Inspiring

Answered

default font in acrobat looks weird

Forum|Forum|25 days ago
May 29, 2026
2 replies
41 views

Recently, when I open a fillable PDF in Acrobat, the font looks weird. It looks like this:

I’ve noticed it on my work computers (using one of my Creative Cloud seats) as well as at home.

I need to fill out a W9 for a new job but don’t want to give it to them looking like this. Anyone have any suggestions how to make the text look normal (ex. Arial)?

Correct answer Meenakshi0101

Hi KazuT_G,

We have checked the file, and the font looks fine when we open the PDF in Acrobat. Check the screenshot.

It happens when the fonts used in the PDF are not available on your machine and are not embedded in the document. We have checked the document properties, and the fonts have only an embedded subset.

As this is a W-9 PDF form, there isn't much we can do on our end. The document is secured, and no changes can be made in the PDF form except by filling it out.

If the font is defined by the PDF creator, you can simply fill the form using the default font option assigned to the form field. The font will appear fine at the receiver's end.

Let us know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Meenakshi

KazuT_GAuthor

Inspiring

When I open the attached pdf, it looks normal in Preview (on the left in the screenshot below), but in Acrobat, the numbers and the letters M and W look weird (on the right in the screenshot below). Is there a font I need to install?

sample2.pdf

Meenakshi0101

Community Manager

Hi KazuT_G,

Thank you for sharing the screenshot.

This PDF also looks fine on our end. Check the screenshot.

This is also due to the font not being embedded in the document. If you can check the list of fonts used in the document under the document properties. Use the steps suggested below to check the fonts:

Open the PDF in Acrobat
Go to Menu > Document Properties
In the document properties window, click on the Fonts tab.

There, you can see which fonts are embedded and which are not.

It is not necessary for you to add fonts when filling out these types of PDF forms. The end form will appear fine on the recipient's side. If you wish, you can try installing the non-embedded fonts and see if that helps.

There is not much that can be done as the PDF forms are secured. You cannot embed the fonts in the PDF.

Let us know if you need any help.

Thanks,

Meenakshi

KazuT_GAuthor

Inspiring

This is what Document Properties on this document says:

Do I install QuickTypell? Or Adobe Sans? Where do I find Adobe Sans? I went to:

fonts.adobe.com but I couldn’t find Adobe Sans.

Meenakshi0101

Community Manager

Hi KazuT_G,

Thank you for reaching out, and sorry about the trouble caused.

As you mentioned, the font in the PDF looks weird. This generally happens when the fonts are not embedded in the PDF and are not available on the machine you are using.

Could you please share the PDF you are referring to? We will check and share the correct information.

Let us know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Meenakshi

KazuT_GAuthor

Inspiring

attached

fw9.pdf

Meenakshi0101

Community Manager

Hi KazuT_G,

Thank you for sharing the PDF.

Please allow us some time to review the PDF and we will share the information.

Thanks,

Meenakshi

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded