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New Participant
April 6, 2020
Answered

Add text box text invisible

  • April 6, 2020
  • 8 replies
  • 38868 views

I am in Adobe Acrobat DC, am working on a PC and am in Windows10 Pro. I am filling out a PDF form and when I Edit the form to create a text box with the text box tool so that I fill in the form, and try to type in the box, I can see the cursor moving along as if I am typing but I cannot see any text. The ink color is showing black, I've changed fonts, font sizes, I've done an Adobe Troubleshoot, repair, loaded and unloaded, save and resaved and nothing works.  This was working Friday and now on Monday it's not working.

Correct answer Brad35460672y1dn

From assisting someone else with this problem, I believe we confirmed that it is the source of the original PDF file (either the program creating the file, or the process by which it was created) that is causing the issue.

Not all PDF files were having this problem for my customer... only files they had been provided from one source.  When we opened those files, then printed through Adobe PDF to a PDF file the same size (Check "Actual Size" and "Choose paper source by PDF page size" then the new PDF file worked perfectly with text boxes, and all other editing tools.

8 replies

New Participant
October 13, 2024

I have the same issue.  Editing a pdf file.  Try to add a text box and the text I type in is invisible.  This only happens when I add the text box to the first page.  When I add a text box to other pages, it shows up fine.

Yes, I have already checked the font color, turned off enhanced security, checked for updates, and rebooted the computer.

New Participant
May 31, 2025

Is there a fix for this yet?   I would love to stop printing and scanning.  Same issue as the above. 

Amal.
Community Manager
Community Manager
June 5, 2025

Hi there 

 

Hope you are doing well and thanks for reaching out. We are sorry to hear that you are still experiencing the same issue as discussed above.

 

I have tried to reproduce the issue at my end and the application is working as expected. Would you mind sharing the version of the Acrobat Pro and the OS you are using? Go to Help > About Acrobat and make sure its updated to the latest version 25.01.20521 go to Help > Check for updates and reboot the computer once and check.

 

Let us know how it goes.

New Participant
December 6, 2023

I have this same problem and nothing has changed. I have tried many different documents and nothing shows up!

Brad35460672y1dnCorrect answer
New Participant
February 14, 2024

From assisting someone else with this problem, I believe we confirmed that it is the source of the original PDF file (either the program creating the file, or the process by which it was created) that is causing the issue.

Not all PDF files were having this problem for my customer... only files they had been provided from one source.  When we opened those files, then printed through Adobe PDF to a PDF file the same size (Check "Actual Size" and "Choose paper source by PDF page size" then the new PDF file worked perfectly with text boxes, and all other editing tools.

New Participant
March 7, 2025

I just encountered the same problem.  I also tried adding an image with text and the test in the image didn't show up either.  I was attempting to creat a new PDF not editing an existing PDF.  The original post with this problem is from April 6, 2020.  Today is March 7, 2024.  In one month it will have been FOUR YEARS and no fix from Adobe.  How?? - is this still a problem that hasn't been fixed?  Four.  Years.

New Participant
October 6, 2023

Same issue!

 

Amal.
Community Manager
Community Manager
October 13, 2023

Hi there

 

Is this an issue with a particular PDF file or with all the PDFs? Please try with a different PDF file and check also make sure the ink color is not set to white.

 

A small video recording of the step and the issue would be very helpful.

What is the version of the Acrobat DC you are using? To check the version go to Help > About Acrobat and make sure you have the recent version 23.06.20320  installed. Go to Help > Check for updates and reboot the computer once.

Also try to repair the installation from the help menu (Win Only) and see if that works.

Please try to reset the Acrobat preferences as described here https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/how-to-reset-acrobat-preference-settings-to-default/td-p/4792082

You may also try to create a new test user profile with full admin rights in Win or enable the root account in MAC and try using the application there and check.

 

~Amal

 

New Participant
October 20, 2023

Hi,  I am having this problem:

Any ideas?

 

New Participant
September 18, 2023

Same issue here.  Within Reader, the tool items were on the left instead of the right, there was no "Fill & Sign" option, just a text box icon.  Using it, I could add signatures, or initials.  Checkboxes and x's did not show up, nor did filling in information that I typed onto the form.  The text is invisible.  It shows me recent things I've typed in a little drop-down.

