Skip to main content
Known Participant
February 8, 2025
Answered

Can't edit PDF

  • February 8, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 1475 views

In Acrobat Pro, after selecting "Edit" when I want to alter previously written text,I keep on getting the message:  "This XFA form cannot be edited using Adobe Acrobat".

 

The file is a PDF document which I was previously able to edit.  

 

The file's suffix is PDF – not XFA. 

Correct answer try67

XFA files are a special kind of PDFs, based on an XML-scheme. It was never possible to edit them in Acrobat, only using Adobe LiveCycle Designer, which was bundled with Acrobat Pro before, but no longer. You can view and fill them in, but not edit them.

2 replies

JR Boulay
Community Expert
Community Expert
February 8, 2025

With a Mac you can open a PDF-XFA form with Apple Preview and save it as a regular PDF file, but it will lose all its interactivity and XFA functionalities.

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
try67
Community Expert
try67Community ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
February 8, 2025

XFA files are a special kind of PDFs, based on an XML-scheme. It was never possible to edit them in Acrobat, only using Adobe LiveCycle Designer, which was bundled with Acrobat Pro before, but no longer. You can view and fill them in, but not edit them.