Read and mark up a PDF

Keep a paper, a set of instructions, or a marked-up draft with the note that explains it. Open a downloaded PDF in Memobound and add the details you want to return to.

Add marks with a purpose

Highlight a passage, underline a line, draw a shape, or add a text comment. Use Apple Pencil on a compatible iPad or the touch controls on iPhone. Page thumbnails help you move through a longer document.

Keep the explanation in your note when it is longer than a margin comment. A link to the relevant note connects the document to a project or reading question without making another copy of the source.

Search what the file contains

Search a PDF's text layer, or use on-device recognition for supported scanned pages. Image quality and language affect recognition. An annotation is not proof that a PDF has searchable text, so check a phrase from the document after indexing.

The PDF needs to be downloaded before offline reading, annotation, or indexing. Encrypted or restricted PDFs may require their password or may limit changes. Memobound does not remove document permissions.

Preserve the original

Keep the source attachment and save an annotated copy when preparing material for someone else. Inspect the exported file in another PDF reader to check page order, comments, and marks.

Flatten annotations when you need a fixed reading copy. Keep the editable version separately if you may want to adjust the marks later. Handwritten annotations in an exported PDF do not necessarily remain editable as original Pencil strokes.

Build a research notebook, scan paper, and choose export formats.