Cannot Save PDF After Edits

[VanzPeers]

Get error message "The file may be read-only, or another user may have it open. Please save the document with a different name or in a different folder."

• Preview is NOT enabled in File Explorer.
• Nobody else has the PDF open.
• Closing File Explorer or changing to a location other than where the PDF is saved allows the PDF to be saved. (This is not a practical solution though).
• Using Save As to save over the existing PDF works.

I have seen this issue pop up from posts as far back as 2020 but know-it-alls scream turn of Preview in File Explorer, but as stated above, Preview is not enabled. What is the solution, Adobe?

[DeanUtian]

Hi @VanzPeers 

To clarify - are you editing a PDF in Acrobat Pro but when you try save, it gives that error? 

If it works when trying to save to another location, it may be the folder where the PDF is located is set to be read only. In File Explorer, right click on teh folder with the PDF and select Properties. Make sure the Read-only box is not checked (as below).

[VanzPeers]

No. The folders are NOT read only (it's not limited to a particular folder). Our IT department and I have tried everything we can think of but the issue persists. Not just for me, but for my co-workers as well. It seems like an Adobe/Microsoft issue that the two companies need to work out.

[Tariq Ahmad]

Hi @VanzPeers, 

Sorry for the delayed response. Are those files located on a network drive? 

If that is the case, your network team has to check the configuration issue. Ask your IT to check this help document as well: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/protected-mode-troubleshooting-reader.html 

Let us know if you have further questions. 

~Tariq

[VanzPeers]

@Tariq Ahmad the link you provide is not valid. Please advise.

[VanzPeers]

@Tariq Ahmad the link to the help file you provided is not valid. Please advise.

[Tariq Ahmad]

Hi @VanzPeers, Sorry for the trouble with the link; I updated it in my above comment. 
And here it is as well: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/protected-mode-troubleshooting-reader.html

[VanzPeers]

@Tariq Ahmad  our organization does not use any of those antivirus programs or 3rd party plugins. Also, Protected Mode is disabled in our Adobe Acrobat installs. Next suggestion?

[Tariq Ahmad]

@VanzPeers Thanks for the quick response. 

Where are the files located? Locally or on a network drive? 

Disabling the Protected mode may not be a solution; you may try enabling and adding the folder path to the privileged location.

[VanzPeers]

@Tariq Ahmad  They are located on network drives. We added the path to the folder in Adobe Acrobat as trusted but we are still getting random error messages when saving files.

[Tariq Ahmad]

I feel you need to have your network team involved. 
Alternatively, if you have a business account with Adobe, have your Admin get in touch with Support. Still, it will require your team to investigate configuration issues at your end. 

[VanzPeers]

@Tariq Ahmad our network team has been fully involved and they are stating it's an Adobe issue as the only platform that has the issue is.... Adobe. No issue saving any other file type. 

[Tariq Ahmad]

@VanzPeers, 

Try the following and let me know how it works. 

• Create a new PDF and save it on the network drive.
• Ensure no one else has access to it and try opening it again after relaunching Acrobat. 
  • Observe if there is any issue
• Now try to make any changes to the file and save the changes (considering the file is on the same network drive location)
• In both above-mentioned cases, ask your Network personnel to check file permissions and let us know if there are any differences. 

~Tariq

[VanzPeers]

@Tariq Ahmad that did not help. We ended up going with PDF-Xchange as my primary PDF editor. Hopefully, Adobe can iron out their Windows bugs one day.