when you need to rearrange PDF pages.

What Windows includes

These instructions assume you are using an up-to-date version of Windows 11, Microsoft Edge, and Paint. Windows does not have one built-in app that matches everything Preview does on a Mac. Instead, Edge handles most everyday PDF tasks, while Paint covers cropping and image annotations.

The exact position of a button may change as Microsoft updates its apps. Windows 10 looks similar in many places, but some icons and menus are different.

Fill out and sign a PDF in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge can open PDFs without any extra software. Interactive forms let you click directly in text boxes, check boxes, and other fields. For a document that is not an interactive form, Edge’s Add text tool lets you place typed text over the page.

You can also use Draw to add a handwritten signature. This works best with a touchscreen or pen, although you can use a mouse. A drawn signature is simply an annotation; if an organization requests a verified digital signature, follow its instructions or use software that supports certificate-based signing.

1. Right-click the PDF in File Explorer and choose Open with > Microsoft Edge. If Edge is already your default PDF reader, double-click the file instead.
2. Click an existing form field and type your information. For a flat or scanned form, select Add text on the PDF toolbar, click the appropriate spot, and type.
3. To sign by hand, select Draw. Choose a color and line thickness, then write your signature on the signature line. Use Erase if you need to try again.
4. Select the Save button on the toolbar. To protect the untouched original, use Save as when that option is available and give the edited copy a different name.

Highlight and mark up a PDF

Edge includes simple tools for reviewing documents. You can highlight selectable text, draw circles or underlines, and add short typed notes directly to a page. Scanned documents may not contain selectable text, but Draw and Add text can still work as overlays.

Some password-protected or restricted PDFs block editing, printing, or saving. In that situation, you will need an unrestricted copy from the document’s owner.

1. Open the PDF in Edge.
2. Select text with the mouse, then choose Highlight from the small menu that appears. You can also select the Highlight tool from the PDF toolbar and drag over text.
3. Use Draw for arrows, circles, underlines, or freehand notes. Select Erase to remove ink marks.
4. Save the PDF when you are finished, preferably as a new copy until you have checked the result.

Rearrange or remove PDF pages

Edge can view, annotate, and print PDFs, but it does not provide a dependable built-in way to drag pages into a new order. For that job, a small third-party program such as PDF Arranger is useful. It is a free, open-source Windows utility designed for rearranging, rotating, deleting, and combining PDF pages.

Download software only from its official project page or a trusted store listing. Avoid uploading private financial, medical, or identity documents to an unknown online PDF editor.

1. Install and open PDF Arranger, then choose File > Open and select your PDF.
2. Drag the page thumbnails into the order you want.
3. Select any pages you do not need and press Delete. Check the thumbnail order carefully before saving.
4. Choose File > Save As and create a new PDF so the original remains available as a backup.

Crop and annotate an image in Paint

The current Paint app included with Windows 11 is suitable for quick image edits. It can crop a photo, rotate it, add labels, draw attention to an area, and cover or remove simple unwanted details. Saving a copy first is wise because Paint edits the image itself rather than keeping a reversible editing history.

1. Right-click the picture in File Explorer and choose Open with > Paint.
2. To crop it, choose Select, use the rectangular selection tool to drag around the part you want to keep, and then select Crop.
3. To add a label, choose the Text tool, click the image, and type. Use Brushes for freehand marks or Shapes for arrows, circles, boxes, and lines.
4. Use the Rotate controls if the picture is sideways or upside down.
5. Choose File > Save as, select an image format such as PNG or JPEG, and enter a new filename to preserve the original.

Choose the right image format

PNG is a good choice for screenshots, diagrams, and images containing sharp text. JPEG usually creates smaller files for photographs, although repeatedly saving a JPEG can gradually reduce its quality. If you are unsure, keep the original file and save your edited version under a new name.

Bottom line

On Windows 11, Edge handles most basic PDF filling and markup, while Paint covers quick image edits. Use a trusted PDF utility such as PDF Arranger when you need to reorder or remove pages.