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meadem60568251
Participant
April 12, 2025
Answered

Highlights and notes aren't showing in iPad app

  • April 12, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 508 views

I have many PDFs of academic articles that I have highlighted in the desktop version of Acrobat, but when I open any of the PDFs in the iPad application, the highlights and notes aren't shown, and I can't add any new highlights. The highlights are visible in the iPad files preview (I store all of my files in iCloud). 

 

I have updated the app, deleted it and reinstalled it, and signed out and into my account.  

 

This is driving me crazy and slowing down my dissertation writing process. 

Correct answer creative explorer

@meadem60568251 I would hate that if my annotations don't sync across devices, especially when it's hindering your dissertation work! Since you're seeing the highlights in the iPad file preview (which often indicates a basic level of metadata recognition by iOS) but not within the Adobe Acrobat Reader app itself, the issue likely lies within how the app is accessing or rendering the file from iCloud.

A workaround is to make sure you can see and continue highlighting your PDFs on your iPad is to try downloading the files directly to your iPad's local storage instead of relying solely on the iCloud integration within the Adobe app. Open the Files app on your iPad, locate your PDF articles in iCloud, and choose the option to download them to your "On My iPad" storage. Then, try opening these locally stored files within the Adobe Acrobat Reader app. This can sometimes bypass syncing issues and ensure the app properly reads and displays the annotations that are already present, as well as allowing you to add new ones.

1 reply

creative explorer
Community Expert
creative explorerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
April 18, 2025

@meadem60568251 I would hate that if my annotations don't sync across devices, especially when it's hindering your dissertation work! Since you're seeing the highlights in the iPad file preview (which often indicates a basic level of metadata recognition by iOS) but not within the Adobe Acrobat Reader app itself, the issue likely lies within how the app is accessing or rendering the file from iCloud.

A workaround is to make sure you can see and continue highlighting your PDFs on your iPad is to try downloading the files directly to your iPad's local storage instead of relying solely on the iCloud integration within the Adobe app. Open the Files app on your iPad, locate your PDF articles in iCloud, and choose the option to download them to your "On My iPad" storage. Then, try opening these locally stored files within the Adobe Acrobat Reader app. This can sometimes bypass syncing issues and ensure the app properly reads and displays the annotations that are already present, as well as allowing you to add new ones.

m
Amal.
Community Manager
Community Manager
May 5, 2025

Hi there

 

Hope you are doing well and thanks for reaching out.

 

++ Adding to the discussion

 

Is this an issue with a particular PDF file or with all the PDFs? Please try with a different PDF file and check.

 

What version of the Acrobat app are you using? Tap on profile > about Acrobat. Also, try updating the app from the App Store and reboot the device once.

 

If the issue still occurs, please share a small video recording and the sample PDF file so we can check it at our end.