In PandaDoc, you can create a document by uploading a file, using a saved template, or starting from a blank document. The new experience guides you through the process with a step-by-step flow.
Note: This article covers the new document creation experience. If your workspace hasn't been updated yet, see New document and template experience — what changed.
Start a new document
Select + Create new in the left navigation panel, or select + Document on the Home page or in the Documents list.
The New document screen has two sections:
Upload a file — drag and drop, or select Select file to browse your computer
Start from a template — browse Suggested, My templates, or Template gallery, or select Blank document to start from scratch
Upload a file
Drag and drop your file into the upload area, or select Select file to browse your computer. To import from cloud storage, select the arrow next to Select file and choose Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or Box.
Supported file formats: .pdf, .png, .jpg, .jpeg, .docx, .xlsx, .pptx
Note: Uploaded PDFs are not editable in PandaDoc. You can add text overlays and fillable fields on top of a PDF, but you can't modify its original content. If you need a fully editable document, use a .docx file or start from a blank document instead.
When you upload a .docx or .doc file, what happens next depends on which version of the experience you have:
New experience (rolling out now): Your file uploads directly as a static (uneditable) document. You can add fillable fields and send it right away. If you want to edit the content, open the document, click on its content, and select Make editable.
Note: The new upload experience is rolling out gradually. You might not see it in your account right away.
Previous experience: The system prompts you to convert the file on upload. Select Make it editable to edit content in PandaDoc, or Skip to upload it as a static document.
If you do not need to make any changes to the uploaded content in the PandaDoc editor, but to add fillable fields for your recipients only, you can Skip the file conversion.
Start from a template or blank document
Select a template from the Suggested, My templates, or Template gallery tabs, then select Continue. To start with a blank canvas, select Blank document.
When you select a template, the guided creation flow opens with a step indicator at the top (e.g. Step 1 of 4). The number of steps depends on how the template's workflow is configured. You can select the step indicator at any time to see all steps and jump to one directly.
Note: Changes made via Edit document from within the guided flow apply to that document only. To update the template permanently, use Edit document from the template setup view and select Save changes when done.
Follow the guided creation flow
After selecting a template or blank document, the guided creation flow opens. The step indicator at the top shows your current position and total steps — the exact number depends on the template's workflow setup. Select the step indicator at any time to see all steps and jump to one directly.
Step 1 — Pull data from integration (if configured on the template) If your template includes a CRM integration step, this appears first. Select a record from your CRM — such as a contact or deal — to auto-fill document variables like name, company, and deal amount. Select Skip to bypass this step.
Step 2 — Add recipients (always present) Assign recipients to your document. For templates, recipients are assigned to the predefined roles (such as Client Signer).
For blank documents, search by name, email, or group, or select Create new contact. You can also toggle Set signing order and adjust Manage recipients permissions from this step.
Middle steps (template-specific, if configured) Depending on the template's workflow, you may also see steps for completing missing variable information or submitting for approval. Select Skip on any optional step.
Last step — Configure delivery & settings. Before sending, review and configure:
Document name — rename if needed (must not exceed 250 characters)
From — select which team member the document is sent from
Send to — confirm recipients and their roles
Email subject — customize the notification email subject line
Email message — add an optional message to recipients
Select Send document in the top-right corner to send, or select the link icon next to it to generate a shareable link instead.
Navigation tips:
Select Skip to bypass any optional step
Select Edit document in the top-right header to open the full editor at any time
Select Open document at the bottom of the preview to open the document inline
Note: If you start from an uploaded file, you'll follow the same guided flow — starting with Add recipients. You can also add fillable fields directly in the document editor by dragging them from the Fields panel on the right.
To add content blocks, select the "+" button on the left document side and select the block you need. Alternatively, select Insert > and select the block you need under Content.
Add content to an existing document
To add a file to a document you've already created, open the document and select the + icon at the top of the page, then choose Upload file.
Common upload issues
Your document may fail to upload if:
The file is password-protected
The file exceeds 50 MB or 2,000 pages
The format is .doc, .xls, or .ppt from Microsoft Office 95 or older
The PDF has multiple layers — flatten the PDF before uploading