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iteese
iteese
Inspiring
November 18, 2021
Answered

Fill & Sign - Add Signature freezes Acrobat on black screen

  • November 18, 2021
  • 6 replies
  • 21398 views

I've just bought and installed Acrobat but when I try to Add my signature using the Fill & Sign > Sign Yourself > Add Signature option, Acrobat screen just goes black (see attached) and I can't click on anything.

Initially I thought I had to end the task using Task Manager. After many more attempts with other documents, after checking for updates, after a restart, after running a repair, I discovered that Esc works to get me back to the document. But I still can't use this option to add my signature.

I get the same result if I select Fill & Sign > Sign Yourself  >  Add Initials.

Brand new install Acrobat Pro DC, v2021.007.20099 64bit.

    Correct answer iteese

    I managed to fix this by uninstalling Acrobat and reinstalling Acrobat. PITA!

    6 replies

    J
    John Headlee
    Participant
    August 19, 2025

    So its still happening noe, just uninstalled and reinstalled on my mac studio, latest OS 15.5 (24F74) and clean adobe install and as soon asI try toi add a new signature it goes gray, no menu options, no keyboard response to Esc out or anything, and have to force kill it. Going to move it to the web, but that is a BS solution. Any ideas on getting this resolved???

    Amal.
    Community Manager
    Amal.Community Manager
    Community Manager
    August 21, 2025

    Hi there 

     

    We hope you are doing well. Thanks for reaching out. We are sorry for the trouble you are experiencing. 

     

    As you have already tried a clean Adobe install with no luck, would you mind sharing the version of the Acrobat application you are using? Go to Help > About Acrobat and make sure it's updated to the latest version, 25.01.20630. Then, Go to Help > Check for updates and reboot the computer once.

     

    If the issue still exists, please share a small video recording of the steps you are taking and the issue as it occurs, along with the Acrobat diagnostic logs as described here https://adobe.ly/4mv80aq  for further investigation. 

     

    ~Amal

    D
    Donna Marie26240129ztru
    Participant
    September 22, 2022

    I had the ability to fill and sign however I had an issue with edit option so i uninstalled and reinstalled the application. All working now however i can now not Fill and Sign as a result. I have also run application as admin, changed versions to version 8 and still unable to fix.

    K
    Kaveh259032267tyh
    Participant
    September 22, 2022

    September 22, 2022 - Does anyone know how to create a problem report ticket with Adobe to get an actual human engaged to solve the Fill&Sign and create signature bug on latest Acrobat Pro ? The version I am running is 

    Architecture: x86_64

    Build: 21.5.20048.436468

    AGM: 4.30.107

    CoolType: 5.14.5

    JP2K: 1.2.3.48698

     

      M
      Marvelous_focus3924
      Participant
      February 10, 2025

      Hi @SiteBastion,

       

      Hope you are doing well. Sorry for the trouble.

       

      We were aware of the issue, and a fix was released in the upcoming updates.

       

      Would you mind trying out the latest version (2024.005.20320) and letting us know if it works for you?


      -Souvik


      I have been having this same issue for some time.  The latest version (now 2024.005.20320) did not correct it.Very frustrating, indeed.

      K
      Kaveh259032267tyh
      Participant
      August 31, 2022

      Aug 31 2022 - this problem still exists on the latest installation - none of the solutions discussed on this page fix the problem - how can a problem report ticket be created to have real human assistance?

        I
        Ian232948347hvq
        Participant
        February 23, 2022

        Hey Guys. I am / was having the same problem on a win7 box. When presented with the greyed screen, I middle / center clicked with the mouse and rolled the wheel. The input box appeared and I could carry on as normal. This has worked 3 out of 3 times now. Not saying it is a solution, but a work around for me.

         

        M
        MichaelCapezio
        Participant
        December 4, 2021

        Also experiencing this...

        Exactly as described by OP; the Adobe Acrobat (Pro DC, v2021.007.20099, 32bit version though) window just goes a shade of dark grey when I try to add initials or signature.

        Tryied esign and it does th same thing but with a white box in the middle (attached a screenshot using a new blank document).

         

        Tried a repair... No luck.

        Tried turning of modern interface setting... No luck either.
        Found other threads with this problem too.... This is clearly broken and Adobe clearly don't know what the actual cause is if the modern interface suggestion doesn't fix it.

          iteese
          iteeseAuthorCorrect answer
          Inspiring
          December 4, 2021

          I managed to fix this by uninstalling Acrobat and reinstalling Acrobat. PITA!

            iteese
            iteeseAuthor
            Inspiring
            December 7, 2021

            Whilst this fixed the problem. It is clear that there are problems with Acrobat installing correctly in the first instance and that a repair doesn't evenb fix it!

            Adobe should be looking at this.

              Amal.
              Community Manager
              Amal.Community Manager
              Community Manager
              November 18, 2021

              Hi Iteese

               

              Hope you are doing well and sorry to hear that. As described, Fill & Sign - Add Signature freezes Acrobat on black screen.

               

              Please go to Edit (Win), Adobe Acrobat (Mac) > Preferences > Signatures > Creation and Appearance > Click More and uncheck 'Use modern user interface' > Click OK and reboot the computer once.

               

              Let us know if you experience any trouble and need more help.

               

              Regards

              Amal

              iteese
              iteeseAuthor
              Inspiring
              December 4, 2021

              Hi Amal,

              That does not fix the problem.

              I have also tried a repair, I have signed out and signed back in. Also does not fix the problem.

              I note other's have had the same issue. This clearly needs to be fixed by Adobe.

               

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