Adobe Acrobat Pro DC - Redaction tool not working

[joan_ie]

I continually have a problem with Adobe Acrobat Pro DC when I try to use the redaction tool. 

• I select the text I want to redact 
• I click 'Apply' 
• The pop-up which should appear (confirming redaction, etc.) appears as a blank box, and the entire programme basically freezes. I can do nothing else, except open my computer's Task Manager and click 'End Task' for Adobe Acrobat. 
  (See attached image.) 

This is a huge problem, since my role as an employee and my unit's function requires the ability to fully and securely redact on a daily basis.  

I am using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC - Version 2021.005.20048 

Can anyone help? 

[AkanchhaS]

Hi Joan,

Thanks for sharing the detailed information. 

There are couple of possibilities for such behaviour of Acrobat.

1- The document you have been working on and trying to redact content is secured. Which isn't letting you to complete the process. Open PDF>right click (Ctrl+D)>Document Properties>Security

and for testing, check with a different file. 

2- If this is the case with multiple files, then there's a slight change we need to make in the application's preferences settings. 

Navigate to Acrobat>Edit>Preferences>Security (Enhanced)>disable "Protected Mode at Startup", "Protected View" and "Enhanced Security">OK>close and reopen Acrobat.

Note: these changes are only for testing purpose. Once tested, please change it back to the previous setting. 

Let us know if any of the suggestion helps.

Thanks,

Akanchha 

[Yianni5E08]

Hey, 

I have followed these steps yet I still have the issue. I have even re installed the program and this still happens!

[Johanna5ECE]

I have the same problem. I have tried multiple documents and the same problem appears with every document, also have checked that the documents are not secured. I also disabled the settings in phase 2, but it has not solved the problem.

[larrycloy@charter.net]

I have the same problem, along with the fact that Acrbat Pro DC freezes at random and frequently. The only way to close the program is through Task Manager. I really miss my Arobat Pro XI. It was supposed to have a perpetual license. I guess the end of the world happened and I missed it because when Adobe stopped supporting XI, it stopped working after the first Windows 10 update. Software companies make enough money. They should let you choose to purchase a program instead of having to pay by the month for the rest of your productive life, which won't be very productive if using products like Acrobat Pro DC. I have read and tried more fixes than I can count and the app is still near worthless.

Is there anybody at Adobe who knows enough about the program to help me fix it?

[Stacy22137019zc6v]

My IT claims they have fixed my problem my reinstalling but still to
no avail, I still get the blank box when I try to apply my redactions. If I
only had to do redactions there are some other tools out there but I need
to remove underlying metadata and links as well. I am getting a new
computer soon, so will wait to see it that helps at all. If not, I am
seriously looking for a different product because I don't use anything else
with Adobe.

[Scrambledeggs]

I'm having the same issue in 2024. Have tried uninstalling and reinstalling Acrobat but it is not a permanent solution.

[Shai Y]

Hi,

The second solution work, not sure what you meant about testing. What am I supposed to do now? I assume that if I restore the original preferences the problem will return.

Thanks,

Shai

[Staffan336619469996]

Second option worked for me. The route to finding the settings was a bit different though:

Menu - preferences - security(enhanced)

[Tristan380921836j6v]

Option 2 worked for our user here that does lots of redactions.

[Yianni5E08]

I think I have a temporary solution to this. 

1. add JavaScript to the side pannel 

2. Click redact and highlight the areas you want redacted 

3. open the JavaScript tab then on the top of the page hit debugger 

4. In the bottom box paste the following :

this.applyRedactions(); 

5. Click CTRL and enter at the same time after pasting the above text

[Johanna5ECE]

Thank you so much, this worked!

[DAHJR1]

I had the same issues and this worked.

[defaulti6r43ofbi109]

This works for us as well. Hopefully Adobe will release an update that addresses this issue without the need for a work around.

[Melanie21882963otsa]

This also worked for me, thanks so much!

[mcow]

Success, thank you!

[defaultbvhlu9ln21xu]

This worked but now I get the blank window when trying to save the document after applying the redactions. Anyone find a solution for that? 

[Gail21976387812k]

Same. I did another workaround and "Printed" it again to Adobe pdf. But, these workarounds are annoying when I'm paying for a pro version. 

[Victoria3414567396x1]

Worked for me as well. THANKS!

[user123784148fv4j]

Yes, this worked for me as well, Thank you. I hope Adobe will fix this bug soon.

[ShawnFWS]

Has Adobe came up with a fix for this yet? The provided workaround is a little time consuming when having to work on 600 page documents.

[Scrambledeggs]

Apparently they have not. It's August 2024 and still having same issue.

[Linda Braithwaite]

I've tried the workaround and it won't save after I apply the JavaScript so I have to print with the redaction and then re-scan.  We redact hundreds of pages a week.  What is being done about this?

[Rock5FB2]

I also am having many problems with redaction. Many of the items I am trying to redact are not found. I try various subsets of the text string and sometimes they work and sometimes not. It would be far easier at this point to print, mark out with a market pen, and scan.

[Stacy22137019zc6v]

Any updates from Adobe?? I am having this issue as well and I have thousands of documents to redact and "sanitaize" by Friday. I can restart my computer which will make Adobe Pro redaction tool work for 1 to 10 documents before I get the blank screen. I am so frustrated. 

Adobe -Any updates here???????