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nayetta_6492
Participant
May 7, 2025
Question

Adobe pro releases pdf review as a restricted file even after changing security preferences

  • May 7, 2025
  • 15 replies
  • 1560 views

No one can make comments in the pdf reviews because Adobe releases the pdfs as a restricted file.  I  disabled Enhanced Security in preferences and Secruity Method is set to "No security" in Document properties.  When I look at the document restrictions summary, commenting is allowed but when reviewers open the pdf review, the commenting tools are unavailable.  How can I get around this issue?

 

    15 replies

    EsJayKayToo
    Known Participant
    September 4, 2026

    Acrobat v 2026.001.21617 on Windows 11.
    These PDFs were not part of a shared review, but I had added ½ dozen or so annotations. (I don’t remember which type of comments I used.) I got the restricted access when I reopened the files (I had saved the day before). When I added a comment just to see if the restriction was removed, it was. However, my original comments were gone. When I deleted the test comment, the restriction appeared again. A couple of my colleagues said they’ve seen the same.
    Our software is controlled by IT, so I’m not able to test on a different version of Acrobat.

    EsJayKayToo
    Known Participant
    September 4, 2026

    FWIW I may have formatted a bookmark with a different color (where I wanted to edit the bookmark) in the file I mentioned. I know that has nothing to do with Comments, but who knows, maybe it’s related in some tangential way?

    Anand Sri Bhattacharya
    Community Manager
    Anand Sri BhattacharyaCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    September 4, 2026

    Hello ​@EsJayKayToo 

     

    I hope you are doing well, and thanks for sharing the details. Sorry for the trouble you had.

     

    Could you please share more details about the issue? As the version details you shared are an old version of Acrobat 26.001.21677, Planned update, Jun 17, 2026.

     

    The latest build of Acrobat version is: 26.002.21869. Planned update, Aug 31, 2026. 

    Can you please request the IT team to install the latest build and check the performance?

     

    Also, for testing purposes on this version, you have, disable the new Acrobat UI. Hamburger Menu (top-left) > Disable new Acrobat > Restart, then open the file.

     

    If the issue still persists with the new build, please share a sample PDF file, a short screen recording, and the logs from the affected machine so that we can get this investigated by the product team. To collect the logs, please refer to this article: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/acrobat-diagnostics.html

     

    I hope this helps, and please reach out if you need any assistance.

    Regards,

    Anand Sri.

     

     

     

    Jabberwocky88676671
    Jabberwocky88676671
    Participating Frequently
    September 4, 2026

    I am having the same issue, it always worked before. Please fix.

     

    Meenakshi Negi
    Community Manager
    Meenakshi NegiCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    September 4, 2026

    Hi Jabberwocky88676671,


    Thank you for reaching out, and sorry for the trouble this may have caused.


    Could you please confirm if you are experiencing the same issue as mentioned in the main post? It would be very helpful if you could provide more details about what happens on your end.


    Additionally, please share the following information.

    • The steps you took to share the PDF with others.

    • Whether you are opening PDFs in Acrobat or the web application.

    • A short video demonstrating the issue.

    • The versions of Acrobat and your operating system currently in use.

    Once we have this information, we can further investigate the behavior.


    We look forward to your response.


    Thanks,

    Meenakshi

    EsJayKayToo
    Known Participant
    September 3, 2026

    I’m getting the same error when I open 2 docs that I was using yesterday. I added a few comments, and saved the file, but now my access is restricted.

    Based on the suggestions here, I added a comment, and now the file is no longer restricted--but my comments from yesterday are gone.

    Please fix this, Adobe.

    Anand Sri Bhattacharya
    Community Manager
    Anand Sri BhattacharyaCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    September 3, 2026

    Hello ​@EsJayKayToo 

    I hope you are doing well, and thanks for sharing the details. Sorry for the trouble you had.

    Could you please share more details about the issue?

    Please share your operating system and exact Acrobat product/version/build from Menu > Help > About Acrobat (Windows) or Acrobat > About Acrobat (macOS). Also, confirm whether these are local PDFs or managed/shared-review files.

