Acrobat desktop no longer detects e-signature fields, but the same PDFs work online

Question

I’m using Adobe Acrobat (64-bit), version 26.002.22031, on Windows. Acrobat reports no updates available.

Until recently, Acrobat automatically detected initials and signature locations in my contracts when requesting e-signatures. I’ve used the same forms and workflow for years.

My workflow is:

Create and save the PDF contract.
Select Request e-signatures.
Enter the recipient’s name and email.
Continue to Prepare document.

Acrobat appears to run field detection, but no suggested fields remain available afterward. I have to manually place the initials and signature fields.

Before requesting signatures, the Fill & Sign screen highlights the blank locations. After entering the recipient, Acrobat correctly opens Step 2: Prepare document with the recipient selected, but the locations are no longer highlighted. There is no visible Auto-place or Place all option.

The identical saved PDF detects fields correctly in Acrobat online. The problem occurs in the desktop application.

Troubleshooting completed:

Confirmed no updates are available.
Switched between the new and classic Acrobat interfaces without improvement.
Ran Repair installation. Windows Event Viewer confirmed “Reconfiguration success or error status: 0.”

Is there a separate desktop setting controlling field detection during Request e-signatures, or is this a known issue with this version? How can I restore the previous behavior?

DFWTechGuy · Accepted Answer

Since the same PDF works correctly in Acrobat online, the problem seems to be with the desktop app rather than the document itself.

You could try signing out of Acrobat, restarting it, and signing back in. If that doesn’t help, try resetting Acrobat’s preferences or reinstalling the app.

Since you’ve already tried Repair and checked for updates, I’d also report this to Adobe support and mention your exact version, 26.002.22031, along with the fact that automatic field detection still works online.

https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html

stevenw64736841 · Answer

So i removed Acrobat completely and rebooted. then re-installed a clean copy and rebooted. I am still getting the same results. Only other thing I have noticed when looking in to the log files - this seemed to have started happening after several Windows 11 updates. Really at a loss and having to put all the initial and signature fields in manually every time we send out an agreement is getting very tiring.

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