Create Bookmark keyboard shortcut (CTRL B) no longer working

Report · Jan 26, 2018

I have the same issue as other forum users have had regarding CTRL B no longer working to make bookmarks of highlighted text, but I haven't found a solution for me. The bookmark is created with text "Untitled".

This CTRL B method worked for me up until yesterday. There are no restrictions on my documents and I created them myself. I tested on both new documents and those I worked successfully with (using the shortcut) earlier this week. The New Bookmarks button works as expected.

Troubleshooting tried:

Logging off network.
Restarting computer.
Removing Preferences folder from C:\Users\AnnaNmty\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Acrobat\DC
Removing UserPrefs folder from same folder. (This was moderately successful in that my initial issue today was not being able to create bookmarks with either the button or CTRL B, not even "Untitled".)

Adobe Acrobat DC (not Reader) 18.009.20050, Windows 7, 64bit. All updates applied.

Report · Jan 17, 2020

I have the same problem with W10 and the latest Acrobat Pro DC. Did you ever find a solution? Did Adobe ever help? Best regards, Ernie Beffel

Report · Aug 01, 2023

This started happening to me too. I highlight a heading, press Ctrl+B, and it creates an "Untitled" bookmark. Acrobat Pro, Windows 10.

To get around I highlight heading, Ctrl+C, Ctrl+B, Ctrl+V. We have a plug-in for bookmarks but sometimes we need to manually create them, this is a minor annoyance. I don't see an answer in this thread, if anyone knows a fix would love to hear it.

Report · Aug 01, 2023

I jsut tried something in preferences. Edit-Preferences-General - Use Single-Key Accelerators To Access Tools option

If this option is marked it would NOT let me use Ctrl B to add a bookmark. If left unselected I was able to create a Bookmark using Ctrl-B.

Hope this helps!!!

Report · Nov 28, 2023

I had an issue where I would highlight text then press Ctrl-B and nothing would happen. I had to create a bookmark by highlighting text and then clicking the Bookmark drop-down menu and selecting "New Bookmark". Doing this was a huge pain for 100+ bookmark.

My solution was to close all three MS Powerpoint windows that I had open. Once those were closed, then the Ctrl-B would successfully create a bookmark. Something in Powerpoint was interfereing with the Ctrl-B shortcut. I don't know what it could have been, but Ctrl-B now works and I did not have to restart anything.

Report · Sep 05, 2025

I am also having this issue, tried all the fixes: deleting preferences/user preferences folder, rebooting, repairing Adobe, closing PowerPoint applications, unchecking “Use Single-Key Accelerators to Access Tools”, and restoring all defautls. Anything else I can try? This is a major inconvenience.

Report · Sep 18, 2025

Hi @Ronel5C22,

Hope you are doing well. Sorry for the trouble with creating bookmarks, and thanks for reporting this.

I tried the shortcut keys on my end, and it worked fine.

Can you double-check if the file you are trying to add bookmarks to is not protected by any means?

Also, please try updating the app to the latest version (25.1.20693) and checking if it works for you.

To do so, go to Menu > Help > Check for Updates.

Let us know how it goes.

Regards,
Souvik.

Report · Sep 18, 2025

After a few months Ctrl+B spontaneously fixed itself. Just like the floating window for Pan and Zoom wouldn't appear for months and then fixed itself (that was a biggie for me, I need that window). Acrobat is a prankster.