     

    Also, please note that the Legacy shared review is now off by default. 

    Comments that were not written into the saved copy usually cannot be recovered, but there are a few places where they may still exist.

    Suppose these are shared-review files (Send for Shared Review), your best hope. In a shared review, the comments live on the server, not just inside your local PDF. Open the review file again (from the Tracker: Menu/View > Tracker, or the original review link), let it sync, and use Check For New Comments. Yesterday's comments may still be on the server even though your local copy now looks empty.

     

    Autosave/crash recovery. If Acrobat ever closed unexpectedly, reopen it on the same computer and accept any recovery prompt, then Save As to a new name. This only helps if there was a crash, not a normal close.

     

    Look for another copy. Check Recent files, and search your drive for the same filename and near-duplicates (name (1).pdf). Also check any OS or cloud backup, Windows File History, OneDrive/SharePoint version history if the file lives in a synced folder, or macOS Time Machine, for yesterday's version.

     

    You can also refer to these articles and try the suggestions:

    https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/desktop/share-and-review-documents/manage-reviews/track-reviews.html

    https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/desktop/share-and-review-documents/manage-reviews/view-comments.html

     

    I hope this helps, and please reach out if you need any assistance.

    Regards,

    Anand Sri.

     

    mattgately
    mattgately
    Participant
    April 7, 2026

    I had the same issue recently when the original file was PDF/A compliant and I shared it.  When I saved as a non-compliant one then it was not restricted after sharing for comments

    DebLaroche
    DebLaroche
    Participant
    February 17, 2026

    I had someone in my group open the shared review I sent out.  They got that restricted file message on the right-hand side.  He just closed that out and made a comment and his comment posted.  Perhaps you could see if they could do the same.

    Studdock_Mark
    Participant
    July 18, 2025

    This seems to be a bug that only appeared in the new Acrobat interface. Try running a simple command: Menu > Create > Blank page, and you will be surprised to see that your blank page is restricted.

     

      DebLaroche
      DebLaroche
      Participant
      February 17, 2026

      But her question was, “How can I get around this issue?”  I am now having the same problem, and I sent out four shared reviews yesterday.  I initiate it with the “Send for Shared Review” and Acrobat is treating it like a restricted file!  Has Adobe corrected the problem?

      Tariq Dar
      Legend
      May 7, 2025

      Hi @nayetta_6492, 

       

      Sorry for the troubled experience. 

      Once you have removed the security on the file, have you re-shared the file? 

       

      Here are a few things to check:

      1. Are you initiating a Shared Review through Acrobat’s “Send for Comments” or “Send for Shared Review” feature?

        These methods automatically enable commenting, tracking, and versioning. If you send a PDF via email or upload (outside of the review workflow), Acrobat may not treat it as a review-enabled file.

      2. Check if the file is opened in Adobe Reader or another PDF viewer:

        If reviewers are opening the file in a non-Adobe PDF viewer, commenting may be disabled, even if Document Restrictions say “Allowed.”

      3. Ensure the PDF isn’t being opened in a browser preview (e.g., Chrome, Edge):

        These built-in PDF viewers don’t support review/commenting workflows.

      4. Make sure commenting rights were extended (for Reader users):

        In Acrobat, you can go to File > Save As Other > Reader Extended PDF > Enable Commenting & Measuring to allow Reader users to add comments.

       

      Suggested steps:

      • Use Send for Shared Review (under the Comment or Tools > Review & Approve panel).

      • Ensure reviewers open the file in Adobe Acrobat or Reader (not a browser).

      • If needed, extend rights for Reader users as mentioned above.

       

       


      ~Tariq

      nayetta_6492Author
      Participant
      May 15, 2025

      Thank you for the response.  I sent the review using the "Send for Shared Review" option in Adobe.  One reviewer noticed that she did not receive the prompt below for one particular review and that's the review she had this issue with (she is using Adobe Reader and not a browser).  She and another reviewer are able to see and use the commenting tool in other reviews that have this "restricted file" message.  I can't figure out why Adobe is adding this to my reviews or why only certain reviews seem to have this issue.  I have been using it for years.

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