 

Remove Adobe Reader.  Reinstall from scratch from the website.  The toolbar items are back on the right, Fill&Sign is back, and the text shows up.

 

Seems to be a function of disruptive, pointless updating. Just so you know, no the changes to the interface are not creative, or interesting, or useful or helpful in any way.  They're just disruptive, for no reason, to the vast majority of users.

New Participant
July 11, 2022

I was having the same issue, but only on a certain portion of a document. Mine started as A Word document. I exported to pdf to fill in fields but I would get the invisible typing box on part of the document.

I then opened the document from Acrobat rather than exporting from Word. After Acrobat converted the file, the text boxes worked just fine.
I hope this helps someone.

New Participant
May 25, 2023

I printed my document (already a PDF) to PDF and saved it a a slightly different name. I was then able to modify existing text, add new text, and delete new text boxes that I wasn't able to do before. Annoying, but a work around.

New Participant
March 9, 2022

Hi I too am suddenly having the invisible text problem. Mac OSX , Acrobat Pro 2020. I need to do comments on PDF documents. The text tool or text box tool both appear to be typing normally while active, but as soon as they are deslected the letters become invisible. 

This is happening on all documents. 

 

I have attached two images showing the X selected and not selected. If I hover over the text box it has blue selection handles, but I am unable to show that since they dissapear when I cactivate the screen shot. 

 

 

New Participant
December 18, 2021

I have the same issue Mac Monterey OSX 12.0.1 No updates available. the problem si thsi form took 4 hours to build and NOW THIS? Wow. 

Amal.
Community Manager
Community Manager
December 20, 2021

Hi there

 

We are sorry to hear that. Would yo umind sharing the PDF form in question so that we can check it at our end.
https://helpx.adobe.com/document-cloud/help/sharing-pdfs.html

 

Regards

Amal

New Participant
January 8, 2022

I'm with the rest of these users who is experiencing invisible text when trying to add text to a document.

 

I have checked for updates - I'm up to date.

I have "repaired" the installation - nothing

I have checked the font and color settings - the color is black

This is really, really annoying. I have attached the document for your review.

 

Kristine

Amal.
Community Manager
Community Manager
April 6, 2020

Hi Aurelia

 

We are sorry for the trouble. As described you are unable to view the text in the text box of the PDF form. 

 

We tried to reproduce the issue at our end and it's working fine.  Have you created the PDF form? If yes, what is the workflow or steps you did to create the PDF form or have you got the form from a different user? 

 

Is this a behavior with a particular PDF form or with all the forms that you try to fill? Please try with a different PDF form and check.  If its a file specific issue please share the file with us for testing. Please upload the file on the document cloud (https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/home/) generate the link and share it with us.

 

Also, What is the version of the Adobe Acrobat DC you are using? To check the version of the application please use the link (https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/identify-product-version.html)  and make sure you have the latest version of the application (20.006.20042). Go to Help > Check for updates

 

Let us know how it goes 

 

Regards

Amal

New Participant
August 12, 2020

Hi,

I am also experiencing the same problem of text not showing but only the cursor when filling out pdf documents. My current version is 2020.012.20041

 

kindly assist,

thanks,

Prichard

Amal.
Community Manager
Community Manager
August 26, 2020

Hi there

 

We are sorry for the delay in response.

 

Please ensure that the color of the text box is selected to black, also try changing it to a different color and check.

 

Also, please update the application to the new version 20.12.20043 now available. Go to Help > Check for updates.

 

If you are on Windows machine please try to repair the installation from the help menu and reboot the computer.

 

For testing purposes, please try to turn off the protected mode. Go to Edit (Windows), Adobe Acrobat (Mac) > Preferences > Enhanced Security > Uncheck  'Enable protected mode at startup', turn off the protected mode and uncheck the enhanced Security > Click OK and reboot the application.
Note: Turning off the security may possess security risks, please turn on the security after testing.

 

If it still doesn't work, please try to reset the preferences to default as described here https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat/how-to-reset-acrobat-preference-settings-to-default/td-p/4792082 and see if that makes any difference.

 

Let us know how it goes

 

Regards

Amal