How to change the default author name?

[carlosg44677277]

When my laptop computer was first set out by the company's IT department they misspelled my name, so every comment I did in adobe would come out with my name spelled wrong, I had the IT guys fix my Laptop's Log in name but when I comment in Adobe, it still shows the same misspelled name, is there a way to make Adobe recognise the new name in the Windows 10 log in?? By the way I have the "Always use log in name for authors name" checkbox checked.

[Document Geek]

quick fix: Try unchecking that box and correcting the mispellled name in Acrobat preferences.

Also, the “login name” I believe refers to the how you’re logged into Acrobat, not the Windows login. Did the IT department also mispell your name when they set up your Adobe account? That’s likely the issue. They would need to fix it there as well.

[Meenakshi Negi]

Hi Carlosg,

As DocumentGeek mentioned above, check your login name in the application preferences.

To check that, please refer to the steps mentioned below:

- Launch the Adobe application you are using to add comments.

- Go to Edit > Preferences > Identity.

- Check if your name is spelled correctly in the Login Name field.

You may also change the author name from the comment properties window.

- Open the PDF and go to Comment.

- Add any comment on PDF.

- Right click on the comment added and select properties.

- Go to general and change the author name.

- Check the box for "Make properties default".

Note: Make sure that the box for "Always use login name for authors name" must be unchecked.

Let us know if you need any help.

Regards,

Meenakshi

[elizabethd82518474]

Good Morning! I followed your directions above.  "Always use login name for authors name" was already unchecked.  In the properties for my comment the author name is greyed out and I can not change.  Also the box for "Make properties default" was also not checked.  Do you have any other suggestions?  Thank you!

[try67]

That's very strange. Were you able to edit any of the other properties of the comment? If not, make sure the Locked box is not ticked. Also, what's the exact version number of the application (You can find it out by going to Help - About Adobe Acrobat)? What's your OS version?

[elizabethd82518474]

I am not able to edit anything in the properties and the version is 2020.013.20074.

Operating system is Windows 10 Pro

Your thoughts?

[Dave__M]

I assume this behavior exists for multiple PDF files... or is it unique to just one?  Not sure I've ever seen the comment's properties being grayed out.  I'm assuming, also, that there is no security preventing adjustment. 

Any further details you can uncover/share might be helpful.

My best,

Dave

[elizabethd82518474]

It is across all pdf's and I do not see any security that would prevent me from changing.  I will check with our IT department for any other security measures that I am not aware of.

[elizabethd82518474]

IT Department says there are no security restrictions.

[try67]

What version of Acrobat/Reader are you using?

[elizabethd82518474]

Version 20.0

[try67]

Make sure to install all available updates.

[elizabethd82518474]

there were no updates pending

[try67]

Then that's not the version number you have.

[elizabethd82518474]

I have a Creative Cloud account and when I hover over the app, it says Version 20.0.  When it opens it is Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.

[try67]

You can find the exact version number of Acrobat by opening it and then going to Help - About Adobe Acrobat.

[Runnovation31788485m99c]

Thank you so much for @try67 's explanation its really helped, and i think i found the solution!

Hello @elizabethd82518474  its 2023 now, and I encountered the same problem with you! 

edit - preference - identity - login name (make sure your login name is your name.) 

*make sure you TICKED "Always use login name for author name"*

and here you go

[DMerces]

Hi marieb82518474

1. Go to Go to Edit > Preferences > Commenting. Uncheck the box "Always use log in name for authors name";
2. Go to Edit > Preferences > Identity. The “Login name” field will be greyed out. Fill in the “Name” field with the name you want to appear in your comments.

Hope this solves your issue. Regards

[Pri32789950]

I'm assuming you have to have the pro version to do this and that's why it isn't working for me?

[try67]

No, this can be done even in the free Reader.

[elizabethd82518474]

Version 2023.001.20174

Following instructions above

Go to Go to Edit > Preferences > Commenting. Uncheck the box "Always use log in name for authors name" - this box was already unchecked.

[DMerces]

My proposed solution in 2021 is outdated, even be for my Adobe Acrobat release. Here is an alternative solution:

Open any PDF file and highlight any word in the text.

Right-click and select "Add Note to Text";

Type any text in the comment box and close it;

Right-click on the highlighted word and select "Properties";

Go to the "General Tab", replace the name that appears in the "Author" field with the name you want to appear in your comments;

Check the "Make Porperties Default" box, click the "OK" button and close the comment box;

Click once more with the right mouse button on the highlighted word and select "Delete" to remove the comment. Save the file;

The next comments on your PDF files will display the new chosen name;

Let us know if it works for you. Good luck.

[DMerces]

First of all above steps, go to Edit > Preferences > Commenting and uncheck the box "Always use login name as author name". Keep the box uncheck.

[jera_0759 · Accepted solution]

The latter worked flawlessly for me. 
-Add a comment
-Click on the three dots at the top of the comment.

-Go to "Properties"

-Switch to "General" tab

-Enter your preferred name in the "Author" section

-Select "Make Properties Default" and the OK

The author name has now been changed to your preferred name forever including the names in the existing comments.