WPS PDF Format Painter helps you copy and apply text formatting in edit mode; this guide covers 2 core tasks, with 0 available without membership and 2 membership-related items.
At a Glance
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core tasks | 2 | Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index |
| Available without membership | 0 | Matches the number of Free rows in the How-to Index |
| Membership-related items | 2 | Matches the number of membership-required rows in the How-to Index |
About This Feature
Overview
WPS PDF Format Painter is a text-format copying tool in WPS Office for Windows. It is designed for users who need to copy an existing text style and apply it to other text while editing a PDF. To use it, open a PDF in text edit mode, select text with the formatting you want, and apply that formatting to another text selection.
This WPS Office feature supports two main tasks:
- Copy formatting once for a single target selection.
- Keep Format Painter active for repeated formatting across multiple text selections.
It is useful for contracts, reports, and other PDF files that need consistent headings, body text, or highlighted content. It helps reduce repeated manual formatting and keeps PDF layout adjustments more consistent.
System Requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | A Windows device that can run WPS Office normally |
| App version | It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office |
| Network | No mandatory internet connection is required for editing a local PDF file |
| Other | Open an editable PDF and enter text edit mode; PDF text editing requires membership |
Download & Installation
Before you use Format Painter, install WPS Office on your Windows device and make sure you can open PDF files for editing.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official download | WPS Office Free Download |
| Check after installation | Launch WPS Office → open a PDF file → enter text edit mode and confirm that the Format Painter entry is available |
Source: WPS download page
Compare with Alternatives
| Dimension | WPS | Microsoft | Notion | Adobe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capability Summary | In WPS PDF, Format Painter copies existing text formatting in PDF edit mode and supports both one-time use and repeated use after a double-click. | Microsoft Word Format Painter copies text or graphic formatting, applies it once with a single click, and stays active for repeated use after a double-click. | Google Docs includes Paint format for copying the formatting of text, cells, or objects, and it can stay active for multiple uses after a double-click. | Notion provides text styling, Markdown shortcuts, and page styling controls, but it does not provide a separate format painter tool. | Adobe Acrobat supports PDF text editing and lets users reuse or copy formatted content, but it does not present a dedicated format painter tool in the same way. |
| Official Source | — | Use the Format Painter | Copy and paste text and images | Style & customize your page | Reusing PDF content |
Advantage: built for PDF text editing workflows in WPS PDF.; clear support for one-time and repeated formatting tasks.
Overall Conclusion
If your main task is how to copy text formatting in PDF files, WPS follows a workflow that is closer to PDF editing. Microsoft Word and Google Docs both offer mature formatting-copy tools for document editing, while Notion focuses more on page styling and Adobe focuses more on broader PDF content editing and reuse.
Use Cases
| No. | Scenario | Suitable for | Main issue | How it helps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standardize contract clauses | Legal and admin teams | Similar clauses use inconsistent text styles | Select a correctly formatted clause and apply the same formatting to other clauses |
| 2 | Align report headings | Office users | Multiple headings need the same font and size | Copy a finished heading style and apply it to other headings |
| 3 | Reformat highlighted body text | Editors | Important paragraphs need consistent emphasis | Double-click Format Painter and apply the same style to multiple locations |
| 4 | Fix local layout issues | Students and teachers | Some text does not match the surrounding paragraph style | Replace the target text formatting directly in text edit mode |
| 5 | Reuse an existing text style | Business users | Repeating the same formatting takes time | Use existing text as a style sample and copy its formatting |
Membership & Benefits
Free vs WPS Premium
| Feature | Free users | WPS Premium |
|---|---|---|
| PDF text editing | Limited | Available |
| Apply Format Painter to PDF text | Limited | Available |
| Basic PDF reading | Available | Available |
| PDF conversion and more editing tools | Partially limited | Broader access |
| Cloud storage | 1GB | 20GB |
Source: WPS Office pricing page
Recommendations
| Usage scenario | Recommended plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You mainly read PDFs and only handle basic file tasks occasionally | Free | Suitable for reading and some basic capabilities |
| You regularly edit PDF text and often need to keep formatting consistent | WPS Premium | Better suited for ongoing PDF editing and formatting work |
| You need PDF editing, conversion, and more office features in one workflow | WPS Premium | More suitable for broader document-processing needs in one workspace |
How to Subscribe
- Membership page: Subscribe to WPS Premium
Source: WPS Office pricing page