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alistairg39330077
Known Participant
Sep 9, 2025 5:16 PM UTC
Question

Acrobat and Signatures: "This image file is corrupt"

Hi all. I'm trying to sign a document on behalf of a colleague. When I upload their signature via "FILL AND SIGN YOURSELF" as a .jpg or .png I get "This image file is corrupt" in a red box. In attempting to do this I've now removed my own signature, and when I re-up that file, I get the same message. So it is clearly not the image files. Tried rebooting the computer (MacBook Pro) and I have also tried moving the files to my desktop... no dice. What is going on here please?!

    48 replies

    IanRSA
    IanRSA
    Participant
    May 20, 2026 10:55 AM UTC

    I didn’t go thru all the replys, but I’ve “solved” the issue. Open Adobe in your BROWSER (mine is chrome on Mac Book), open any PDF (without any security features, so that the edit box shows) and then select your image. It accepts the same “corrupt” .jpg or .png, and then save the document. Go to the app and open it, look for your saved document and you will see your new signature (might take a few seconds while it syncs to your profile). I sign into adobe using my gmail/browser and I DON’T use the paid version. Hope this works for you.

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      aexo
      Participant
      May 17, 2026 8:07 PM UTC

      Still having this issue!

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      Community Manager
      Tariq Ahmad DarCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      May 19, 2026 10:45 AM UTC

      Hi ​@aexo - sorry for the troubled experience and thanks for reaching out. 
      Could you open the file in MS Paint (Windows) or Preview (mac) - save or export the file and Jpeg again and try loading the image. Let us know how it works. 

      If the issue happening again, could please share a short video of the issue. Also, help us with the diagnostic logs:

      To collect the logs:

      1. Download and run the Diagnostics Utility from:  https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/acrobat-diagnostics.html
      2. Click on Start Diagnostics. Ensure advanced logging is checked.
      3. Launch Acrobat, reproduce the issue with your file.
      4. Once done, click Stop Monitoring.
      5. Copy the Log ID and share it with us.

      Will be waiting for the for your response. 

      ~Tariq

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      Montage5EDD
      Montage5EDD
      Participant
      Feb 17, 2026 7:33 PM UTC

      Same issue here

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      Aetas Insurance
      Aetas Insurance
      Participant
      Feb 3, 2026 10:40 PM UTC

      Same issue here, do you have any definite solution?

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      Phil_2026
      Phil_2026
      Participant
      Feb 2, 2026 12:17 PM UTC

      • Quit Adobe Acrobat Reader completely (Cmd + Q).

      • In Finder, choose Go → Go to Folder… (Cmd + Shift + G), then enter:
        ~/Library/Preferences/

      • Delete all files whose names start with:
        com.adobe.

      • Still in Finder, go to:
        ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Acrobat/DC/Security/

      • Delete the following files (if they exist):

        • acrobat_fss_signature_initials

        • acrobat_fss_signature_initialsi

        • acrobat_fss_signature_initialsk

      • Relaunch Adobe Acrobat Reader, then try adding a new signature.

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      brantm8983713
      brantm8983713
      Participating Frequently
      Feb 2, 2026 3:24 PM UTC

      As a warning, these steps did not work for me, and created quite a bit of additional work to get Adobe Acrobat running again.

      After following the steps, when I tried to add signature back, Acrobat would stop working, requiring a force quit. I un-installed then re-installed Acrobat, which also took two tries as the Creative Cloud app kept reporting an error trying to install. Once installed, when I tried to add the signature file, I again ran into the issue of Acrobat ceasing to work. The app turns a dark shade as though it's trying to open a pop-up window that never appears. 

      Next step was to un-install Creative Cloud and all adobe apps from my computer entirely, then re-install Creative Cloud and adobe apps. Once completed I opened acrobat only to find the app is still freezing up when I tried to add my signature. 

       

      I’m about to do a time-machine restore. 

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      Phil_2026
      Phil_2026
      Participant
      Feb 2, 2026 4:09 PM UTC

      I’m sorry to hear that you're still having trouble. It works perfectly on my end; I can even update the signature whenever I want. I suspect that having 'Disable New Acrobat' active is the key.

      Here is the complete set of steps to perform a clean reset:

      1. Disable New Acrobat: Go to Help → 'Disable New Acrobat'.

      2. Force Quit: Exit Adobe Acrobat Reader completely (Cmd + Q).

      3. Clear Preferences: * In Finder, select Go → Go to Folder… (Cmd + Shift + G).

        • Paste ~/Library/Preferences/ and delete all files starting with com.adobe..

      4. Clear Security Cache: * Go to: ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Acrobat/DC/Security/

        • Delete the following files (if they exist):

          • acrobat_fss_signature_initials

          • acrobat_fss_signature_initialsi

          • acrobat_fss_signature_initialsk

      5. Restart: Relaunch Adobe Acrobat Reader and try adding your signature again.

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      armando_0283
      armando_0283
      Participant
      Feb 2, 2026 5:44 AM UTC

      Today is Feb 2, 2026 and this issue was not resolved. I am paying for Adobe only for this feature since 2021, now I have decided to switch to Foxit. Very bad customer response and service. 

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        willyw4995914
        Participant
        Jan 28, 2026 10:37 AM UTC

        Bonjour à tous 

        Same issue  on Macbook Air Tahoe 26  I get "This image file is corrupt" in a red box

         

        However Acrobat reader works perfectly on my PC under Windows 11   Images .png or .jpg are accepted 

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        Cathy B.
        Participant
        Jan 28, 2026 12:43 AM UTC

        I just discovered that if you are having issues with the desktop version, go online and sign onto your Adobe account from your browser.  The look is entirely different from the desktop version.  The “add your signature” worked for me and let me upload a jpeg or png.  After I saved it in the online version of my account, I signed out and re-opened Adobe on my desktop; signed in, and my signature is there.  Not sure why the desktop version is jacked up but it has something perhaps to do with the macOS update(s), even though my desktop version claims to be up-to-date w/Adobe.  Good luck!

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          arvanitisk
          arvanitisk
          Participant
          Feb 4, 2026 12:36 PM UTC

          Confirmed. It works!

           

          go online-->save signatures-->close/reopen desktop app and the signatures will be there

           

          Thanx Cathy

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          Lars_Acrobat
          Participant
          May 6, 2026 3:39 PM UTC

          Thank you very much Cathy! It was simple and worked perfect on Mac Tahoe 26.2.😊

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          Kimi31626198t0xs
          Participant
          Jan 27, 2026 7:50 PM UTC

          Same issue. OS Sonoma 14.8.3 after a security update; Adobe Acrobat 2025.001.21111.

           

          Un-installed previous version of Adobe Acrobat and re-installed to current version. Tried saving signature image as both PNG and JPG formats using scan from HP scanner as well as using Preview Export function. Read someplace else about issues with Myriad Pro Regular font being a possible culprit but couldn’t find the font in my Adobe Fonts folder in Creative Cloud nor in my Font Book.app.

           

           

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          Cathy B.
          Participant
          Jan 28, 2026 12:09 AM UTC

          Same issue.  So frustrating.  My signature disappeared one day and now cannot upload a new jpg or png or pdf or… I have macOS Tahoe 26.2.   Wish Adobe would respond.

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          german_6217
          Participant
          Nov 21, 2025 10:16 AM UTC

          are you planning to resolve that issue, Adobe? 

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