Fillable PDF text size

When editing fillable PDFs with text fields, the Apple PDF renderer will not dynamically adjust the text size. This is an issue with macOS Preview.app and most iOS apps. This is not an issue with Chrome or Firefox on macOS. For example, see the issues with the BSA Eagle Scout Rank Application.


There are no issues when editing this PDF with Google Chrome on macOS:



There are issues when editing this PDF with Apple macOS Preview.app:


Posted on Jun 20, 2024 6:29 AM

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Posted on Jun 20, 2024 6:42 AM

The original PDF form designer has set controls on the font, font size, and color that can be accepted into the individual form field. Apple's Preview has no control over those constraints, especially if they are governed by Adobe's Acrobat JavaScript (AcroJS) controls.


You might try the current version of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to see if it behaves differently.


Browsers other than Apple's Safari have their specific PDF libraries and may give you some latitude.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 20, 2024 6:42 AM in response to zulubeta

The original PDF form designer has set controls on the font, font size, and color that can be accepted into the individual form field. Apple's Preview has no control over those constraints, especially if they are governed by Adobe's Acrobat JavaScript (AcroJS) controls.


You might try the current version of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to see if it behaves differently.


Browsers other than Apple's Safari have their specific PDF libraries and may give you some latitude.

Jun 20, 2024 7:13 AM in response to zulubeta

Neither Apple nor any Apple product team participate here. Only fellow users and we cannot fix issues with the operating system. Apple does not keep its PDF frameworks as current as Adobe or others, and it will completely ignore any Adobe AcroJS form controls for that reason.


Send direct feedback to the macOS product team if you want to make the product team aware of this issue. Due to feedback volume, they will likely not respond to you.

Jun 20, 2024 6:56 AM in response to VikingOSX

I have already tested other PDF apps as indicated in my original post. This is an issue with the Apple PDF renderer I'm hoping to bring attention to be fixed.


Apple Safari, Preview.app and iOS seem to use the same PDF renderer and have the same issue.


I am not looking for a workaround. I am looking to drive awareness to get this fixed by Apple.

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Fillable PDF text size

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