How can I annotate my PDFs in Dropbox and keep them in sync?

[touxin]

Hi - so I am new to iPad world. I am a researcher.

I am looking for an app that allows me to annotate PDFs, write on it and keeps in sync in-place the original location in Dropbox.

I don't want it to make a local copy or create a separate folder.

I have read some articles abouth this, but still haven't found the ideal app.

Which one would you recommend for me and why?

Thanks in advance.

[Hannah]

Hey @touxin, thanks for posting your question to the Dropbox Community.

I would actually suggest our own PDF editor for this job.

You can read more about how it works here.

Let me know if you have any questions!

[famishedrover]

Hi,

It seems that the feature to edit/annotate PDFs in the Dropbox app is missing for iPad/iOS. I am only able to add text boxes and signature, but I’m not able to annotate PDF or perform Markup operations. 

moreover, if I made certain files off-line, then those files are not made “off-line “in the Files app, I am only able to access those files through the Dropbox app where annotation is not possible. 

[Mark]

It should work on iOS: https://help.dropbox.com/view-edit/edit-pdf

What version app are you using and version of iOS?

[famishedrover]

I have checked on iphone ios 17.2.1 and ipad ipados 17.3.

The link suggests that we can make edits ( and subbullets only talk about text boxes. & signature ) My requirements are basic pdf annotation ( free draw, text highlight )

[Walter]

Hey @famishedrover - sorry to jump in here, but could you clarify if you're using the Files app to do this on your iPhone and iPad or if you're using a web browser instead? 

I'm only asking because I see the option to both free draw and highlight text when editing a PDF through my web browser. 

[famishedrover]

I’m using the dropbox app for both.

[Walter]

Could you try the website instead and let me know if you see the options there @famishedrover? 

Make sure to request the desktop version of the site through your browser - just in case. 

[famishedrover]

I’m able to edit the PDF on the Dropbox webpage through Safari browser on my iPad with the experience is not as great. Moreover, my question was with respect to the Dropbox app, which allows for the use case when I have saved PDF to be off-line, and I want to annotate them all from the Dropbox app.

[Walter]

I see, thanks for clarifying that and also providing your feedback on this @famishedrover -it's been noted in our system. 

The workaround here would be to use the annotation option within the Files app as you mentioned, but note that making the Files offline in Dropbox isn't supposed to make them offline in the Files app as well; you'd need to either tap on the files or long press and choose 'Download now' within the Files app to have them available locally on your device. 

I hope this helps!