Cannot add text anymore
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
When I select "Edit PDF" and then select "Add Text" and then try to click in a blank space on the page, the entire page or an editable section is selected instead. It's like the "Edit" is turned on instead of the "Add Text" button. I used to be able to click anywhere on the page and add my text. I make notes on all my PDF files that I save (like date and phone call made, date and email text, if a medical claim, how much I paid along with date and how I paid the bill).
I've found the only way to add new text is to try to find a blank area, type new next and then drag and drop that text box to the location I want it. Or if I had previously added text, I can copy and past that text box and move it to where I need a new text box and overwrite the text.
Why is the sytem thinking I still want to Edit and not just add new text?
I added a screenshot where you can see that "Add Text is highlighted. I wanted to add a new text below my note of how I paid on 10.17.23, but when I went to click the blank section of the page, Adobe thinks I'm in Edit mode and selected that whole box instead. In the past, when I clicked Add Text and clicked anywhere on the page, a cursor would appear and I could start typing. I can't do that any longer.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
I'm having the exact same issue. I edit pdf forms all day long. Before I could select "edit pdf" then "add text" and I could drop text anywhere on the document like an overlay. Then, like you said, I have to find a blank space and put the text and then drag and drop it into the place I wanted it. Now, that doesn't work because when I select add text Acrobat selects the whole document.
I called into tech support and they helped me fix it by going back to the old version. Now I guess they downloaded an update and now even the old version is not working as it did in the past. Adobe needs to fix this or I need to find a new pdf editing tool. More over Adobe should have seen this issue coming.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
@Robyn38617072apnk @dweisen I am teaching Acrobat next week, and I want to prepare myself with any issues, so am going through the forum for the 'what ifs'...and the version I have is allowing me exactly what you want to do with no issues. I wonder if it's Acrobat Preferences that is giving you these issues on hand?
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
I'm having the exact same issue. It's maddening and so time consuming to add text to a random location on the document away from all text and then drag every single line. ugh.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Hi @Robyn38617072apnk @dweisen
This issue usually appears if the files have scanned documents or an image. Can you share a file so I can take a look and share my findings? Alternatively, you can try running OCR on the file, choose "Save As" to save the copy of the original document, and try adding text again.
~Tariq
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Has this been fixed? I am suddenly unable to add text also. Same issue - except I can't get it to work at all. If it does let me type it's only one letter? Very strange.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Sorry for the troubled experience. Could you share a video of what is happening at your end? It will help us understand your workflow and exact problem, and we will be better prepared to either provide a solution or discuss this with the product team.
Thank you for your feedback, questions, and continued patience.
~Tariq
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
I also cannot add a text box or add text to specific places I need it to go in a document. Very frustrating.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Hi @katie_6298
Sorry for the troubled experience. Could you share a video of what is happening at your end? It will help us understand your workflow and exact problem, and we will be better prepared to either provide a solution or discuss this with the product team.
Also, if possible share a PDF file with us.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Is there a solution to this yet? I'm having the same issue. I can't share the PDF I'm working on since it contains confidential information.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
@Angelic_mentor3930 Thanks for reaching out.
Ideally, adding text to a file shouldn't be a problem. However, I am not aware of exactly what is happening, the nature of the file, how it was created, or whether it is a scanned document.
It is almost impossible to suggest in this situation. If you are experiencing the issue, help me with the files, the exact steps you are taking to add text to the file, and the version of Acrobat installed on your machine.
If possible a screen recording when you are trying to add the text. If you get a video, upload to a cloud drive and share the link in your response.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Here is a link the loom video I created showing how I had to type my name
outside the bounding box, what happened if I tried to type my name on the
line (just inserts name between underlines. Have to type my name outside
the bounding box and then drag & drop where I want.
https://www.loom.com/share/a4b693c117eb4ca9a3e149453e55715f?sid=25edd913-56bb-4795-a16f-71c19d6eba70
Robyn Drucker
[Moderator: Removed Personal information]
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Hi @Robyn38617072apnk,
Thanks for sharing the video. It appears you are trying to enter details on the Form fields. If your goal is to enter form field details, I suggest trying using the Fill and Sign feature instead: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/fill-and-sign.html.
Let me know if that eases your workflow. In the meantime, I will forward this video to our product engineering team.
~Tariq
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Here is another video where I speak to describe what is wrong.
https://www.loom.com/share/cc30f78b4cf74f83a69d70f0af440c34?sid=8b8cd80b-5749-42e2-8db7-8b4a8c2d6b25
Robyn Drucker
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Hi @Robyn38617072apnk -
Thank you for sharing the video recording with us—we truly appreciate it. Seeing the issue firsthand really helps us understand your experience.
I’ve escalated this to our product team, as we recognize that this change in the new experience (Modern Acrobat) is affecting your workflow. As you mentioned, the ‘Add Text’ feature was much more accessible in the previous version, and we understand how frustrating it can be when a familiar tool no longer works the way you expect.
Your feedback is incredibly valuable, and we appreciate your patience as we look into this. Please let us know if there’s anything else we can do to support you in the meantime.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Is there a solution yet? it has now been 5 weeks and still experiencing this issue.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
I have been using adobe for many years and I am disapointed with the changes. It is now time consuming. I am trying to add a simple text box and theres no text box available.
Please make all the old tools available as before.
Is this a way to make us pay for something that was free.?
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
it is an issue in paid adobe as well! So frustrating!!
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Has this been fixed? I had to get a new company laptop and quit using my own and am now payiing $19.99 a month out of my own pocket to be able to edit PDF's and the feature I used constantly is no longer available. What?????? This is almost useless to me now.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Exactly. I was able to insert text into my .pdft forms with the version of Acrobat Reader I had on my Windows 10 computer but in the version of Acrobat Reader I downloaded for my brand-new Windows 11 computer it doesn't work!!! And naturally Adobe doesn't have the nerve to come in here to give us the official answer.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Same!! Forced to get rid of windows 10, which works great, for Windows 11 that is slower and every application seems to operate differently for no apparent reason!
This adobe issue is so frustrating. I ended up selecting the "Disable New Adobe" in the menu and went back to classic view. Now back to Windows 10 operating, in adobe anyway!
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
This issue is still not fixed!! I cannot add text. What is going on?
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Hi @ronica_5413,
Sorry for the troubled experience, and thank you for reaching out.
If your question is exactly the same as described above, then it is a known limitation in the Modern Acrobat experience.
What you may try is disabling Modern Acrobat and checking the behavior: https://adobe.ly/4jrWX0d;
And let us know if that helps.
~Tariq
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Thank you @Tariq Ahmad Dar but your link only produced "404 Page not found.
Page not found. For help, visit Adobe Support."
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Thanks for highlighting it. Here is the URL of the page: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/learn-new-acrobat.html


-
- 1
- 2