How to Circle Something in PDF: 5 Free Ways

Queena
By Queena, Dec 25,2025
How to Circle Something in PDF: 5 Free Ways

Introduction

Learning how to circle something in PDF allows you to emphasize important text or images, making reviews and collaborations smoother. Discover 5 free techniques to streamline your PDF tasks immediately.

1. How to Circle Something in PDF with JOPDF

JOPDF is a versatile PDF tool that makes it simple to circle text in PDF and emphasize key information. Its powerful annotation features let you either draw freehand circles or add predefined shapes.

Designed as an all-rounder, it allows you to edit a PDF for free, efficiently, and effortlessly. Users can customize shapes, adjust colors and thickness, and add notes, making annotations more precise. The advanced editor lets you effortlessly change text, images, and overall layout.

Find out how to circle something in PDF on Mac or Windows with the help of JOPDF.

Step 1. Download JOPDF on your Windows or Mac computer. Set up and launch the program.

Step 2. Click Open PDF and select the PDF you wish to add the circle in.

Open PDF

Step 3. Once your document has been uploaded to the workspace, tap the Annotate tab.

Step 4. In the toolbar, tap the Shapes dropdown menu. Then select the Oval tool to outline anything in your PDF. Adjust the circle’s color, opacity, and thickness.

JOPDF Select Shapes

Step 5. Next, click and drag on your document to draw the shape. Once finished, click the Save icon to save your annotated PDF.

If you wonder about how to draw circle in PDF, JOPDF has the perfect solution. You can manually draw a circle in JOPDF. Click the Annotate tab, then select the Pencil icon (sixth one).

Then draw on any place of the PDF page you wish. You can change the pencil’s color, line thickness, and opacity by hovering over the Pencil icon. Try it yourself!

Draw Circle in PDF

2. Circle Something in PDF with Adobe

AdobeAcrobat offers advanced tools that let you highlight PDFs and clearly mark essential information. Users can circle text or images using drawing tools or shape tools, making documents easier to read and organize.

Its reliable features ensure professional-quality edits and annotations for both personal and collaborative use.

Learn how to draw circle in PDF using Adobe Acrobat.

Step 1. Download and launch Adobe Acrobat on your computer. Select the See All Tools option, then click Edit a PDF.

Import your PDF file from the device folder to initiate the process.

Step 2. Click the Draw Freehand icon and tap the Circle shape to add a circle to the PDF.

Adobe Draw freehand

Step 3. Hover your cursor to the place you want to insert a circle in the PDF.

Step 4. Select the Color icon and modify the properties of the added circle. Here, you can adjust the opacity and style of your circle.

Adobe Adjust Shapes

3. Add Circle in PDF on Mac Using Preview

As a Mac PDF editor, Preview makes it easy to annotate PDFs by adding circles to emphasize text or graphics.

Although perfect for marking up PDFs, it cannot alter text that’s already there. For full editing capabilities, including circling and modifying content, tools like JOPDF are a better choice.

Follow this quick guide to how to circle something in PDF on Mac using the Preview application.

Step 1. On a Mac, just right-click the PDF you want to open and add circles. Then select Open With and click Preview.

Step 2. Once your PDF opens with Preview, tap the Show Markup Toolbar button. It is resembled to a pencil inside a box.

Step 3. You’ll find the toolbar has a shape icon. Click the option and pick Circle from the menu.

Preview Add Shapes

Step 4. Draw a circle by clicking and dragging to mark or highlight content in your PDF page. You have the option to change the circle’s size, color, and border thickness.

Step 5. Once the circle is added to the appropriate region, click File. And select Save to save your annotated PDF.

4. Draw Circle in PDF by Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge provides simple yet effective annotation tools that let you draw circles and highlight essential sections in PDFs.

Its built-in features make reviewing and highlighting documents quick and convenient. This gives users an easy way to emphasize key points without additional software or complex configurations.

Learn how to circle text in PDF through Microsoft Edge.

Step 1. Right-click the PDF and choose Microsoft Edge from the options to open it.

Step 2. Navigate to the Draw icon in the toolbar. And choose the color and line thickness.

Draw on a PDF in Edge

Step 3. Use your mouse to outline the area in your PDF with a circle.

Step 4. After completing your edits, select the Print icon to save the PDF. Enter a name for the file in the pop-up window and choose its save location.

5. Use an Online Tool to Draw Circle in PDF

Several web-based tools let you draw on a PDF and emphasize important text or images. These tools offer a convenient way to edit PDFs without installing software.

With its user-friendly design and strong annotation features, Smallpdf makes it easy to highlight and draw attention to important information.

Check out how to circle in PDF using Smallpdf.

Step 1. Launch Smallpdf in your web browser. Scroll down and select the Edit PDF tool. Tap Choose Files on the platform to import a PDF file from your computer or cloud storage.

Step 2. After your PDF is uploaded, select Circle from the Shape dropdown menu.

Smallpdf Select Circle Tool

Step 3. Use your cursor to draw over the PDF section you wish to emphasize, resizing and moving as needed.

Smallpdf Draw a Circle

Change the circle’s border thickness and color as required.

Step 4. After completing your changes, tap Download to save the PDF.

The Bottom Line

Effective document management often requires emphasizing key information. Knowing how to circle something in PDF helps you draw attention to critical text or images.

Free solutions such as JOPDF, Preview, or browser-based editors make annotation simple, streamline document review, and make PDFs more organized. These methods enhance readability, facilitate collaboration, and save time, making PDF editing accessible and efficient for everyone!

FAQs

With free software and online tools, you can easily circle objects in a PDF. Most PDF viewers, editors, and annotation apps typically allow you to add shapes—including circles—to highlight text, images, or graphics. It helps emphasize crucial information, boost readability, and make documents more visually engaging for review or presentation purposes.

Using a PDF editor or viewer, adding shapes to a PDF is quick and easy. Just open the PDF in an annotation-enabled tool and choose the “Shapes” or “Draw” option. Next, select a shape—like a circle, rectangle, or arrow—and click and drag it onto the document. You can typically modify the size, color, and thickness of the shape’s lines.

Depending on your requirements, you can use multiple methods to circle items in a PDF. You can use the device’s built-in features, desktop applications, online tools, or even web browsers. Of all these options, JOPDF is the best choice due to its reliability, speed, ease of use, and precise annotation features—all free of charge.

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    Queena

    Queena

    Editor

    “As a staff editor for JOPDF, Queena excels at guiding users to the optimal tools and solutions. When she's not analyzing the latest PDF solutions, she enjoys spending her free time playing with her four cats.”

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