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1

Adobe Acrobat crashes when I edit text (font or font size)

New Here ,
Apr 17, 2024 Apr 17, 2024

I am using Acrobat Pro version 20.0 for MacOS.  When editing a PDF, if I try to change the font or the font size, the whole app crashes.  This has happened with several different files on multiple days.

 

Any advice? 

TOPICS
Crash or freeze , Edit and convert PDFs , PDF
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Adobe Employee ,
Apr 30, 2024 Apr 30, 2024

Hi there 
 
Hope you are doing well and sorry to hear that
 
Is this an issue with a particular PDF file or with all the PDFs? Please try with a different PDF file and check. If the file is stored on a shared network/drive please download it to your computer locally and then try again.
 
What is the version of the OS and the Acrobat DC you are using? To check the version go to Help > About Acrobat and make sure you have the recent version 20.05.30574 installed. Go to Help > Check for updates and reboot the computer once.

 

Also, go through the help page: https://adobe.ly/44iSA0J and see if that works.

 

Let us know how it goes.

 

~Amal



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Community Beginner ,
Jul 01, 2025 Jul 01, 2025

I have been experiencing the same issue over the past year.  

Acrobat Pro 2020 - Mac OS Sonoma 14.7.6. Both are up to date.  

Please fix this. It is such a basic function and inexcusable for this to be a continual issue.

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Community Expert ,
Jul 01, 2025 Jul 01, 2025

Please see and answer @Amal. 's questions, particularly "Is this an issue with a particular PDF file or with all the PDFs? Please try with a different PDF file and check. If the file is stored on a shared network/drive please download it to your computer locally and then try again."

Also, when you say "Acrobat Pro 2020...[is] up to date" what is the actual version number? Go to the Acrobat menu and choose About Acrobat to get that information.

 

 

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Community Beginner ,
Jul 02, 2025 Jul 02, 2025

This has occured with at least a dozen PDF files from different sources. 

 

I just tried saving the document that I am currently struggling through onto my computer from Dropbox, unfortunately the same thing occured.  I selected an existing text box > highlighted all text >  selected a larger font size from the drop down within the Edit function.  The first text enlarged, when I attempted in a second text box - as soon as I click on the new text size the program closes. This is pretty standard. 

 

Acrobat program is "Adobe Acrobat Pro 2020, 2020 Release (Classic) | Version 2020.005.30774

 

Thank you for the quick reply.

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Community Expert ,
Jul 02, 2025 Jul 02, 2025

Let's try with a "known good" PDF. This helps us rule out any causes having to do with the content of your PDFs, how they were made, or where they're located.

 

Please follow these instructions:

  1.  In your web browser, please select and copy (CMD+C) this message here, from "Let's try..." through the end.
  2. Open Acrobat without any documents opened.
  3. In Acrobat, go to File > Create > PDF From Clipboard. After a moment you should have a PDF with my post here.
  4. Go to File > Save As and save the PDF as test.pdf and save it to your Mac's Documents folder, which should be in the sidebar of the Save As dialog.
  5. Quit Acrobat.
  6. Find test.pdf and double-click it to open that file in Acrobat.
  7. Try changing the type size of the text in test.pdf one section or paragraph at a time.

 

Did that crash at all?

 

If you answer, 'yes," I would suggest completely uninstalling Acrobat using a tool like Pearcleaner or AppCleaner.

 

However, if the known good PDF you just made did not crash Acrobat, the problem might be related to your PDFs, how they were made, and/or where they're located. So, if you can share 1-3 of those PDFs that give you trouble, please place them in a folder in Dropbox and then send me either here or via direct message the Dropbox share link for that folder. I'll look at the PDFs and see if I can spot the problem, or if they give me the same issues.

 

 

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Community Beginner ,
Jul 03, 2025 Jul 03, 2025
LATEST

I followed the steps above and the exact same thing happened with the new file. First text box changed size and on the second it crashed as soon as I selected the font size from the drop down menu.

 

I will try uninstalling and reinstalling next week. 

Another odd thing I just remembered is that my current computer is a new to me previously owned computer, purchased through best buy.  I transferred everythign using the automatic tool from my previous computer, including Acrobat.  But, this also occured on my previous macbook.

???

 

Thank you again for your assistance, Pariah.

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