How to Add an Image to a PDF for Free

Quick summary: To add an image to a PDF for free on Mac, open the PDF in Preview, drag and drop the image file directly onto the page — it appears as a moveable, resizable object. On Windows, open the PDF in LibreOffice Draw (File → Open), insert the image via Insert → Image, position it, then export as PDF. On iPhone, use the Markup tool in Files: tap + → Insert Photo.

Adding an image to a PDF — a logo, a photo, a scanned signature, or a screenshot — takes under a minute on most platforms. The result is a standard PDF that any viewer can open. Once done, upload it to our free PDF reader to review or summarize the content.

How to add an image to a PDF on Mac — Preview

Preview is the fastest option for Mac — no install needed:

1. Open the PDF in Preview.
2. Navigate to the page where you want to insert the image.
3. Open Finder and locate your image file (JPEG, PNG, TIFF, etc.).
4. Drag the image from Finder and drop it directly onto the PDF page in Preview.
5. The image appears as a selected object on the page. Drag it to reposition.
6. Drag the corner handles to resize. Hold Shift while dragging to maintain the aspect ratio.
7. Click outside the image to deselect it.
8. Save with Cmd + S.

Inserting an image from the clipboard

1. Copy the image to the clipboard (Cmd+C from Photos, Finder, or a browser).
2. Switch to Preview with the PDF open.
3. Press Cmd + V to paste — the image appears on the current page.
4. Reposition and resize as above.

How to add an image to a PDF on Windows

Windows has no built-in image-in-PDF tool, but LibreOffice Draw handles it well:

Method 1: LibreOffice Draw (free, no watermark)

1. Download and install LibreOffice from libreoffice.org.
2. Open LibreOffice Draw.
3. Go to File → Open and select your PDF.
4. Navigate to the target page.
5. Go to Insert → Image → locate your image file → click Open.
6. The image appears on the page. Drag to reposition; drag handles to resize.
7. Hold Shift while resizing to maintain proportions.
8. When done, go to File → Export as PDF and save.

Method 2: Microsoft Word (if you have Office)

1. Open the PDF in Word (Word converts it automatically).
2. Go to Insert → Pictures → This Device and select your image.
3. Resize and reposition.
4. Save as PDF: File → Save As → PDF.

Note: Word’s PDF conversion can reflow complex document layouts. Use LibreOffice Draw for documents where exact positioning matters.

How to add an image to a PDF on iPhone

1. Open the PDF in the Files app.
2. Tap the file to open it in Quick Look.
3. Tap the Markup icon (pencil in a circle) in the top-right corner.
4. Tap the ”+” button at the bottom right.
5. Select “Photo” or “File” to choose an image from your library or Files.
6. The image is inserted on the page. Drag to reposition; drag handles to resize.
7. Tap Done → Save File.

How to add a logo or watermark image to every page

To apply the same image to all pages:

Mac (Preview):

1. Add the image to the first page.
2. Copy it (Cmd+C).
3. Select all pages in the Thumbnails sidebar (Cmd+A).
4. Paste (Cmd+V) — Preview pastes the image to all selected pages in the same position.

LibreOffice Draw:

1. Add the image to one page.
2. Right-click the image → Position and Size — note the exact X, Y coordinates and dimensions.
3. Copy and paste to each page, then use Position and Size (F4) to enter the same coordinates exactly.

For a true “watermark” that sits behind the content, see the section below.

How to insert an image behind the text (background/watermark)

By default, inserted images appear on top of PDF content. To place an image behind text:

LibreOffice Draw:

1. Insert the image as described above.
2. Right-click the image → Position → Send to Back.

Preview (Mac): Preview always places new objects on top of the page content. You cannot move them behind existing content in Preview — use LibreOffice Draw instead.

Image formats supported

Format	Mac Preview	LibreOffice Draw	iPhone Markup
JPEG	✓	✓	✓
PNG	✓	✓	✓
TIFF	✓	✓	Limited
WebP	✓ (macOS 14+)	✓	✓
SVG	—	✓	—
HEIC	✓	Limited	✓

PNG is the best choice when the image has a transparent background (e.g., a logo or a signature image), as JPEG does not support transparency.

Related guides

• How to add a signature to a PDF for free — insert a hand-drawn or typed signature
• How to edit a PDF for free — make other content changes alongside the image
• How to flatten a PDF for free — lock the inserted image into the page before sharing
• How to compress a PDF for free — reduce file size after adding high-resolution images

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why does the image shift when I open the PDF on another device?

The image was saved as an annotation object, not baked into the page content. Different viewers render annotation layers slightly differently. To fix this, flatten the PDF after inserting the image — see how to flatten a PDF for free. This merges the image into the page permanently.

Can I replace an existing image in a PDF?

In Preview, click the existing image (if it was added as an annotation) and delete it, then insert the new one. If the image is part of the original PDF content (not an annotation), you need LibreOffice Draw or another editor that lets you select and delete individual content objects.

How do I add an image to a specific spot without it moving?

After placing the image, use the Position and Size tool (F4 in LibreOffice Draw) to enter exact coordinates and dimensions. In Preview, there is no numeric positioning — drag as precisely as possible, then save and verify the result in another viewer.

Will adding an image make the PDF much larger?

Yes, if the image is high-resolution. A 10 MB photo inserted into a 1 page PDF can produce a 10 MB output. To keep the file size manageable: resize the image before inserting it (keep it under 1500 × 1500 pixels for most uses), or compress the final PDF — see how to compress a PDF for free.

Can I add multiple images to a PDF at once?

Yes — in both Preview and LibreOffice Draw, you can insert multiple images and position them independently. Repeat the insert steps for each image.

Can I insert a PNG into a PDF?

Yes. PNG files are supported by all PDF editors alongside JPEG, TIFF, and most other image formats. In Preview on Mac: open the PDF, go to Edit → Insert → Page from File and select the PNG. In LibreOffice Draw: use Insert → Image. If the PNG has a transparent background, the transparency is preserved in the PDF when using LibreOffice; Preview flattens transparency to white.