Known Participant

Question

Acrobat and Signatures: "This image file is corrupt"

Forum|Forum|5 months ago
September 9, 2025
22 replies
4206 views

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?!

Montage5EDD

Participant

Same issue here

Aetas Insurance

Participant

Same issue here, do you have any definite solution?

Phil_2026

Participant

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.

brantm8983713

Participating Frequently

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.

Phil_2026

Participant

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:

Disable New Acrobat: Go to Help → 'Disable New Acrobat'.
Force Quit: Exit Adobe Acrobat Reader completely (Cmd + Q).
Clear Preferences: * In Finder, select Go → Go to Folder… (Cmd + Shift + G).
- Paste ~/Library/Preferences/ and delete all files starting with com.adobe..
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
Restart: Relaunch Adobe Acrobat Reader and try adding your signature again.

armando_0283

Participant

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.

W

willyw4995914

Participant

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

C

Cathy B.

Participant

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!

arvanitisk

Participant

Confirmed. It works!

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

Thanx Cathy

K

Kimi31626198t0xs

Participant

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.

C

Cathy B.

Participant

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.

G

german_6217

Participant

are you planning to resolve that issue, Adobe?

M

misdi

Participant

Same issue. the solution is uninstall and reinstall adobe acrobat but this it is just temp solution, you will get back same error.