Acrobat Pro 64-bit Windows 26.002.21901: Callout and Arrow tools won't place annotations. Text Box works. Repair failed; no updates. Disabling Enhanced Security fixes it, but the issue returns when enabled. Provide a fix that preserves security.

Same as for thibaut_8901 - happens with all drawing mark-up tools (arrow, line, rectangle, etc). It is only the “Enable Enhanced Security” option on the ‘Security (Enhanced) Preferences page that causes this issue. Issue started only few days ago & not due to any settings changes I made.

Are you using the new layout that looks like the attached picture? Or are you using the older one? I use the older one and have this issue. I switched to the new one to see if it would fix it, but it didn’t.

My company is experiencing the same issue, and it is preventing employees from completing their work. This has been ongoing for three days, and we need a fix as soon as possible.

Disabling Enhanced Security did not resolve the issue for us.

Version: 2026.002.21901

64 Bit

Acrobat Standard DC – Enterprise

Windows 11

All PDFs are affected

No annotations are working, circle, arrow, rectangle, text callout, etc.

when will this issue be fixed, it has been affecting our work for 3 days now!

Hi @talented_thinker4d77,

We understand how frustrating it is to have the Callout and Arrow tools stop placing annotations mid-project, especially when Text Box still works fine, and a repair install didn't change anything.

To make sure we've got this right: on Acrobat Pro 64-bit, version 26.002.21901, the Callout and Arrow tools won't place an annotation on the page, Text Box places normally, a repair install didn't resolve it, you're fully up to date, and turning off Enhanced Security fixes it until it's turned back on.

A few details would help us narrow this down:

• Does this happen with every PDF you open, or only certain files, for example, ones on a network drive, downloaded from the web, or received from someone else?

• Are any other markup tools affected (Highlight, Sticky Note, Shapes, Lines), or is it isolated to Callout and Arrow?

• Is this a personal install, or is Enhanced Security being managed or enforced by your organization's IT team?

Please share these details, and we'll take it from there.

Thanks,
^BS