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June 19, 2020
Answered

How do I update a pdf from version 1.3 to 1.4?

  • June 19, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 78572 views

I need to send a pdf document in version 1.4 or higher but when I scan it comes out as version 1.3.  How do I update the pdf version 1.3 to version 1.4?

    Correct answer JR Boulay

    Open the PDF file in a Text editor (Notepad++, BBEdit…) and edit the version number on the first line.

    2 replies

    JR Boulay
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 20, 2020

    PDF 1.4 = Acrobat 5

     

     

    Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
    Participant
    July 11, 2023

    Thank you - thath helped me.

    Dov Isaacs
    Legend
    June 19, 2020

    By definition, a PDF 1.3 file complies with the PDF 1.4 specification except being labelled as a PDF 1.4 file.

     

    The other way around isn't necessarily true. I suspect that whoever is specifying the requirement for PDF 1.4 is really saying they don't want to or can't accept a PDF 1.5 file or higher. 😃

     

    If you are dealing with someone who doesn't understand this, you can force the PDF 1.3 file to be labelled as PDF 1.4 by using the Save as => Optimized PDF function, specifying no changes to the PDF other than having the file comply and be tagged as PDF 1.4. That should work.

     

    - Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
    Participant
    May 12, 2022

    How do you accomplish this without Adobe Pro?

    In my case I'm trying to upload a PDF to a banking website to show proof of insurance and the uploadinng interface says that only PDF versionn 1.4 can be uploaded.

    Participant
    April 3, 2025

    Open the PDF file in a Text editor (Notepad++, BBEdit…) and edit the version number on the first line.


    So elegant. So Simple. Thank you!